Subject Update: Literature - 8/27

Today we started reading our first literature book for the year, S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders.  This coming-of-age story really engages the 8th graders as they learn about stereotypes, loyalty, and family while also exploring literary concepts like plot, conflict, and foreshadowing.

Something we do in 8th grade literature is begin to build the students' personal libraries.  To do this, most of the books this year will be brand new copies the school has purchased that are available for you purchase from us.  This gives the 8th graders ownership over the books they read, make notes to review in the text, and also allows them to leave with them when we finish.  The copies of The Outsiders we have are $10.  If you have your own copy, or want to try and find a bargain somewhere, that is perfectly fine.  I have used copies (which several took advantage of today, for short-term borrowing so you can check.

We should be finishing this book sometime around the end of September.  When we finish, we will be taking a test and then watching the 1983 movie version of the story (starring a lot of familiar faces before many knew who they were).  More information will come out about this as we get closer.

If there are any questions, let me know!