Roaring Rapids School – Self-Study Lesson 7

1. 🎧 Listen for the Big Idea (First Listening)

Step 1: Listen one time without reading.

Don’t worry about every word. Just ask yourself:

• What problem does Matt notice in the bunkhouse?
• What does Jake say a complaining man is like?
• What choice does Matt make by the end of the story?

2. 📖 Read for Meaning (Second Listening)

Step 2: Listen again while reading the story text.

This time, notice how the story changes from complaining to thankfulness.

• Underline or copy one sentence that shows Matt is troubled by complaining.
• Underline or copy one sentence that shows Jake’s advice.
• Underline or copy one sentence that shows Matt choosing a better attitude.

3. 🧾 Vocabulary List (Key Words from the Story)

Study these words before listening again.

4. 🔁 Key Phrase Practice (Repeat Aloud)

Say these aloud 3 times each:

• “It gets into your head.”
• “This ain’t the way I want to think.”
• “A complaining man is like someone carryin’ a sack of burrs on his back.”
• “Complaining spreads too.”
• “You can’t stop the wind from blowin’ or the snow from snowin’.”
• “You choose what you carry, son.”
• “You can carry the burrs, or you can carry the blessings.”
• “I reckon I’d rather carry the blessings.”

This is a full professional self-study lesson based on one ranch chapter.

5. ❓ Comprehension Questions (Answer in Your Own Words)

Write full sentences.

1. Where is Matt at the beginning of the story?
2. What does Hank Dobbs complain about?
3. Why does Matt feel troubled by the complaining?
4. What question does Matt ask Jake near the barn?
5. What does Jake’s father compare a complaining man to?
6. According to Jake, what are some things in life a person cannot change?
7. What can a person choose instead of complaining?
8. How does Matt respond when Hank complains again at the end?

6. 🗣 Speaking Prompts (Record Yourself if Possible)

Answer out loud. Speak for 1–2 minutes.

• Have you ever been around someone who complained often? How did it affect you?
• What does Jake mean when he says complaining is like carrying a sack of burrs?
• Why can thankfulness make a hard day feel lighter?
• What are some things people cannot control, and what can they control?
• Tell about one blessing from your own life.

🎧 Optional: Record yourself and listen again.

7. ✍️ Writing Task (5–10 Sentences)

Choose ONE:

• Option A: Summary – Write 6–10 sentences summarizing what happens in Chapter 7.
• Option B: Personal Reflection – Write about a time when complaining made a situation harder, or thankfulness made it easier.
• Option C: Three Blessings – Write three blessings from your own life. Then write one sentence about how remembering each blessing can help you on a difficult day.