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The primary purpose of this web site is to help students and parents navigate their way through my classes and wrestling program. I hope this Web site will serve as a rich resource for all my students. The pages and links on this site illustrate my own eclectic tastes and interests. I hope you will take this opportunity to browse through the pages and familiarize yourself with this valuable tool. Feel free to email me any comments or suggestions that you might have on improving the Web site. Below you will find the “Classroom Rules and Procedures” handout that I give the students on the first day of class as an introduction to my course. |
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INTRODUCTION Welcome back to STH! I hope you enjoyed your summer vacation, and I trust that you are well rested and ready to begin anew. As a veteran St. Thomas student you are well acquainted with the school’s high standards, and my class will be no exception. I will give my best and I expect the same from you! Recommit to memory your school’s motto, “Teach me goodness, discipline, and knowledge,” and ready yourself for another demanding and productive year. BASIC GOAL OF MY COURSES The English department hopes to challenge each student with a vigorous program of studies. Primary objectives for Advanced English I, English III, and Creative Writing include reviewing and mastering grammar, deepening vocabulary, developing writing skills, learning to read critically, and fostering an appreciation and knowledge of World and American literature, experimenting with literary genres in individual creative projects. Reading and writing are crafts, and as such they require time and patience to develop properly. You are a mere apprentice to a craft that will take a lifetime to master. True to the nature of any craft, you will only get out as much as you put in. If you apply zero effort to your craftsmanship, this will be reflected in your work. Similarly, if you work diligently on your assignments as you are instructed, then you can hope to see steady improvement in your abilities. CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR Every student is capable of behaving well in this class. I hold myself to very high professional standards, and I expect the same from you as literary apprentices. I do have a few simple class rules which are as follows: 1. Treat your classmates and teachers with respect. There will be zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or calumny. 2. During exams, tests, and quizzes, desks should be cleared except for a cover sheet and absolute silence maintained. 3. Abstain from any use of profanity. 4. Refrain from talking or leaving your desk unless given permission to do so. 5. Raise your hand if you have any questions or comments. 6. All school rules in the Student Handbook must be followed. Students will be held accountable for their decisions and how they conduct themselves within the classroom. Misbehavior will result in the following consequences in order of offense: (1) Verbal warning (2) After-school detention with Mr. McConnell or me AFTER 3 DETENTIONS- (3) Parent phone call and participation grade reduction IF PROBLEM PERSISTS- (4) Student-parent-teacher conferences and participation grade reduction This is a college-preparatory high school, and as such this institution has very high academic and disciplinary standards. MATERIALS For Adv. English I, you will need: World Literature Arabian Nights Odyssey Inferno Vocabulary level E For English III, you will need: Norton Anthology of American Literature The Last of the Mohicans The Great Gatsby The Natural Vocabulary level G For Creative Writing, you will need: TBA For all three courses, you will need: The Little Brown Handbook Three-ring binder (1”) with dividers labeled as follows: A. LAPS B. notes/ handouts (followed by blank paper) C. tests/ quizzes D. essays/ projects Smaller items include: blue/black ink pens, pencils, journal (provided) Post-it notes (color coded for each LAP) Bring all books every day unless otherwise instructed. GRADES Adv. English I and English III 60% = tests, compositions, projects 30% = quizzes, homework, class work 10% = constructive participation, notebook, journal entries Creative Writing 50% = compositions 20% = participation 20% = impromptus & self-directed writings 10% = portfolio LAPS Learning Activity Packets (LAP) are THE essential tools for a successful career at St. Thomas. Students will receive a hard copy of the LAPs, but they can find them online as well at http://www.sths.org/moodle. LAPs serve as guides for the students, parents, and teachers. LAPS help organize and structure the academic courses of study at St. Thomas on both the micro and macro-levels. For example, a LAP provides a student with his homework for any given day as well as when the LAP test is to be given. This allows the student to use his time more effectively on an immediate basis as well as to plan ahead for tests, papers, and other major projects with upcoming deadlines. Homework assignments can be found on the LAP as well as dates for quizzes, tests, and papers. A wise student will pay close attention to his LAP, which will in turn insure that he is never surprised and always prepared. QUIZZES AND TESTS Classes often begin with a quiz, a brief writing assignment, or some other intellectual exercise of no more than ten minutes. These activities are designed to warm-up the human intellect much like one would the body prior to going for a run, playing a game, or participating in any other physical endeavor. The objective of this procedure is three-fold. First, it focuses students on their work immediately upon