the outsiders - the movie part 2

Today we finished the movie and some classes got to watch some of the extras on the DVD. This includes Hinton talking about the making of the movie and actors looking back on it. It was neat to see how they were with each other during the making of this wonderful film. We also learned that it was a letter from a seventh grade class that made Coppola decide to read the book and make the film. Cool!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving break and roll back in here refreshed and ready to go! I know I will!

the outsiders - the movie

Today we talked a little bit about the compare/contrast paper and then started the movie. I love this story so much! The book is great, the movie is great, what else can I say! :)

outside the outsiders

Today we did all different things in each of my classes. Here is the rundown:

3/4 hour read chapters 10 and 11 and then we tried to get caught up on the summaries. If you are missing chapters, go to the podcast manager and listen to 7/8's summaries of chapters 1-8. After that we talked about grades. Progress reports are being mailed Tuesday and I don't want you guys to be surprised. We will finish the last chapter on Monday and then talk about the paper and start the movie.

5/6 hour finished the book! It was so fun seeing your faces! We also worked on the summaries and then talked about grades.

7/8 hour worked on the summaries and recorded some more of them. Then we talked about the poem and tried to figure out a picture representation of "Nothing Gold Can Stay". I ran out of time to talk about your grades, but I will share your printouts with you on Monday.

5/6 and 7/8 will start out Monday introducing the compare/contrast paper you guys will write for the film and the book. Then we will start watching it. You guys are going to love it!

Remember that the double-entry journals are due Tuesday and 7/8 hour has summaries for chapters 9-12 due Monday.

no release

Today was hectic! We had a lot to do and not enough time to do it! I am proud that so many of you were able to finish your business letters. After school I put them in the mail, so they will go out tomorrow and be on their way. It will be neat to see how many come back! Many of you also completed the survey. I appreciate your patience with the slowness of the internet. I think everyone was doing them at once and that slows the whole system down. UGH! Anyway, you guys were great. I also got many great responses to the blog question. There will be another one up there soon.

Tomorrow will be cleanup. If you did not finish your business letter, you will be first on the computers. Then the people who need to take the survey. Last will be the blog questions. We will also listen to a chapter and go over the worksheets that were due yesterday. We are almost done with the book!

don't judge a book by its cover

Today we read some more of The Outsiders and talked about the theme of the novel. There are many possible themes to it. Just one of them is that we should not stereotype people - don't judge someone by the way they look or dress. Just because someone has long, greasy hair, that does not mean they are a hood. Not all Socs are like Bob and not all greasers are like Dally. We will talk more about the theme as we finish the book later this week.

We also worked on the summaries. 7/8 hour recorded two podcasts for everyone to use as a resource. They are fantastic! You can listen to them here.

Tomorrow is an early release day, but we have much to do! We have the lab and we will (finally) finish and mail the business letters. Anyone who needs to will finish the Tungsten and you will have time to answer the blog question (and there will probably be another one up there). I want us to have a chance to really discuss this book since it is such a wonderful story and is so deep with meaning - there is so much to talk about and I want to know what you think! :)

gang music

Today we compared and contrasted the two gangs in The Outsiders, the Socs and the greasers. We talked about it and then we listened to the music they each like. Finally, we used the clickers to determine which would identify with two other songs, "Did you ever have to make up your mind?" by the Lovin' Spoonful and "My Generation" by The Who. I really enjoyed it and I hope it will help you guys remember the differences between the two groups!

We also listened to a little bit of the next chapter, but I want you to finish it at home tonight. We will listen to a lot of it tomorrow and discuss it. We will also be going over the summaries and character charts, as well as the two worksheets on conflict and idioms. I have to say that from what I've seen, you guys really know conflict! Er...the literary kind..you know, not the physical kind. Aw, you know what I mean! :)

This is not happening.

Today we read an extremely exciting chapter in The Outsiders. In previous chapters we discovered that it is important to judge individuals by themselves and not lump them into groups (Soc or greaser). We also discovered that Socs may not have the easiest lives ("Things are rough all over."). Well, in chapter 4 there was an altercation. Ponyboy almost got killed and Bob was killed by Johnny. They managed to get out of there and are staying in a church in Windrixville. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

7/8 took the tungsten. The rest of you will take it tomorrow. It seems like you guys did pretty well on it, but I will check on that tomorrow morning.

personal point of view

How does the point of view affect the telling of The Outsiders? How would it be different in third person omnicient or third person limited? Be specific and write at least five sentences.

blades and sunsets?

Today we read some more of The Outsiders. I love this book! We are really exploring the class relationships and enjoying the wonderful language of the book. I hope you guys are enjoying it as much as I am! I will post a question tonight or tomorrow morning - so be on the lookout.

We also worked on summaries and I am so impressed with your skills. Those sixth grade teachers have taught you well! My challenge class will be posting podcast summaries of each chapter starting next Monday (or perhaps sooner?). So, that will be an added resource for everyone.

I neglected to warn you that we will be taking the Tungsten tomorrow. I am not sure if the paper copies have come back from the copy center yet, but I am hoping we can do it on paper first again since I think that helps you guys a lot! We'll find out! :)

inside the outsiders

Today we started reading The Outsiders - a story about gangs in 1950s-60s Tulsa. Everyone loves this book (including me!) and it is so much fun to read. We will be doing fun things with it in class. I also handed back a bunch of papers and we did hearing screenings up in the library.

I had so much fun meeting your parents at conferences tonight! You all are wonderful and I love telling your parents that!

Tomorrow we will continue with The Outsiders and will try to finish up the business letters.

feelin' nouny

Today was crazy! Ms. Roussin and Mr. Rheinecker were on a field trip, so 7/8 hour was weird and different. We worked on nouns - using different proper and specific common nouns in writing. I can't wait to read what you guys wrote! We also figured out how you were going to publish your memoirs. Many of you read them to the class or had them hung up in the room and a few will be made into podcasts for the website. That will be so neat!

I am going on a grading frenzy this weekend - so check Webgrade Sunday night to see your current grade in my class. :)

podcasts are up!

Today we (3/4 hour) read a personal essay about homelessness and discussed the causes of homelessness as well as sharing our experiences with it. It was a wonderful discussion! In 5/6 and 7/8 hour we finished Griffin and Sabine and wrote about what we thought happened at the end. We also recorded our podcasts and I put them up on my website. So, go here to listen online or download them! They are so cool!

We also all checked out The Outsiders and will begin it next week. I can't wait! You guys are going to love it!

more business letters

Today we worked on peer editing our business letters. I hope to have all the addresses so we can finish and mail them out by Monday. You guys did a very good job at peer editing. I'll just have to take a look at the results.

We also read Tina the Teen Fairy (3/4) and more of Griffin and Sabine (5/6 & 7/8). Griffin and Sabine is really getting interesting!

I also collected your podcasts (5/6 & 7/8) and we will record them tomorrow.