Mrs. Mansfield's Middle Ground
 
We will be concluding our study of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton soon.  Once we have completed our study of the novel, students will be writing comparative essays based on characterization.
 
What do good readers do?  While it may seem like a mystery to some, there are certain things good readers do that others don't.  Investigating what good readers do has been a focus of study as we read The Outsiders.  We are taking it slow so that we can focus on "what good readers do." Last week, we focused on the importance of background knowledge, either personal knowledge or personal experience, in understanding text and using those connections to improve our comprehension.
 
We have begun reading our first novel of the year, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.  At the beginning of the year, students identified several questions that they have in common a, including questions about themselves and their world.  We will be exploring some of these questions as we reflect on various themes in the novel, including questions about hatred and violence.  This is a good opportunity to learn more about what your son or daughter thinks about these important issues as well as to share your ideas and values with them.