Course Syllabus
VIDEO NOTE: I have recycled and edited this video from the last time I taught 9ACP, which was in 2020-21, during our remote/hybrid teaching days. I decided to do this because there's a part in here where I talk about what pandemic teaching has taught me, which I do believe is reflected in my classroom structure and my relationship with your student. CONTENT EDIT: I've been teaching at WHS since 2006, which is now longer than the 15 years I mention in the video.
_________
Office Hours: Posted weekly on the Engage! Page Agendas. Click above.
English 9 ACP
I would like to welcome you and your student to 9th grade! It is wonderful to be a part of the Wellesley High School community and I look forward to getting to know you as the year progresses. I have had the pleasure of teaching 9th grade English for nearly 20 years, and I understand the learning curve of adjusting to a new school, new teachers, and new expectations. (In many ways we are ALL doing that this year!)
To make this transition from middle school to high school as least-bumpy as possible (‘smooth’ would be a euphemistic adjective), I encourage parental figures to participate in their student’s education by taking an active interest in their development as a student and learner, but to allow them a bit more room to feel their own oats. My class is structured in a way that provides students with the tools for meeting expectations and succeeding in this new environment. I ask that you support your child’s efforts to complete their own work independently. Students who take ownership of their work typically enjoy greater success.** I ask you also to be aware that homework is assigned nightly; this work is designed to either reinforce/extend the class activity of the day, or prepare students for the next day’s activity. Click on the 'Engage! Agendas' button above to access daily agendas and homework for both in-building and remote learning students. I hope that we can work together to reinforce good work/study habits at home so that your student stays current and confident.
**Please note that consulting websites such as Sparknotes/ LitCharts etc., which summarize and analyze literature (and undermine the development of students’ critical thinking skills), is considered cheating. Also, use of AI Chatbots to produce work that is not one's own is also cheating and I will follow the plagiarism protocol listed in the Student Handbook.
PARENTAL FIGURES: PLEASE CLICK THROUGH TO THE ENGAGE! AGENDAS USING THE BUTTON ABOVE & ACKNOWLEDGE (VIA THE STICKY NOTE I SENT HOW WITH YOUR STUDENT) THAT YOU'VE READ THIS LETTER & SEEN THAT RUNNING DOCUMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!! WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!
PLEASE READ BELOW THE NEWSLETTER THAT SERVES AS A SYLLABUS FOR MY CLASS!
IN CASE YOU MISSED THE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT GUIDE FROM CLASS, HERE IT IS FOR YOU TO PRINT, USE, & BRING TO CLASS.
“When we choose to love, we choose to move against fear, against alienation and separation. The choice to love is a choice to connect, to find ourselves in the other."
– bell hooks, author, professor, activist