Welcome to my class!
This website is to keep my students and parents informed of the activities and events in my various classes. This year, in Semester 1, I will be teaching Comparative Mythology, General English 11, and General English 12, and in Semester 2, English 9, General English 11, and General English 12 . The links to my class syllabus can be found on the appropriate web pages.
Please visit often to get the latest news and information on what is happening in our class. If you have any questions about our program or progress please don't hesitate to contact me! I am looking forward to working with you this year!
Please visit often to get the latest news and information on what is happening in our class. If you have any questions about our program or progress please don't hesitate to contact me! I am looking forward to working with you this year!
About Me
I am a 1986 graduate of Marian Catholic High School in Tamaqua. I graduated with a B.A. in professional writing from Kutztown University with a minor in public relations and worked in business as a technical writer and Director of Public Relations for Polymer Dynamics and as Director of Development for Marian Catholic High School before starting my family in 1998. I have two children; Dominic and Cara Anna. Dom is a sophomore at Muhlenberg College, and Cara Anna is a senior at Lehighton High School. I went back to school to earn my teaching certificate at Kutztown University when my children were both under the age of five. I loved my previous work, but I decided that I wanted to have more time with my family than my previous employment afforded. I started the teaching certification program and worked towards a master's degree at the same time. I student taught at Lehighton High School and Northwestern Lehigh Middle School before starting my teaching career at Lehigh Carbon Community College as an adjunct professor in the English Department. During my time at LCCC, I taught writing courses: English 100, English 105, and English 107. This is my twelfth year as part of the Palmerton Area School District. I am co-advisor for the Palmerton chapter of Future Business Leaders of America and co-advisor for Region-21 of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America. I host the chess and gaming club in my room, B-130, every Tuesday.
I love football (Penn State, Eagles, and of course Muhlenberg College; my son plays at linebacker). I prefer reading to watching TV, and I often have more than one book going at the same time. I read mostly historical fiction, dystopic science fiction, paranormal fiction, and sometimes books that cross all of those genres. I also make it a point to read two books related to education every Summer. This Summer I read A Framework for Understanding Poverty, and In a Queer Time and Place. I also try and read at least one non-fiction novel. This Summer, I read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Spook, Stiff, and Science of the Magical. All in all, I read over 20 novels this Summer, and I have five more in various states of completion. I am currently reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine, Fault Lines in the Constitution by Cynthia and Sanford Levinson, and Deadly Proof by M. Lousia Locke. I love animals, especially my dog Ruckus.
I love football (Penn State, Eagles, and of course Muhlenberg College; my son plays at linebacker). I prefer reading to watching TV, and I often have more than one book going at the same time. I read mostly historical fiction, dystopic science fiction, paranormal fiction, and sometimes books that cross all of those genres. I also make it a point to read two books related to education every Summer. This Summer I read A Framework for Understanding Poverty, and In a Queer Time and Place. I also try and read at least one non-fiction novel. This Summer, I read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Spook, Stiff, and Science of the Magical. All in all, I read over 20 novels this Summer, and I have five more in various states of completion. I am currently reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine, Fault Lines in the Constitution by Cynthia and Sanford Levinson, and Deadly Proof by M. Lousia Locke. I love animals, especially my dog Ruckus.
Please Note that the following rules and policies apply in ALL of my classes:
Grades will be based on a total point system. Any essays, including any written portions of projects, must be typed.
All papers will be graded using the PSSA scoring rubric and will be scored A, B, C, D, or F.
I believe that just like any ability, the ability to write well improves with practice. Therefore, daily or almost daily journal entries will constitute another portion of the final grade. The objectives of the writing prompts are to encourage students to do the reading on time, to read carefully and think critically, to come to class prepared to ask questions, and to become comfortable writing and responding to literature.
If students are assigned a reading for homework, there will be a quiz on that reading the next class period. The quizzes will consist of general knowledge questions. They are the best way to boost a grade with a minimal amount of effort. If vocabulary is part of the unit then all vocabulary lists will be assigned on a Monday and quizzes will be given on the following Monday. You will be expected to know both the definitions and the proper spelling of the words. Literature units will conclude with either a project or a general knowledge test to assess reading comprehension. These unit assessments will constitute a portion of your final grade.
