January 25, 2012
White
Oak High School
World
Literature II
Ms.
Carlson
Letter
of Introduction
Dear
Students and Parents:
I am looking forward to a productive,
rewarding semester teaching World Literature II at White Oak High School.
I am coming to White Oak from Connecticut, where I have worked as a teacher for many years. For the past four years, I have taught reading and language arts at a middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut. Before that, I worked as an adjunct instructor of English at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut. There, I taught poetry, world literature, composition, and several freshman English survey courses. I am looking forward to the challenges and rewards of teaching high school English this year.
I am coming to White Oak from Connecticut, where I have worked as a teacher for many years. For the past four years, I have taught reading and language arts at a middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut. Before that, I worked as an adjunct instructor of English at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Connecticut. There, I taught poetry, world literature, composition, and several freshman English survey courses. I am looking forward to the challenges and rewards of teaching high school English this year.
In our highly connected, fast-paced
world where persons from different cultures encounter each other all the time,
literature is the art form that can open doors of understanding and create
shared experiences and connections better than any other. Indeed, literature is an invitation to travel
the world and grow the mind.
I believe we should approach
literature as we approach each other for the first time: with an open mind, a spirit of curiosity and
optimism, and the expectation that good things will come from the
experience. Every first reading is as
unique as it is important. Helping
students develop the academic vocabulary and skills to make encountering works
of literature for the first time is the role and responsibility of the
teacher. Making the effort to engage
this art form by reading is the role and responsibility of the student. In our
highly competitive and deeply challenging world, we owe it to ourselves and
each other to give this work our best effort.
To effectively accomplish this task, I
will be prepared to teach quality lessons to students who deserve the best
education available to them. Likewise,
students will come to class prepared by arriving on time, bringing the
materials they need, and respecting themselves and each other by focusing on
the work at hand.
Textbooks
Students will receive a textbook, which they will
use every day. Students must cover the
book with a paper or cloth cover.
Class work
Students are required to follow up on
assignments they miss and to complete them within a day of their return to
class.
Homework
Out-of-class work (homework)
constitutes 25 percent of students’ grades because evidence of independent
practice is an accurate measure of understanding or genuine mastery of a
skill. By completing this work,
students’ allow me to assess their understanding as well as to determine
whether a skill needs to be retaught.
Students must do their job so that I can do mine.
Make-up Work
Students who miss classes or encounter
circumstances that prevent them from completing assignments on time must meet
with me to establish a deadline for completion.
That deadline must be met.
Cell Phones
Phones must be off and put away during class
time unless students have my permission to use them for specific school-related tasks.
Food
Only drinking water is permitted in
class.
If you have questions that this letter
does not answer, please let me know.
Likewise, if you have concerns, I will be happy to talk to or meet with
you at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Sandy Carlson