Welcome to English Two withMrs. Cocksedge

(925) 634-3521

Why is this class so important, Mrs. Cocksedge?

Passing four years of English is required for graduation from Liberty and passing four years of English with a C or higher is required for admission to a four-year university.

Language Arts makes up a significant portion of the many standardized tests that you will take at Liberty and those will determine your future beyond Liberty. Colleges and universities may require the PSAT, SAT I, SAT II, or the ACT; community colleges require placement tests; the ASFAB will be important for those going into the military. It’s just a fact that testing is an important part of your life!

Having strong communication skills will help you in whatever career you follow. This class will seek to fine tune your communication skills while deepening your intellectual development.

However, there is more to life than academics and professional growth. The historical reason all educated people study literature is to help them think about the big issues in life, to understand themselves, and to gain new perspectives on their world.

Also, throughout history, people have wondered about “The Meaning of Life”. It is the driving force behind literature, philosophy, and religion. The theme of a story gives us insight into our questions about the meaning of life.

Stories can help us better understand ourselves and other people as well as help us develop our relationship with society and the world around us. I believe with every story we read, and so with every film we watch, we have a chance to learn something about life and ourselves.

  • FMRI studies show us that following a story- a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end- causes our brains to release cortisol and oxytocin. These chemicals give us the uniquely human ability to connect with someone, even a total stranger, and empathize. In other words, stories are what we use to find meaning in our lives. (Taken from the TV show “Perspective” July 15, 2014)

In this class, we will be using a new textbook. This textbook uses a variety of fiction and non-fiction selections to help you develop the skills you need to pass this class; and it will help you focus on your education while you deepen your understanding of The Meaning of Life, and find meaning in your own life.

How can I succeed in your class?

First of all, be here! It is crucial that you attend class every day because the critical thinking that each assignment requires simply cannot be duplicated by reading the text and answering questions on your own at home. You need to be here to learn how to make inferences and connections; this is the hardest part of reading comprehension. On the A/B Block schedule, we must cover double the material each day so you’ll fall behind twice as fast if you are absent.

Next, Do the Work! Completing all the assignments to the best of your ability and turning them in on time is the best way to ensure you pass the class. Get your make-up work from absences as soon as you return. Don’t hope that there will be some super emergency assignment that will pull you out of the black hole of failure at the end of the term. You will have to work with discipline and method in order to pass the class. You can always rewrite any benchmark essays you fail; and there are extra credit assignments that will help you pass any other benchmarks you are failing. Passing this class is rather easy if you just do the work!

Last of all; be nice to everyone in class! There are two principles that govern my teaching and the rules of this class: 1) Everything we do must promote learning and 2) the classroom must be a safe place for everyone. We have so much material to cover that we have no time to waste and no one has the right to prevent someone else from learning. The class must be a safe place both physically and emotionally for everyone. If people feel threatened or unsafe in any way, they simply cannot learn. Their brains shut down the learning areas and go into survival mode until the threat is gone. If either of these principles, and the rules that go with them, are broken, you will have to pay the consequences and I will notify both of your parents at work that day! If this kind of selfish behavior continues, you will be put on a contract that may result in your permanent removal from the class.

*Physically Safe means no throwing things, no fighting, no pushing or shoving each other or the desks, and no roughhousing.

*Emotionally Safe means no hate language, no racist remarks, no put-downs or insults, no profanity, and no teasing each other.

What do I do if I am absent?

Much to our dismay, the world does not revolve around us, and class will continue even if you are absent. There are several ways you can find out what you missed:

1) Check the website: click on Teachers, click on Margaret Cocksedge.

The daily agenda and homework will be posted here, as well as copies of any documents and files that are available on the computer.

2) Check with Mrs. Cocksedge

If you still have questions, you may come and ask me what you missed.Please do not ask during very busy times, such as the passing period, the beginning of class, or the end of class. There will be time during class when you can ask.

You are responsible for your absences! Late work is not accepted. If you miss two days of school, you have two days to complete the missing work, not two weeks. If you miss a test, or a video, or a performance you will have to come in at lunchtime to make it up.

What if I am struggling with the assignments?

If you are having trouble with any of the assignments, please come and ask me for help! Many of you are involved in sports, or you have an IEP or are on a 504 plan, or are simply struggling with emotional issues at home. Believe me, I understand. We all have hidden pain. I can work with you to ensure that you are able to complete the assignments, I can help you with any assignments you don’t understand, and I am here for you. I can simply listen if you just need a sympathetic ear. I am in my room every day at lunch, although Wednesdays and Fridays are the best days, and we can schedule to meet before or after school.

Late work is usually not accepted, but I can make exceptions for any of the above reasons if you let me know. I cannot help you if you don’t tell me you need help!

How will we be graded?

That is a great question. This is a standard based class, and follows the assignment schedule required by the district and the state of CA. Daily assignments, tests, essays, and participation will form the basis of your grade. We will move quickly so be here and keep up! Grades are posted frequently so check them often.

The SYLLABUSis as follows:

  1. The Springboard Text: This is a brand new textbook! The majority of our class assignments will be from this text. All the standards and benchmarks will be covered. There will be reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and tests. The tests will have a larger point value than the practice assignments. Most of your grades will be based on your class participation in the textbook activities, your scores on the Embedded Assessments, test scores, and the quarterly district tests. We will all be learning the new textbook format and content together, so please be patient!
  1. Novel Units: We may also be reading separate novels. These units will include informal writing assignments, various handouts, group assignments, and tests. These units contribute to the standards for the class and will help you succeed on the quarterly assessments. These may include such novels as King Arthur, Night, or Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

What supplies do I need for this class?

