Welcome back to VRHS

Welcome to English I

For today, pick your own seat.

Who is Mr. Freymuth?

• Army/Air Force veteran• University of Colorado• Taught high school and college• Technogeek• Tries to keep class • interesting• No tolerance for middle-• school games

Freshman year: An Important part of Your Life

• You are not a junior-high schlub anymore• This year you will start actually making life

decisions, looking at colleges, future plans, etc.• You are planning your life• But it’s easy to take a wrong turn

OR

Freshman Year

• More freedom than junior high school• More opportunity than junior high school• Therefore, more is expected of you

– With the extra freedom comes extra responsibility– You are not going to be spoon-fed like in jh– But you are responsible for only yourself

How To Succeed in High School

• Stay Focused – remember, you are here to prepare for the future

• Take care of yourself – don’t get caught up in drama with toxic people

• Think it through – remember that decisions you make now, in school and out, will have an effect on your life

How Do We Learn? “I learned something today.” – Stan Marsh

• We learn by doing• We also learn from mistakes, both ours and

others– “You are not a true horseman until you have fallen

seven times” – Arabian proverb– “The truly wise person learns from the mistakes of

others” – Chinese proverb

What’s the main goal of this class? • We will read, write, talk, and listen.• But the REAL goal is that we will think.

– “If you can’t think well, others will do your thinking for you.” - George Orwell

– “Life is tough. It’s even tougher if you’re stupid.” - John Wayne

Classroom Rules• BE NICE! Mr. Diller’s #1 rule• NO CARTMANS!!! (No whiners or bullies)• Be prepared for class, and be on time

– Know the KWHS tardy policy– Be properly equipped: paper, pen, books

• Be in your seat when class starts• Respect others

– Don’t deprive your classmates of their opportunity to learn.

– Don’t demean other students– Follow the Golden Rule

Playing Nice• No bullying or intimidating• No profane or abusive language• No sexual harassment• No harassment because of any difference

– Race, religion, personality, clothes, etc.– We’re ALL different, and we all have something to offer.

Don’t judge others; you don’t want to be judged.

Classroom Rules• No food or beverages besides water.

– That’s a building-wide rule.– Don’t bring your breakfast to class.

• Gum is ok, if it is discreet. I don’t want to:– See it– Hear it– Find it

• Restroom breaks are limited to three minutes.– That’s plenty of time, if you don’t waste it.– If you can’t make it back in that time, you can’t leave.– You have a ten-minute passing period for that.

Homework / Class work• We have a limited amount of time per class.

– Class time –vs- homework time is YOUR call.• If the class stays on track, most can be

accomplished in classtime.• I don’t assign busywork. I won’t waste your time;

don’t waste mine.• I don’t expect perfection, but I DO expect

absolute cooperation.

• I have NO PROBLEM assigning essays on how to behave in the classroom if needed.

This is a CLASSROOM• This is not a game show; don’t just shout out

answers.• This is not a social club; don’t engage in sidebar

conversations. Stay on task.• This is not a basketball court; don’t throw

ANYTHING at ANY TIME. • This is not a wrestling match or a date; keep your

hands to yourself.

Papers

• We follow MLA format. You will use MLA in college as well.

• Make your paper look good.• No tearout paper!!• Not folded, damaged, stained, etc.• Make it so you’re not embarrassed

to have your name on it.• Turn it in ON TIME.

Music• Don’t walk in with earbuds stuck in your head.• iPods /MP3’s are NOT allowed, at any time.• I will take them on sight.• First time: lose it until the end of class• Second time: lose it until the end of the day. • Third time: referral and I call your parents• I TOLERATE NO ARGUING ABOUT IT.

WHEN I SAY, “HAND IT OVER,” I EXPECT IT IMMEDIATELY.

Cellphones• Cellphones are NOT allowed• They will be confiscated on sight• First time: lose it until the end of class• Second time: lose it until the end of the day. • Third time: referral and I call your parents• I TOLERATE NO ARGUING ABOUT IT.

WHEN I SAY, “HAND IT OVER,” I EXPECT IT IMMEDIATELY.

Cellphones• A few examples of conversations with students

when I confiscate cell phones for texting:• Student: “But it’s important!” Me: “Don’t care.”• Student: “But it’s my mom!” Me: “Don’t care.”• Student: But it’s an EMERGENCY!” Me: “Don’t

care.” (because usually, it isn’t.)• Student: “But I thought class was overrrr!!!”

Me: “Don’t care.”

If You Were Absent…• It is YOUR job to find out that you missed• It is YOUR job to get the makeup work done in

the accepted time frame• Check the website.• I won’t hunt you down, or hound you for

missing work.• Know the school policy

YOU Choose Your Grade• “Your grade is not a measure of your

intelligence; your grade is a measure of your motivation.” – Mr. F.

• My guarantee to you: If you do your best and do ALL the work in this class, even if you do it all wrong, you WILL pass the class.

• But every year, approximately 12-14 students fail my class. How is that possible??

Why study English?• Language is our most important common bond;

our ability to communicate is the basis of civilization.

• A U.S. president in South America proved that.– His aide saved him from embarrassment.

• Timmy and Jimmy and Mr. Mackey.• “That tomato is the cat’s pajamas. That’s five

large in ice on her. The skirt is a moll for the trouble boys, so keep in check and don’t be fitted for a Chicago overcoat.”

What will we do in English I?• Grammar, Parts of Speech, History of English,

Etymology• Reading

– News: We will read and evaluate for accuracy, bias, importance, and impact on us.

– Novels– Five People You Meet in Heaven,

The Odyssey (abridged), To Kill a Mockingbird.• The Bard

– History of Elizabethan/Jacobean era, Romeo and Juliet

• Writing – persuasive, creative, etc.• Poetry

Go Trojans!