Ms. Rocky

Parker School 2010 English & History

Middle School Teacher

UC Berkeley

My Life

• Married to Mr. Dave• 3 sons- Jake, Dallas & Jude• Have 2 Cats- Farrah & Coda (Dexter & Xena)• Play Guitar & Sing• Theoretical Physics, Hard Sci-Fi Books,

Movies, Music, Cartoon Network shows

My Life

• Hundreds of “adopted” kids & students – NFL, MLB, Olympic Swim Team, WNBA, PGA– 924 Gilman, Fantasy Records, Tyrannosaurus Recs

• Many careers:- Theatre Tech - Radio Announcer - Archaeologist - Speech & Debate Coach- College Instructor - Sports Writer

HOW I TEACH

I BELIEVE...

I believe…

…that teaching and learning are Give-&-Take relationships

Oftentimes, I have just as much to learn from you as you do from me, and I want to learn!

I believe…

…that everything is connected

Start from a point that you are already interested in and you can translate that into all aspects of your learning and life.

I believe…

…in using all forms of multimedia from books to movies to TV shows to music to video games

The most important thing is to find a launching point for each person’s academic excellence and success in life.

I believe…

• …books are the foundation for understanding life.

• …movies can teach us important lessons.• …music can focus our brains.• …video games are not always mindless.

I believe…

• …football is life. I am a football freak.• …Cal is the center of the Universe.• …strawberry is better than chocolate. • …that EVERYONE can dance.• …Counting Crows is the best band ever.• …in aliens.• …in ghosts, vampires & zombies.

I believe…

• …knowing where we come from is as important as knowing where we want to go.

• …“none of us is anything until the least of us is something.” (Floyd Little, NFL Hall of Fame Induction Speech, 2010)

• ...in the exceptional, the amazing, and the unexpected.

• …that wisdom can come from anyone.

THINGS TO KNOW

WHAT I EXPECT…

Things to know…

• …just because an adult said something doesn’t make it right or true. QUESTION ALWAYS.

• …if you disagree, that’s ok. DO SO WITH EVIDENCE, NOT OPINION.

• …without students, there is no need for a teacher. TAKE YOUR ROLE HERE SERIOUSLY.

• …if you cant find a way to have fun doing something, LOOK AT IT ANOTHER WAY.

What I expect…

…you as students to show respect for:– Teachers & Staff– Your Peers – Yourself

by not compromising the class with disruptive behavior.

I EXPECT…

What I expect…

…you to construct and maintain an open discussion and dialogue with me and with your fellow students.

…that you will talk to me if you are having problems and let me work a solution out with you.

I EXPECT…

What I expect…

…that you will learn the rules of my classroom and respect them.

…that you will VOICE YOUR OPINIONS, weather it agrees or disagrees with me or anyone else, while showing respect for others.

I EXPECT…

CLASS RULES

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT…

LITERATURE & WRITING SKILLS US & WORLD HISTORY

THROUGH THEMES

8th GRADE ENGLISH &

HISTORY

CAMPOUT LETTER SUPPLY LIST SCHEDULE FOOD DONATION

REQUEST

SIGN & RETURN TOMORROW

Package Documents

SyllabusAcademic Integrity & Honesty / Student Info

SIGN & RETURNHow to Avoid Plagiarism – KEEP FOR

REFERENCEStudy Skills Sheet – KEEP FOR REFERENCEParker School Style Sheet – KEEP FOR

REFERENCEParker School Value Shield

POST OVER YOUR DESK AT HOME

Package Documents

Critical Reading, Writing, and Thinking skillsTheme each Trimester tying together with History Reinforcement the school wide expectations of Excellence,

Integrity, and CompassionUse critical analysis skills to understand, interpret, and tackle

Complex pieces of literature ConceptsIdeasThoughts

Multimedia approach to connect with literature and link the readings with theme

MoviesTelevisionMusicVideo Games

Course Description: English

Critical Reading, Writing, Comprehension and Thinking skills Theme & Time-Frame each Trimester tying together with English Bringing History into focus using Inventions & Innovation as a lens Reinforcement the school wide expectations of Excellence, Integrity,

and Compassion Use critical analysis skills to understand, interpret, and tackle

Complex moments in HistoryHistorical moments in context Global relationships of ideas, people & placesPolitical ConceptsInnovative Ideas

Multimedia approach to connect with history & link the readings & themes with time frames

MoviesTelevisionMusicVideo Games

Course Description:History

Keep notes on all readings and lecturesDifferent forms and styles of note taking Various assignments will involve note

takingNotes will be checked periodicallyNote taking is part of class participationWill contribute to the in-class portion of

your gradeWill contribute to the participation portion

of your grade as well.