entry into the classroom. Secondly, it allows me to assess whether the students are paying attention in class and completing their homework. Thirdly, it enables the quick and easy recording of attendance without wasting valuable class time. The quizzes or writing assignments will typically cover class notes, reading assignments, or a combination. Tests are cumulative, but will again incorporate class notes and the reading assignments in a fashion similar to the quizzes and writing assignments. A LAP test is given at the conclusion of a LAP and brings closure to a specific area of study. The day of the exam or the day after, a new LAP will be distributed and the process repeated. The sorts of questions to be expected on quizzes and tests include the following: multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, quote identifications, and definitions. The tests will always include some sort of essay, which will seek to tie everything together and give the student an opportunity to think and write critically on an assigned topic with which they are familiar. TARDINESS/LATE WORK/MAKE-UP WORK/ABSENCES Be on time for class! If you were talking to a teacher or taking a test in the previous class, ask your teacher for a pass. Do not arrive to class late without a pass or note. Tardiness is aggravating and you will be penalized on your participation grade if it becomes a habitual problem. It may also result in a detention with Mr. McConnell or me. Late work will result in a grade penalty of ten points. If the late assignment is not turned in within two days of the due date, you WILL receive a zero for that assignment. This is college prep! If there is a family emergency, see me. If you are unsure of whether you are completing the homework properly, do it anyway and please come see me for assistance! Honest work will not be punished, although you may have to redo it correctly, but sloth will be dealt with swiftly and harshly in the above-named manner. The only exception to these guidelines will be for major essays. In the case of major essays, you will have a one-day window of grace, and then a student will receive a zero for the assignment. Exceptions will be made for any student! Make-up work must be completed before or after school, but not during class time. This is to avoid delays and the loss of further valuable instruction time. See me to schedule an appointment. A student will have the equivalent amount of time to make up an assignment as he was absent. So, if a student were absent two days, then he will have two days to make up the work. If the work is not completed in the allotted time, then he may merit an academic penalty and disciplinary action. It is the student’s responsibility to make up work that was missed during his absence. CHEATING/SPARKNOTES/CLIFFSNOTES Any student who is caught cheating will receive a failing grade for the assignment, quiz, or test. In addition, the student will be sent to the Dean of the Students and parents will be notified. Plagiarism is a serious offense. In a university setting, you would be expelled for such conduct. I may not catch it every time, but I have a keen eye for sniffing out work that is not your own. Ask former students! Sparknotes and Cliffsnotes are not permitted in the classroom at any time. Students will receive a detention and possibly a grade reduction if they bring such materials into my classroom. Although these documents may serve as helpful study guides, they must be stored and used at home under the guidance of a parent. Too often, these plot summaries serve as a short cut or substitute for the real work of reading and reflecting on a significant text. THE START OF CLASS Class WILL begin in an orderly fashion. When the bell rings, you are to be seated in your desk and ready to do one of two things. First, if there is a quiz on the overhead, you are to commence working on this assignment. Secondly, in the event that there is not a quiz, you are to have your book AND notes out on your desk and ready to go. A participation grade reduction will follow from repeated tardiness and a failure to begin class work on time. BATHROOM BREAKS & EXTRA CREDIT No bathroom breaks will be given! Don’t ask unless it is an absolute emergency! Extra credit assignments can be found ONLY on the LAPs. Do not rely on extra credit to balance out an insufficient academic performance. E-X-T-R-A credit implies that it is “extra,” or in addition to your normal work load. E-X-T-R-A credit should never be done if your normal work assignments are not completed or are inadequate. STUDENT CENTER: LAPS, STANDINGS, STUDENT WORK, NEWS Situated right next to the entry point of the classroom, the Student Information Center is conspicuous and easy to access for any and all my students. This center has many different functions. If a student loses a LAP, he can always find another copy at the center. If a student wants to check and see if he made the “Top 5” list for assessment performance, then he can do that as well. At times, excellent student work or art may be displayed on the board as well. Finally, interesting news articles will be posted on the board. In short, the Student Information Center is multifaceted. After every major assessment, two different Top 5 lists will be posted on the Student Information Center. The first Top 5 list will reflect the five highest performances on the most recent LAP test or essay. The second Top 5 list will reflect the five greatest improvements between two sequential assessments. REMEMBER PAVLOV!!!! |
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Mr. Thompson’s web site |
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ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL |
