What If She’s Not “Unmotivated”?

Why I Created a House on Mango Street Novel Study for Homeschool Families

If you’re a homeschooling parent trying to get your daughter to care about literature or write with confidence, you might be feeling stuck.

Especially if she’s quiet. Resistant. Disengaged.

Maybe you’ve heard things like:

“She’s just not trying.”
“She doesn’t seem motivated.”
“She’s falling behind in English.”

But what if none of that is true?

The Real Reason She’s Not Writing

When I was a student teacher in a traditional classroom, I had a student who fit that description perfectly.

She never spoke. Her papers were blank. My mentor teacher had already written her off.

But I saw something different. Her classmates told me she did theater. That she sang.

She had a voice—just not in the classroom.

So I brought in an Ariana Grande son, "Best Mistake," to teach tone and mood. Something clicked.

After that, her pages filled with writing. She didn’t speak up much, but her thinking came alive on paper. Today? She’s a performing singer-songwriter.

Why I Built a House on Mango Street Novel Study for Homeschoolers

That student changed the way I teach. And that experience inspired me to build a literature curriculum designed to meet students like her exactly where they are.

This novel study for The House on Mango Street is built specifically for homeschool families—especially those raising girls of color or quiet, thoughtful teens.

Sandra Cisneros’ poetic vignettes offer a powerful mirror for students who don’t often see themselves in traditional school texts. The themes of voice, identity, and becoming resonate deeply—and make the perfect foundation for both literary analysis and personal writing.

What’s Included in This Self-Paced Homeschool Novel Study

Your child will:

• Closely read The House on Mango Street with guided prompts
• Build foundational skills in literary analysis (tone, symbolism, mood, structure)
• Respond to the text through journaling and personal reflection
• Practice analytical paragraph writing
• Write their own original vignette inspired by Sandra Cisneros’ style

The course is:

✅ Self-paced
✅ Perfect for middle and high school homeschoolers
✅ Designed by a certified English teacher
✅ Grounded in both academic rigor and creative voice development

Who This Course Is For

This House on Mango Street novel study is ideal for:

• Homeschooling families of girls of color
• Parents of reluctant writers
• Students who are quiet, creative, or emotionally thoughtful
• Teens who haven’t felt seen in traditional English class books
• Families seeking inclusive homeschool curriculum that nurtures voice and self-expression

Final Thoughts

Sometimes students just need a different kind of invitation.
A book that feels like home.
A lesson built around them.
A chance to write like their voice matters—because it does.

The House on Mango Street was that book for me, and for so many of my students. I hope it will be for your child too.