Note Taking

1st Term : Shakespeare & Independence (Excellence)Readings

The Canterbury TalesThe Shakespeare StealerRomeo and JulietThe Taming of the Shrew

MediaThe Knights TaleShakespeare in LoveRomeo + Juliet10 Things I Hate About You

Themes, Readings & Media

2nd Term: War & Community (Compassion)Readings

The Diary of Anne Frank Twenty and TenMaus: My Father Bleeds History (Graphic Novel)Maus: And Here My Troubles Began(Graphic Novel)Resistance: Book 1Number The StarsThe Things They Carried

MediaAnne FrankHogan’s HerosThe Great EscapeHollywood and the Holocaust

Themes, Readings & Media

3rd Term: Personal Rights & Responsibility (Integrity)Readings

The Bicentennial Man / I, RobotThe Ones Who Walk Away from OmelasHarrison BergeronThe LotteryThe Time Machine

Media The Bicentennial ManThe LotteryThe Time Machine

Themes, Readings & Media

Daily class questionsDaily in-class writing assignmentsWILL NOT leave the classroomIS confidential

Read another student’s notebook and there WILL be serious ramifications including but not limited to detention, suspension & expulsion

In Class Notebooks

Homework is given for the week on the first day the class meets

The majority of homework will be submitted online Any homework which is due in class will be notedWork Due In-class will be due when statedOnline discussion groups are part of homework for this

course Assignments more then 24 hours late will not be

accepted online and arrangements must be made with the teacher for any exception

Major assignments/projects may span several weeks. Daily homework assignments are posted to the website

on Mondays

Homework Assignments

Throughout the course of the year extra credit opportunities will be presented and you will be able to take advantage of this provided you have a passing grade already.

Extra Credit

Grading will be based on 5 categories as follows :

1. Homework2. Tests & Quizzes3. In-Class Writing & Participation4. Projects5. Online Discussion Participation

Grading Policies

GradingHomework

Tests & Quizzes

In-Class Writing & Participation

Course Projects

Online Discussion Participation

Read & Review with your parents

Sign & return

Fill out the Info Sheet on the back

Sign & return

Academic Integrity & Honesty

Daily Points are rewards you get for various activities in class.

Daily Points are not given for turning in assignments or completing projects

Daily Points do not contribute to your grade – they are in addition to assignment grade points

1 Daily Point is rewarded for each daily questionThose who go above and beyond the assignment

parameter may receive additional pointsIn-class writing assignments are not optional

and will have an impact on your grade

Daily Points…

Once every week you will be able to redeem your Daily Points for various rewards, including: Food items CandyClass coupons

“Get Out of One Homework Assignment”“Change Seats to Sit Closer to a Friend”“Choose a Lunchtime Movie”

Store redeemable certificatesXbox live or PlayStation network cardsOther rewards to be determined

Rewards…

Once a month you will have the opportunity to play

“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” in order to earn extra DP

You must buy in with 10 DP in order to participate

Questions will be a review of the previous weeks lessons along with general knowledge questions

Millionaire…

Come to my room any timeLunchtime movies on Tuesday & ThursdayVia my email rsperling@parkerschool.netImmediate attention after 4pm

Use my Twitter @RockyAtParker Any questions posted on Twitter will be answered by 9 pm

that dayCheck the twitter page for Assignment Updates, Changes, or

Announcements about the class.

Email: rsperling@parkerschool.netTwitter: @RockyAtParkerPhone: 808-885-7933 ext 127

Communication