GREAT MICHIGAN READ E D I WHAT IS THE U MICHIGAN G GREAT MICHIGAN R EAD? HUMANITIES S COUNCIL ’ ANNIE’S GHOSTS’ TEXT IS GRADE-LEVEL APPRR OPRIATE The text complexity of Annie’s Ghosts is challenging yeE t accessible for upper elementary and GsecoRndarEy studAents T making it well-suited for helping stHudents reinforce the Social Studies and English Language Arts Michigan Merit Curriculum ContCent Expectation and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and LiA teracy in History/Social Studies, Science, MICHIGAN E and Technical Subjects. More specifically, its content offers single and multiple level meanings; its T RstruEctureA followD s literary and informational genre conventions; and its Lexile reading score ranges from 670 – 1360, consistent with the CCSS recommended grade band standards and Lexile score 2r0an1ge3 a lig–nm2en0t fo1r 4 college and career readiness expectations (CCSS Appendix A). CONTENTS 2 WELCOME 3 STEVE LUXENBERG 4 CONTENT AND STRUCTURE 5 PRE-READING 6-7 GENRE STUDY: DETECTIVE STORY/PERSONAL MEMOIR 8-9 CONTENT STUDY: SECRETS AND IDENTITY 10-11 CONTENT STUDY: MENTAL HEALTH 12-13 CONTENT STUDY: IMMIGRATION AND MIGRATION Annie’s Ghosts: 14-15 SKILLS STUDY: ARGUMENT PAPER/ GENEALOGY PROJECT A Journey into a 16 ABOUT THE MICHIGAN HUMANITIES COUNCIL AND Family Secret ITS GENEROUS SUPPORTERS Steve Luxenberg GREAT MICHIGAN READ TEACHER’S GUIDE | 3 WHAT IS THE Q&A WITH AUTHOR GREAT MICHIGAN READ? STEVE LUXENBERG This reading initiative aims to connect us as Michiganians by exploring t s our history, our present, and our future as discussed in a single literary o P n o t g n title. The program is intended for young adults to senior citizens i h s a W with broad goals of making literature more accessible and appealing e h T © . while also encouraging residents to learn more about our state and g r e b n e x individual identities. u L e v Q&A e t S “I never thought I’d find so WHAT IS THE GREAT MICHIGAN READ? HOW CAN MY CLASSROOM STEVE LUXENBERG As you got deeper in your research, what The Michigan Humanities Council’s Great PARTICIPATE? Steve Luxenberg, a Washington Post was the biggest surprise you encountered? many secrets, with so many Michigan Read is a book club for the entire There are three significant ways you and associate editor, has worked for 38 years I never thought I’d find so many secrets, levels and implications— with so many levels and implications—and state. With a statewide focus on a single your students can benefit from utilizing as a newspaper editor and reporter. Post and not just in my own book – Annie’s Ghosts: A Journey into a Annie’s Ghosts in your classroom: reporters working with Steve have won two not just in my own family. In retrospect, Family Secret by Steve Luxenberg – it aims to Pulitzer Prizes for explanatory journalism. I’m not sure why I wasn’t prepared for family. In retrospect, I’m not connect us as Michiganians by deepening our that. I suppose it seems obvious that one 1. GENRE STUDY: As a genre study of the Steve grew up in Detroit, where Annie’s sure why I wasn’t prepared understanding of our state, our society, and secret begets other secrets. detective story or personal memoir. Ghosts primarily takes place. He attended for that. I suppose it seems our history. 2. CONTENT STUDY: As a content study Detroit public schools, including Henry Ford The difficulty of getting Annie’s records also obvious that one secret WHY ANNIE’S GHOSTS ? building knowledge in personal identity, High School. He and his wife, Mary Jo was a surprise. I had no idea that a family Annie’s Ghosts is part memoir, part mental health, immigration and migration, Kirschman, a former school librarian, live in member would have such trouble seeking begets other secrets.” detective story, and part history. Employing and history. Baltimore. They have two adult children. information about someone long dead. I Steve Luxenberg ANNIE’S GHOSTS think we need to revisit our privacy laws, and his skills as a journalist while struggling to 3. SKILLS STUDY: As a skills study promot - Annie’s Ghosts was a Washington Post Best Two sisters, born two years apart to immigrant make sure that they don’t prevent us from maintain his empathy as a son, author Steve ing rigorous opportunities to critically think parents, grow up in Depression-era Detroit. Book of 2009 and a Michigan Notable telling our own history or, most important, Luxenberg pieces together the story of his about facts, arguments and reasoning, and One—Beth, my mother—escapes eight years Book in 2010. Following the publication of learning about past medical issues that mother’s motivations, his aunt’s unknown to strategically use appropriate technology of low-paying jobs and her family’s walk-up Annie’s Ghosts , Steve was invited to give the apartment by marrying and moving away from could affect future generations in the family. life, and the times in which they lived. to assist in research