Supplies are vital for this class. You will need a binder dedicated to English, lots of binder paper, pens that work, and pencils that have been sharpened. You will also need to bring your book to classeveryday! You can leave your book in the classroom if you want. When we are reading novels, the book must come to class with you everyday, even if we have not used it for a few days.

How much homework will we have?

We are using a new textbook, with a new format. We will determine our homework schedule as we complete the activities and assignments. However, standard operating procedure is that whatever work you are unable to finish in class becomes homework and is due the next day. We do a lot of work each day, and you are given class time to complete the work. However, not everyone works at the same pace, and some people work better at home. If you do not finish an assignment in class, it is homework. So even if I collect it from everyone else, if you’re not finished, just keep it and complete it at home and turn it in the next day. You will need to remember and keep track; I may or may not ask for it directly the next day.

I need more detail on your rules. Can you help me out?

Sure! As you know, rules are important in keeping our learning environment safe so that everyone can learn and pass the class. Here is a list of rules that I expect you to follow. As previously stated, violation of these rules will earn you a referral, time in OCS, and possible withdrawal from the class; and, of course, I will contact your parents.

  1. No Talking without permission. You are not allowed to talk during lectures, tests, study time, silent reading/listening, and when working on individual assignments. There will be times when you are allowed to work together and talk, so following this rule should not be difficult.
  1. No throwing of any object, EVER: This is very important. This room cannot be safe if you are throwing things; even if it is a tiny little ball of paper! You can get up to put your trash in the trash can. ‘Throw your trash away’ is merely an expression, not a command.
  1. Cell Phones: Believe it or not, I am not opposed to you having our cell phone in class. However, I expect you to recognize and respect appropriate usage of your phone:
  2. Always keep it on silent. If your phone disturbs class in any way, I will confiscate it and you will pick it up at the office at the end of the day. This action will also result in a written referral and contact with your parents.
  3. Please do not use your phone during lecture and class discussions. You should be paying attention so you can learn the skills needed to pass the tests and the class.
  4. Do not use your phone until you have finished any in class assignments. Your classwork comes first.
  5. You may not use your phone during tests!
  1. Eating in Class: I actually do not mind if you eat in class, but you must keep the room clean! No food left on the floor, no trash on the floor or on the shelves or in the drawers, etc. Also, you must be respectful! Do not “play” with your food, or make a lot of noise with your food, or trash, and do not disturb others with your food. If we start having problems, I will ban eating in the room for the rest of the year.
  1. Tardy Policy and Truancy Policy: I follow the school policy. You must have a tardy pass when you come in late and a readmit slip when you come back after an absence. The school will assign OCS based on the policy rules. However, it is very rude and disrespectful to be late, you will lose 10 points for every tardy. If you are more than 30 minutes late, it is counted as a truancy (unexcused absence), and you will not be allowed to make up the work you missed, even if it is a test. Don’t be tardy!
  1. No Swearing, No Fighting, No Stealing. This is also very simple.
  1. Bathroom Passes: Everyone gets three passes per semester. You will not be allowed to use the restroom after that.
  2. However, if you have a special need or if you really feel sick all of a sudden, just run to the bathroom and explain it to me after the emergency is over. If this keeps happening, we will need to discuss your health issues with your parents and the administrators, and you will need to disprove my suspicions that you are using your cell phone instead of really having an emergency.

These practices are not meant to make the class a prison, but a safe, productive learning environment. I hope it is a comfortable place without surprise rules or boundaries. Remember that I have dedicated my life to helping you get the education you need to open the doors to your future!

Wait, Mrs. Cocksedge, what about our headphones and iPods or MP3 players?

Another good question! As you know, the school rule is that these are not allowed, just like cell phones. However, I feel that we are receiving mixed messages about needing more technology in the classrooms while banning iPods and headphones. Also, I recognize that many of you, like me, prefer to work with music in the background. So, I have special permission from the administration to allow you to listen to you headphones and iPods/MP3 players. But, there are rules!

  1. You must keep the volume low enough so that only you can hear your music. If I can hear it, or if it disturbs the class, then you must give me your headphones and iPod/MP3 player and I keep it for the day just like the cell phones.
  2. You may only listen during individual work/study time. You may not listen to them while I am talking, and you may not listen to them during tests.
  3. You should take them off when an administrator enters the room. Even though we have permission, they may forget and think you are violating school rules, plus it is disrespectful not to give them your full attention when they are here.

Share the information!

Now that you have read the rules and guidelines for our class, it is important that you share this information with your parents. Please take this home and ask your parents to read it with you and discuss it with you. They may email me if they have any questions. If your parents do not have email access, they may call the school and ask the secretary to send me an email, and I will contact them.

Ok, that’s it! Do you have any questions?

I sincerely hope you enjoy this class this year. As long as we all follow these rules, we should not have any problems. Your education is important to me, and I will do my best for you. I ask that you do your best for me.

About Mrs. Cocksedge:

I have been teaching at Liberty for 16 years. I have a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in English. I have attended UC Santa Cruz, San JoseState, and FlindersUniversity in Australia, where I lived for one year. I enjoy reading, watching and analyzing movies, watching TV, hiking, playing video games, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

I am the Advisor for the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and the National Honor Society (NHS). I encourage you all to join! Membership in these clubs looks good on your transcripts and college applications, and you could also earn honor cords to wear at graduation. You also qualify for scholarships.

I am also the Advisor for the First Priority Christian Club, which meets here every Wednesday at lunch. You are welcome to join us.