Class participation will also be factored into each marking period grade. Class participation may include but is not limited to the timely submission of all essays/projects, rough drafts, homework assignments, and in class exercises. The final exam will reflect material from the entire course and will follow the Keystone exam format and style.
Attendance
Students will not have success in this class if they do not attend on a regular basis. If they are absent the day there is a quiz or test, they must make up that assessment within three days of their return to school or they will receive a zero. Assignments that were due on the day the student was absent are due within a week of their return or they will receive a zero.
Plagiarism
I remind you that plagiarism, or the unattributed use of another’s WORDS or IDEAS, through either quotation or paraphrase, is a serious breach of academic standards. Using the words or “help” of a friend or parent, cutting and pasting from the internet, and/or reproducing a paper or project you have had graded previously or have submitted for another class is also considered plagiarism. It is, indeed, a form of theft and form of fraud. If you plagiarize any of your work for this class, you will receive a zero for that assignment, be assigned a detention, and it will be reported to the main office. We will be discussing in class how to avoid unintentional plagiarism. If, at any point, you have a question about plagiarism, ask me immediately.
Homework Policy
Homework is expected to be completed by the assigned due date. Missing homework will be counted as zero points. After three missing assignments, parental contact will be made and a personal detention will be assigned. For larger assignments, projects, and papers, late work will be accepted for up to three days past the due date with a loss of 10 percent per day. Missing assignments will not be allowed to be made up once the unit test has been given; they will also disqualify a student from extra credit.
Grades will be based on a total point system. Any essays, including any written portions of projects, must be typed.
All papers will be graded using the PSSA scoring rubric and will be scored A, B, C, D, or F.
I believe that just like any ability, the ability to write well improves with practice. Therefore, daily or almost daily journal entries will constitute another portion of the final grade. The objectives of the writing prompts are to encourage students to do the reading on time, to read carefully and think critically, to come to class prepared to ask questions, and to become comfortable writing and responding to literature.
If students are assigned a reading for homework, there will be a quiz on that reading the next class period. The quizzes will consist of general knowledge questions. They are the best way to boost a grade with a minimal amount of effort. If vocabulary is part of the unit then all vocabulary lists will be assigned on a Monday and quizzes will be given on the following Monday. You will be expected to know both the definitions and the proper spelling of the words. Literature units will conclude with either a project or a general knowledge test to assess reading comprehension. These unit assessments will constitute a portion of your final grade.
Class participation will also be factored into each marking period grade. Class participation may include but is not limited to the timely submission of all essays/projects, rough drafts, homework assignments, and in class exercises. The final exam will reflect material from the entire course and will follow the Keystone exam format and style.
Attendance
Students will not have success in this class if they do not attend on a regular basis. If they are absent the day there is a quiz or test, they must make up that assessment within three days of their return to school or they will receive a zero. Assignments that were due on the day the student was absent are due within a week of their return or they will receive a zero.
Plagiarism
I remind you that plagiarism, or the unattributed use of another’s WORDS or IDEAS, through either quotation or paraphrase, is a serious breach of academic standards. Using the words or “help” of a friend or parent, cutting and pasting from the internet, and/or reproducing a paper or project you have had graded previously or have submitted for another class is also considered plagiarism. It is, indeed, a form of theft and form of fraud. If you plagiarize any of your work for this class, you will receive a zero for that assignment, be assigned a detention, and it will be reported to the main office. We will be discussing in class how to avoid unintentional plagiarism. If, at any point, you have a question about plagiarism, ask me immediately.
Homework Policy
Homework is expected to be completed by the assigned due date. Missing homework will be counted as zero points. After three missing assignments, parental contact will be made and a personal detention will be assigned. For larger assignments, projects, and papers, late work will be accepted for up to three days past the due date with a loss of 10 percent per day. Missing assignments will not be allowed to be made up once the unit test has been given; they will also disqualify a student from extra credit.