Welcome to English 9R!

Mrs. Doggett

Room 201

853-5574 Ext. 7

507-1735

I am so very excited about this journey we will travel together as you enter high school and an important phase of your life! It is my goal to assist in the academic process, but also in the adjustment process. I will be frank, no….I am Mrs. Doggett. But seriously….This year is the beginning of something BIG! What you do this year and in the following years of high school will determine what your options later in life may be. You may think I am being very serious. I AM. Having taught seniors the last few years, one of the things that they tell me is that they wish they had done some things differently in their first three years of high school. The results of surveys they took for me at the end of their time at CCS overwhelmingly point out a few important points that they wish to leave with incoming freshmen.

These include:

  1. I wish had had applied myself more and had a better GPA. I might have been admitted to more colleges and had more choices.
  2. I wish I had actually read the books and studied.
  3. I wish I had joined a club, group or sport.
  4. I wish I had taken a greater variety of classes to help me determine what I might really want to be when I grow up.
  5. It is really important to maintain good behavior, because you will need to ask people for letters of recommendation.
  6. Pay attention to deadlines and don’t wait until the last minute.
  7. Own your own behavior and deal with the consequences of the choices you make.
  8. Learn to communicate directly with teachers.
  9. Don’t make lame excuses.
  10. Be respectful. You never know when you might need other people to help you out.

I know your parents love you and think you are wonderful. I am sure that you are! However, high school is less AYSO soccer mentality and more survival of the fittest. I am not trying to scare you. I am merely trying to help you see from day one that everyone is not the same. All answers and essays are not equal. I have found that students often believe that because they have produced something that it is a masterpiece. It is perfect. It is fabulous. Mothers are often like that with new babies. They believe that the child is the most amazing beautiful being that ever existed because it is theirs and they produced it. However, most of us can agree that new babies are often wrinkly looking little alien type beings. I am encouraging you to look at your work with a critical eye. I am also encouraging you to realize that everyone is not the same and there are degree of greatness and grades. Just because you have done something does not necessarily mean it is fabulous. We will work together this year to make your work fabulous by editing and revising. Red marks on a paper are just my way of saying I care enough about you to give you feedback to make your next piece better. Take the time to look at the red marks, meet with me and discuss the red marks. It is though feedback that we learn. A paper without feedback is a sad paper.

We will strive for excellence together.

EXPECTATIONS:

Be polite.

Be punctual.

Be prepared.

MATERIALS:

-a notebook or composition notebook to be used as a journal

-a folder

-a notebook for notes

-loose leaf paper

- Ziploc baggie

- 3x5 index cards

-pen

What NOT to bring:

-a negative attitude or anything that will distract you

GRADES:

40 percent: tests, quizzes, essays

40 percent: homework, class work, projects

20 percent: journals

LATE WORK:

Work that is not turned in on a deadline will not receive credit. It is imperative that students complete work on a timely basis. If a student is in the building on a day when an assignment is due, they are to get me the assignment EVEN if they are not in my class for another reason (nurse, skipping, or a field trip).

ABSENCES FROM CLASS:

Students are responsible for getting any work or notes that they miss due to an absence. I suggest that the first day of class they get the number of a “homework buddy”.

If a student misses a test or a quiz, they have TWO days from the day of their return to make up the test or quiz. This must be done in my room under my supervision. If a student misses a test on a Monday and they return on Tuesday, they have until the end of the day on Thursday to make up that quiz. I am available daily during fifth period (lunch), during my plan periods(2,6,and 9) and after school until 3:00 p.m.(if arranged ahead of schedule).

EXTRA HELP:

I am available fifth period (lunch) as well as periods 2, 6 and 9. I am also available after school until 3:00 p.m. (if arranged ahead).

I also encourage students to feel free to call me with any questions or concerns they may have (before 9:00 p.m. please). My number is 507-1735.

LITERATURE:

We will be using an anthology and various novels in class this year. The anthology is only a class set, so it cannot leave the room; however, there are plenty of novels.

WINNING EQUATION (No, this is not a math class!):

EFFORT = RESULTS

Please go over this with your parent(s), sign it and return it to me.

I look forward to seeing where the journey takes us this year. Please feel free to see me if you need any assistance adjusting to the high school.

______

(Student signature)(Date)

______

(Parent signature) (Date)

______

(Teacher signature)(Date)