“Cuca’s Conundrums Episode One: Leaving Jalisco, 1924,” is written by Norma Landa Flores, M.A. Speech Communication. It is available on digital download at teacherspayteachers.com, It is a 22 page short story, the first episode out of 17, about an undocumented immigrant girl who makes her way from Mexico to Texas and Arizona to settle in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, California.
In Huejuquilla, Jalisco, Méjico in 1924, when she was only five years old,Cuca and her sister Millie have to hide themselves to be safe from El Jefe and his bandidos who are looking for treasure in the family’s chapel. Cuca and Millie try to be safe in their secret chamber under the chapel’s alter.
Sábia (a magical owl) and Cholita (the family’s Huichole Indian housemaid) perform an “exorcism” ritual and scare the bandidos away before they harm Cuca’s family and property. However, Cholita warns that Cuca’s family can only be safe if they flee to el Norte, the North. Thus, they head for the USA.
The Appendix: Suggestions for the Teacher/Facilitator explain how to facilitate oral communication interaction in the classroom so that the teacher/facilitator will be able to encourage reading, writing and speaking, listen, give feedback and role model appropriate words and phrases while the students learn to improve their own pronunciation and oral communication skills.
All in all, these 22 pages of “Cuca’s Conundrums Episode One: Leaving Jalisco, 1924,” by teacher/author Flores, can be used to liven up any language arts program. Reading classes, writing classes, speaking and listening classes and especially oral communication classes such as storytelling, oral interpretation of literature and drama will all benefit from this short story’s content and teaching/learning style. It is Chicano-Mexican-American Multiculturalism in its very essence and is very helpful because all of the solicitation of verbal feedback is done for you! Cuca’s Conundrums Episode One: Leaving Jalisco, 1924
Table of Contents is as follows:
[ i ] Vowel Functional Pronunciation Pre Assessment..... 3
Cuca Escapes LA County’s Maternity Ward, Boyle Heights, .... 4
Cuquita’s House in Huejuquilla Jalisco, Mejico, 1924 ..... 5
Safe in their Secret Chamber..... 6
Sábia and Cholita Save the Day..... 8
Epilogue: “Smile, Millie, Smile!”..... 12
[ i ] Pronunciation Grades..... 13
Multiple Choice Questions for Discussion...... 14
Multiple Choice Questions for Discussion Scores..... 15
[ i ] High Front Tense Vowel Functional Pronunciation Assessment..... 16
Contexts & Standards-Based Criteria for Assessing [ i ]..... 17
High Front Tense Vowel Functional Pronunciation
Appendix: Suggestions for the Teacher/Facilitator..... 18
First Suggestion: Oral Communication About the Short Story..... 19
Second Suggestion: [ i ] Pronunciation Assessments..... 20
Third Suggestion: Oral Interpretation, Reader’s Theatre,..... 21
Stage Play, Broadcast Suggestions
Peroration and Copyright Information..... 22