Welcome to our year of thinking and growing together. From classic novels to graphic novels, from haikus to reviews, we are going to immerse ourselves fully in English language and literature and stretch our thinking in dynamic ways. I can’t wait!
This year, our class will take the shape of a workshop, which means that most days, you will have a great deal of choice in what you read and write about. You will delve deeply into books you care about and writing assignments of your interest, and we, as a class, will be your support team, asking questions and suggesting paths to answers. With this great choice in the direction of your learning, however, comes great responsibility. Below are my expectations for our shared time together:
Come to class prepared. Be prepared to “give me five” every day. In other words, you must always bring to class the following: 1. Writing implement, 2. Homework, 3. Books, 4. Planner, 5. Binder. Stay on top of homework every single day. We will take class time to write assignments in planners, and weekly assignment sheets will also be available on my blog. In other words, there is no excuse to miss a deadline, be it large or small.
Come to class ready to engage. This is your job. Not only will you learn more if you are participating, but you’ll have more fun doing it. Remember that participation comes in many forms, from class discussion, partner work, thoughtful letter essays to me in your reader’s notebook, or even a quick email or post-it with a question. Please see me if you are having a hard time finding your voice in class; I would love to help.
Come to class ready to think about your own learning AND that of those around you. From coming in quietly and ready to work to having the self-control to not talk over your friends, this classroom will be a productive, safe space for learning.
I am so thrilled to be on this journey with you.
Cheers, Mrs. Liu
