Cam was able to recall where we left off last class on Tuesday. He summarized the chapter satisfactorily mentioning how Ponyboy and Johnny met up with Dally and sneaked into the drive-in theatre. He correctly noted that the character Dally enjoys the challenge of sneaking in because he hates to do anything the legal way. He also suggested reasons why Dally made rude comments to the two new female characters - the Soc cheerleaders. His observations about Johnny (the gang's pet) character were accurate and insightful.
We reactivated prior knowledge as I queried Cam about the characters that were introduced in the last chapter. He demonstrated excellent recall and retrieval skills and responded to questions correctly. We also began reading in Chapter II and discussed the new characters that were introduced - the Soc girls, one of whom is a cheerleader and who expressed kindness to Ponyboy the protagonist, and asked about his brother. Cam made predictions about what we think would happen as the story unfolds and reviewed the slang vocabulary that the author uses which was typical of the neighborhood, location, and time the action takes place.
We finished reading the chapter in "The outsiders," and Cam and I discussed positive and negative stereotypes when comparing the difference between the greasers and the Socs, the two rival gangs in the novel. Cam was encouraged to make person-to-text connections and apply the concept of stereotypes in his own life. We also examined the difference between wealth and poverty and the theme of societal conflict that seems to be emerging between the two gangs as the plot develops. Cam participated in guided reading and we ended the session examining some of the vocabulary used in 60's slang in South central America (Oklahoma) where the novel takes place.
Today, we explored the concept of 'herd mentality' as it applies to 'The Outsiders.' We defined the term noting that it's a term that describes how people are influenced by their peers to adopt beliefs and behaviors favored by the group. Cam and I discussed ways the two different gangs in the novel - the Socs and Greasers - conform to social norms and expectations. Cam was encouraged to cite possible reasons why one gang might be more strongly influenced by herd behavior than the other; we noted privileged status and social standing as two possibilities.
Grammar Spelling Wordly Wise Literature Language Arts Reading Comprehension
Lesson Outline
Kaitlin Completed several activities using her Spelling and Wordly Wise words demonstrating her knowledge and understanding of how these words are used in context. We reviewed important characters, vocabulary, and themes in the Odyssey.
Cam read a poem and answered questions about it. He read and analyzed the Shakespearean sonnet, "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?" His analysis was intuitive, and he was an active participant in discussion.
