Quick Write/Making Connections A. Take a minute and remember your first day of seventh grade. What was it like? How did you feel? What did you wonder about? B. How does a person make a good first impression? Create a list of at least 5 things that would make a good first impression.

Gary Soto… Is the author of three novels, a memoir, several young-adult and children’s stories, and eleven poetry collections. He has won numerous awards for his work. As “the writer Joyce Carol Oates has said, "Gary Soto's poems are fast, funny, heartening, and achingly believable, like Polaroid love letters, or snatches of music heard out of a passing car; patches of beauty like patches of sunlight; the very pulse of a life."

About his Life… Gary Soto was born in Fresno, California, in April, 1952, to working-class Mexican- American parents. At a young age, he worked in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley. He was not academically motivated as a child, but became interested in poetry during his high school years.

Setting of the story “Seventh Grade” “Seventh Grade” takes place in a school in Fresno, California, which is the fifth largest city in the state. Fresno, which means ash tree in Spanish is located in the center of the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. There is no particular time era mentioned in the story, which leads the reader to assume that it takes place at the time it was written, in the 1980’s. The story takes place on the first day of school.

Historical Context of “Seventh Grade” This story likely took place in the 1980’s Clues: computer cards, crackling loud speaker, GQ Historical and Cultural Highlights of the 1980’s: the Cold War, conflict in the Middle East, space shuttle Challenger tragedy, E.T., Flashdance, Michael Jackson, Madonna, the cola wars (Coke vs. Pepsi), the preppie look, punk, neon, spandex, leg warmers, computer technology still new and evolving. This is a screen from an Atari video game. We thought this was very cool in the 80’s!

Cultural Context The main characters are are Mexican-American. The characters attended a Catholic school as children “…since they were in catechism classes at Saint Theresa’s…” pg. 1 The characters are probably not wealthy. According to the text, the boys picked grapes in order to buy their fall clothes.

Vocabulary Words from “Seventh Grade” elective: optional course or subject conviction: belief sheepishly: in a shy or embarrased way Sibera: a region in northern Asia known for its harsh winters

Vocabulary, Continued… portly: large, heavy, rounded ferocity: having great force linger: to stay; to remain scowl: an expression of anger; frown linger: stayed on; or stay behind

Spanish Words Used in the Story raza or “race” refers to people of Mexican- American, particularly Mexican- Native American descent saludo de vato: Spanish gestures of greetings between friends ese: man

French Language Used in the Story Bonjour: “Hello” or “Good Day” Très bien. Parlez-vous français? “Very well. Do you speak French?” Le bateau est sur l’eau: “The boat is on the water.”

PREDICTION Deciding how to “fit in” may be one of the biggest choices kids make in seventh grade. In the story, the characters have to make choices to try and fit in. Predict how you think Michael and Victor will change themselves in an effort to belong.