Welcome to 10Welcome to 10thth Grade Honors Grade Honors

English!English!Mrs. EbersoleMrs. Ebersole

About Me…About Me… My name is Laura EbersoleMy name is Laura Ebersole I’ve taught at Upper Merion for I’ve taught at Upper Merion for

15 years.15 years. My undergrad work was at U. of My undergrad work was at U. of

Delaware (go Blue Hens!) and Delaware (go Blue Hens!) and my master’s degree is from my master’s degree is from West Chester University.West Chester University.

I also direct plays, am a class I also direct plays, am a class sponsor, and live in the district sponsor, and live in the district (you may see me in the Middle (you may see me in the Middle School or at Caley).School or at Caley).

My BeliefsMy Beliefs All children,,,All children,,,

can learncan learn should be held to high expectationsshould be held to high expectations Should have choices that meet their Should have choices that meet their

areas of special interests.areas of special interests. deserve exposure to higher level deserve exposure to higher level

concepts to promote critical thinking and concepts to promote critical thinking and problem solvingproblem solving

Need strong communication skills as a Need strong communication skills as a vital component in any career path.vital component in any career path.

Can improve their writing skills by Can improve their writing skills by reading challenging material.reading challenging material.

Must take risks in order to grow.Must take risks in order to grow.

Essential Questions: Grade 10Essential Questions: Grade 10 While there are many questions we will While there are many questions we will

address through our reading and writing, address through our reading and writing, below are the essential questions that shape below are the essential questions that shape our coursework:our coursework:

How does the process of self-discovery shape an How does the process of self-discovery shape an individual's identity?individual's identity?

How does social/economic/class structure affect an How does social/economic/class structure affect an individual's identity?individual's identity?

What makes us stand out amongst a society that values What makes us stand out amongst a society that values sameness?sameness?

What qualities define an effective leader?What qualities define an effective leader?

How do we use our words to persuade others?How do we use our words to persuade others? How are themes in literature reflected in our personal How are themes in literature reflected in our personal

lives?lives?

GrammarGrammar 1 formal unit per quarter1 formal unit per quarter Focus areas include Focus areas include

clauses/phrases, parallel clauses/phrases, parallel structure, comma review, structure, comma review, commonly confused words, commonly confused words, agreement, active/passive agreement, active/passive voice.voice.

ProjectsProjects 1 per quarter1 per quarter Reading Olympic projectReading Olympic project Ad campaignAd campaign Research wikispaceResearch wikispace Zine Poetry projectZine Poetry project

Vocabulary QuizzesVocabulary Quizzes Approximately 4 a marking Approximately 4 a marking

periodperiod Mixture of SAT words, In-text Mixture of SAT words, In-text

vocabulary, and Tone Wordsvocabulary, and Tone Words

Novel testsNovel tests Based on Essential Based on Essential

questions, class questions, class discussions, literary terms, discussions, literary terms, and reading strategies.and reading strategies.

WritingWriting Analytical writingAnalytical writing Literary comparison EssaysLiterary comparison Essays Creative WritingCreative Writing

District performance tasksDistrict performance tasks Writing and readingWriting and reading 1 per quarter1 per quarter PSSA domain specific PSSA domain specific

rubricrubric

Major AssessmentsMajor Assessments

Grading PolicyGrading Policy Components (point value system)Components (point value system)

ReadingReading WritingWriting GrammarGrammar VocabularyVocabulary ProjectsProjects

CriteriaCriteria 90-100% A90-100% A Exceeds Exceeds

expectationsexpectations 80-89% B Meets expectations80-89% B Meets expectations 70-79% C Needs improvement to 70-79% C Needs improvement to

meet expectationsmeet expectations 65-69% D Below expectations65-69% D Below expectations Below 65% FBelow 65% F

Extended LearningExtended Learning

Students can earn up to 10 bonus Students can earn up to 10 bonus points per marking period for submitting points per marking period for submitting additional writing assignments. Items additional writing assignments. Items might include:might include:

Submissions for VentureSubmissions for Venture Reviews of plays, sporting events, or Reviews of plays, sporting events, or

other school sponsored events.other school sponsored events. Book, Music, or Film reviews.Book, Music, or Film reviews. Submissions must be 1 page of text Submissions must be 1 page of text

and be received at least 1 week before and be received at least 1 week before the end of the marking period.the end of the marking period.

How can students improve How can students improve their organization?their organization? Keep an English notebook or digital Keep an English notebook or digital

notebook, devoting sections to notebook, devoting sections to reading, writing, grammar, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and research.vocabulary, and research.

Use a study buddy or email the Use a study buddy or email the teacher if they are missing a class teacher if they are missing a class due to illness, sporting event, or due to illness, sporting event, or music pull out.music pull out.

Review “Ning” for blogging, videos, Review “Ning” for blogging, videos, and peer editing.and peer editing.

Subscribe to ical for due dates, Subscribe to ical for due dates, notes, and announcements.notes, and announcements.

How can we work together?How can we work together?

Ask students what will be due in Ask students what will be due in the next week and monitor their the next week and monitor their progress.progress.

Encourage students to develop Encourage students to develop self advocacy while still offering self advocacy while still offering parental support.parental support.

Please contact me with Please contact me with questions, problems, or questions, problems, or concerns.concerns.

Stress the importance of Stress the importance of balancing responsibilities.balancing responsibilities.

What do you like to read?What do you like to read? Books I’ve read this summer and Books I’ve read this summer and

found interesting:found interesting: Understanding Creativity Understanding Creativity by Jane by Jane

Piirto, Ph.D.Piirto, Ph.D. Late Lost and Unprepared: A Late Lost and Unprepared: A

Parent’s Guide to Helping Children Parent’s Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning with Executive Functioning by Joyce by Joyce Cooper-Kahn and Laurie DietzelCooper-Kahn and Laurie Dietzel

The Hunger Games The Hunger Games seriesseries The Girl with the Dragon TattooThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo..