Christmas....almost.

We are moving rather quickly along here as we get closer to Christmas.
The students are about to start Chapter 9 (of 12) in The Outsiders, and we have
had some exciting discussions about the novel in class. The whole theme of Insider/Outsider
has been particularly interesting. Most of us can identify with feeling like either one at some
time or another.

As we come to find out, Johnny has broken his back and is slipping in and out of consciousness in the hospital. The whole gang is worried. What would they do without Johnny???

We are planning on watching the film version of The Outsiders the final week before Christmas vacation begins. I am sending home a letter for the parents. The movie has receieved lots of fantastic reviews because it is one of the rare attempts to match the book as closely as possible. Parents are encouraged to view clips or the whole film on www.youtube.com.

Please feel free to contact me with any additional quesitons.

Coming up...

• Cool words quiz Friday 12/9


• Chapter 8 Reading Responses and Quiz Friday 12/9


• Scene Comic Strips due Friday 12/9


• Chapter 9 Reading and Questions due Monday, 12/12


• Chapters 10/11 due Wednesday, 12/14


• Chapter 12 due Friday, 12/16 and finally...


• Chapter 13 due Monday, 12/19

Happy 2nd week of Advent everyone!

Peace,

Mrs. Emmerich

Weekend Homework: 12/2

I am sorry we ran out of time to really review your homework.
For Monday:

• Read Chapter 6 in The Outsiders


• Answer the 3 Reading Questions in your notebooks (Reading Quiz)


• New Cool Words List: 10 Literary Terms or English Terms


• Ex: protagonist, antagonist, symbol, metaphor, similie, etc.

Thank you.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Mrs. Emmerich

Happy Thanksgiving 7th Graders...

Be Thankful
Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to.


Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.


Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.


Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.


Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.


Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.


Be thankful when you are tired and weary
because it means you made a difference.


It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
a life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.


Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

Poem for Chapter 2: Aidan Courtney

There lay Johnny
on the green grass
his white shirt,
splatted
With his own
blood.
But I just stood by,
and watched,
as my friend Johnny,
was laying on the green grass.

The Outsiders

Our 7th grade has just started reading the well known novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

During our pre-reading activities last week, the 7th graders brainstormed characteristics of the Greasers and the Socs, concluding that these differences could eventually lead to a considerable amount of tension in the story.

The students also predicted these fights would be based on class differences, physical appearances, and different values. Predicting is one of the active reading strategies we use to understand a text.

Chapter 1 introduces us to Pony, his brothers, and the gang of friends they consider family. We find out Pony's parents were killed in an accident several years ago, and Darry is in charge of the brothers now. As we find out, it isn't easy being a Greaser...someone is always ready to jump you.

Homework Question

Homework Question:

Please answer the following question in complete sentences. You will receive credit for this assignment by responding to this post below in a comment form.

Question: What is one thing you hope to learn in English class during quarter two ? Please explain why.

Thank you!
Mrs. Emmerich

Builders Club Elections

Congratulations!

Our Builders Club members just held their first officer elections this past Tuesday. Congratulations to all of our nominees and our newest elected officers.

President: Tanner Condit
Vice President: Skylar Hollenback
Treasurer: David Kopeck
Secretary: Kendell Lincoln

Although the officers run the meetings and help keep our club organized, we NEED enthusiastic, dedicated BC members to help our club succeed and stay active. Without you, we cannot possibly accomplish all that we hope to this year. Please know you are all valuable assets to our BC.

*Announcements:

• Kellen Round and Tanner Condit sold a combined $300.00 worth of coffee during parent teacher conferences this past Thursday. Thank you both for your time and energy!!


• Our next BC meeting will take place during recess on Tuesday, November 15. We will continue our "Coffee Talk" sales discussion, a wrap-up of "Trick or Eat" and begin working on our "Brownies for Browne" fundraiser. We hope to see you ALL there!

Thank you!

Mrs. Emmerich