or to create sophisti - 10th annual Horace W. Davenport Lecture in His search takes him to imperial Russia the neighborhood that she equates with broken cated visual displays of understanding. promises and broken lives. the Medical Humanities, sponsored by the What is the story’s most compelling lesson and Depression-era Detroit, through the University of Michigan’s Center for the History for today? Holocaust in Ukraine and the Philippine war The other sister? She was my mother’s secret. The story of Annie’s Ghosts lends itself to of Medicine. The power of secrecy cannot be underesti - zone, and back to the hospitals where Annie Annie’s Ghosts is their story, as best as I could mated. For many families, secrets can be a the Michigan Department of Education unearth it. How did you approach writing Annie’s Ghosts ? and many others languished in anonymity. destructive force. They can affect generations Social Studies and English Language Arts I saw Annie’s Ghosts as a story about a -Steve Luxenberg long after the secret is created. I don’t want Annie’s Ghosts is a story about family Content Expectations as well as the Com - search, about putting myself in someone anyone to believe that we need to live our secrets, personal journeys, genealogy, mon Core State Standards skill practice for else’s place, about whether the truth can be lives like open books, but if a secret is harm - mental disability and illness, poverty, and the English Language Arts and Literacy in found, and how to navigate the distortions ing the secret keeper, if carrying that secret is immigration. It is a story of reframing one’s History/Social Studies, Science, and Techni - that memory imposes on the truth. It seemed WITH ASSISTANCE FROM causing the secret keeper pain, then my rule self-understanding once a family secret is cal Subjects. It also provides connections to natural to write the story in the first person, The Michigan Humanities Council is grateful to of thumb is to release the secret. My mother revealed, providing insight into how our the recently introduced College, Career, and the following individuals for their assistance as part memoir and part history, while would have been a much happier person if identities are shaped by learning something Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies with the teacher’s guide: separating my memories from those of the GET CONNECTED & FOLLOW US! she had released her secret. shockingly new about our family history. State Standards. Dianna Behl , Pinckney Community Schools people I found and interviewed. Join the Michigan Humanities Council Gregory Dziadosz , Mental Health Association Teachers can incorporate this award- Facebook group, or follow @mihumanities in Michigan (#greatMIread) on Twitter. winning text and companion pieces in their entirety or by using chapter excerpts or specific resources to enhance existing curriculum studies. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Cover: Beth Cohen, Spring 1945; Courtesy Luxenberg Family www.steveluxenberg.com GREAT MICHIGAN READ TEACHER’S GUIDE | 5 CONTENT & STRUCTURE PRE-READING ANNIE’S GHOSTS’ TEXT IS GRADE-LEVEL APPR1OPRI. ATE The text complexity of Annie’s Ghosts is challenging yMetic ahcigceasns Eibnlgel ifsohr Luapnpgeura egle mAretnst ary and secondary students making it well-suited for helping stCuodnetnentst rEexinpfeocrtcaet itohnes SGoocaila: l Studies and English Language Arts Michigan Merit Curriculum Content Expectation and the Common Core To give students the opportunity to help TSthatee Stteaxndta crdosm (CpCSleS)x fiotry E nogfli sAh nLannigeu’as ge Arts and Lditevraecloyp i np eHrisotonrayl/, Ssocial, S otcucduiepsa,t Siocnieanl,c aen, d Ganhd oTescths niicsa l cSuhbajelcletsn. Mgoirne gsp eyceifitc ally, its content offecrisv isci nligtelera acnyd ( MmDuElt i2p0le0 l6e)v. el meanings; its There are several ways to activate background knowledge (schema) structure follows literary and informational genre conventions; and its Lexile reading score ranges afrocmce 6s7s0i b– 1l3e6 f0o, cro unspispteenrt weilteh mthe CnCtSaSr yrecommended grade band standards and Lexile score and create personal connections such as completing sentence stems for arangde saleigcnomnendt aforry co sllteuged aennd tcsar. eer readiness expectations (CCSS Appendix A). younger readers or by asking questions for more experienced readers. ANNIE’S GHOSTS’ TEXT IS GRADE- PRE-READING RECOMMENDATIONS: SAMPLE PREVIEW STATEMENTS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: AND QUESTIONS LEVEL APPROPRIATE Engaging in pre-reading activities allows Schoenbach, Ruth, Cynthia Greenleaf, and students to establish focus and motivation Lynn Murphy. Reading for Understanding: How The text complexity of Annie’s Ghosts is for reading. There are several ways to Reading Apprenticeship Improves Disciplinary challenging yet accessible for upper elementary Learning in Secondary and College Classrooms.