Sixth Grade
The sixth graders have been working hard for the short stories unit.  This unit has largely focused on literary elements including characterization, theme, mood, plot, resolution, etc.  All the stories revolved around a central “big question”: Is conflict always negative?  For each story, we have discussed how this question applies and the students have done a great job of giving informed opinions and input!  We have read a number of selections from the course textbook.  The unit will wind up with a return to the essay structure the sixth graders first learned in the Tom Sawyer unit earlier this year.  I will help the sixth graders to continue to build their understanding of what essays “look like”—how they should go about presenting an argument and making a clear point.  This is a skill we will continue to practice over the next two years in middle school English.
Our next unit will connect to the history surrounding the Holocaust.  We will focus our studies on The Diary of Anne Frank.  Mr. Cleveland will help provide a historical context for the unit and I am looking forward to making some cross-curricular connections between English and History.  Additionally, I have arranged for a Holocaust Survivor to speak at GHS on Monday, March 19th at 9 am.  It will be a wonderful opportunity for all GHS students to witness a firsthand account of that historical moment, but it will be particularly meaningful for the 6th graders who will be just finishing up the Anne Frank unit.  Parents are welcome to attend this event.  Please make sure your student has a copy of the edited version of Anne Frank, ISBN Number: 0-553-29698-1 by Tuesday, February 21st.

Seventh Grade
The seventh graders are currently working on their creative writing project which culminates the unit on The House on Mango Street.  The book is written in vignettes (short stories that are self-contained) but which are strung together by the larger themes such as the importance of understanding one’s roots, the power of the written word, and the value of pursuing one’s dreams.  The seventh graders seem to have truly enjoyed this novel as evidenced by the lively class discussions we have engaged in each day.
We will begin a poetry unit at the end of February.  For this unit, each seventh grader will complete a poem recitation similar to what they did last year.  Additionally, each student will complete several analytical writes which explicate (explain) poems we read in class.  The unit will end with a poetry portfolio comprised of original poems written and revised in class (I call it the Poetry Portfolio 2.0).  We will read a variety of poems from famous poets such as Dylan Thomas, Walt Whitman, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, and my personal favorite, William Carlos Williams.  I will create a poetry packet for the students so you do NOT have to purchase a book for this unit!  Last year, the overwhelming favorite unit of study was by far the poetry unit and I look forward to building on this enthusiasm and continuing to help the seventh graders foster their lifelong love of poetry!  I know I have some amazing poets in this class and I can’t wait to read their work!

Eighth Grade
The students are wrapping up the novel Into the Wild and are fast approaching yet another analytical essay. I am impressed by the classroom discussions we have had regarding the character of Chris McCandless and the poignant writings of Jon Krakauer.  The students have seemed to grasp the concept of transcendentalism and have had wonderful, personal responses to the novel.  It has been a great joy to partake in such in-depth class discussions…they are certainly ready for high school literature classes!  This group of 8th graders never ceases to astonish me and it has been a pleasure to be their teacher this year.
I would imagine that most of your children have already informed you (with great dread) that we are soon beginning Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare’s most widely known plays.  I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make this text accessible for students of all levels.  The first is that we will be using a side by side version of the text (please purchase a copy of the book ISBN number: 978-1-58049-517-2 by Tuesday, February 21st).  Secondly, I will have students do a number of visual activities including acting out scenes, drawing/illustrating themes, viewing various film versions of the play and creating promptbooks.  Lastly, the students will learn about connotation, which is the key to understanding any difficult text, especially Elizabethan language.  This is a skill that will serve them well in high school and college.  I am SO excited about this unit!

GHS Students Experience the Arts on Field Trip for English Class!

On Tuesday, January 17^th, the middle school students had the opportunity to experience live theater at Sacramento’s own B Street Theater. Eric Coble put on a wonderful adaptation of Lois Lowry’s The Giver, which was the second show of the B Street’s “Family Series”. The show is about a young man who learns what it means to grow up and take control of one’s own destiny. B Street Theater is a two-theater playhouse located in Midtown Sacramento and is recognized as one of Northern California’s top professional theaters. Last year, the sixth graders saw “Extraordinary Things: Through the Eyes of Anne Frank”, a wonderful rendition of The Diary of Anne Frank. All the students enjoyed the chance to see the arts and an afternoon off from their regular schedule. Mrs. Baldwin was so proud of how well behaved her students were… she is already looking forward to next year’s trip!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 marked the second annual GHS Coffee House.  Current sixth grade students were invited to share some of their original poetry and/or recite a well known poem from memory.  A number of students chose to share poems written by poets such as Robert Frost and Edgar Allen Poe.  Coffee and refreshments were abundant, as was well written verse.  The sixth grade class put on a fine show indeed!  Poetry anthology books filled with original 6th grade poems were sold and proceeds will benefit the middle school library.  It was a memorable evening and Mrs. Baldwin is already looking forward to next year’s event!  A special thanks to all the parents who volunteered for the event, especially the Coffee House Committee: Anne Jacobs, Kristin Beard-King, Mary Lesman and Emmaly Vielhauer.

On the chilly evening of Tuesday, November 16th, about 3 dozen GHS students and parents stuffed into the Rolling Hills Middle School Auditorium along with throngs of other students and community members for a very special event... to witness a first-hand account of the Holocaust from a true survivor.

As the speaker shared her story, the audience hung on every word.  The poised and well-spoken Mrs. Marion Blumenthal Lazan shared her horrific experience, providing details that you cannot often find in history textbooks or WWII films.  Details such as not having access to a toothbrush, toilet paper or soap for over two years made her experience more tangible to her audience.  Mrs. Lazan spent several years in Bergen-Belsen, a Nazi concentration camp, and endured more atrocities than any young child should ever have to.

Remarkably, her message was positive as is her outlook on life.  Mrs. Lazan emphasized the wonderful aspects of her life now--her husband of 58 years, her 3 children and her 9 grandchildren--blessings she focuses on instead of the horrors of her past.  She called the students of today to action.  Her only request of the students who came to hear her speak was that they always act with compassion toward others, and that they share her story so that those who died in the Holocaust will never be forgotten.  She reminded us of the basic idea of humanity and the importance of always treating others with civility and respect.  The evening was truly emotional and her speech was nothing short of historic.  I know it is an experience I will never forget.  Thank you to those students who attended this very special event, but most of all, thank you to Mrs. Lazan for sharing her incredible story with us.