Freshmen English Honors

							American Literature

    Ms. Halbrooks
      Fall 2011
Is anyone in the wrong place?
                 Who am I?
• My name is Ms. Christina Halbrooks
• I went to Saint Anselm College.
• I have worked at NEFCU, Pinkerton Academy,
  Campbell High School, Timberlane Regional
  High School, and Conant High School.
• I train horses, play tennis, read, play guitar,
  play with my daughter, teach, and enjoy long
  walks on the beach.
      What do I need for class?
• I highly recommend a three-ring binder with
  dividers
• A pen and pencil
• A highlighter
• Paper to write on
• Flash drive
• Printer/Ink/Printer Paper
        When do I take notes?
• Final exams are cumulative which means they
  will include everything we have done from the
  first day of school until the last day of the
  semester.
• Consequently, notes are for those things you
  do not think you will be able to remember
  over that length of time.
When do I recommend you take
            notes?




     Always!
Why?
What if I have a fantastic memory and
 I don’t think I need to take notes?
• Do it anyway.
  – It is a good habit to develop because it is a skill
    that DOES have a real-world application
  – It will help keep you engage in the presentation
  – It convinces the presenter you are engaged in the
    presentation
  – It is PROVEN to help you accrue the presented
    information better than not taking notes
  – It can’t hurt so why not?
                   Annotate
• A note that is made on a text while reading a
  text to bring additional clarity to the reader. It
  can be as simple as underlining or
  highlighting.
Any questions so far?
           English Competencies
•   Writing: Samples
•   Reading: Didactic (not entertainment)
•   Vocabulary: Contextual
•   Grammar: From your writing mistakes
•   Public Speaking: Class discussions, Socratic
    Seminars, presentations
Why?
     Basic Human Thinking Skills
• Deductive Reasoning: A general rule to a
  specific case
• Inductive Reasoning: Specific case to a general
  rule
• Analytical Thinking: To break into pieces
• Critical Thinking: To evaluate the
  true/falseness of something
• Memorization
I can teach you what to think, or
  I can teach you HOW to think.
Any questions?
                Grading
• Formative/Summative
• Competencies
• See Course Syllabus
    Basic Structure of the Course
Chronologically by literary period while
  investigating the historical period. Then
  understanding the prevailing philosophy, who
  lived during that time, what they were writing,
  and why.
The Canon of American
      Literature
     Basic Structure of the Class
• Attendance/Respond to a Quotation or
  question from the Reading
• English Trivia/Brainteaser (Remind me please)
• Discuss the quotation and your responses
• Vocabulary Introduction/Review/Activity/Quiz
• Grammar Introduction/Review/Activity/Quiz
• Reading or Writing that we’re working on
“Those who don’t read are not
any better off than those who
            can’t.”
    -Samuel Langhorne Clemens
    My Approach to Organization
• Every handout is created by me, is in the same
  format, is in the same font, and is numbered.
• Every handout and power point presentation
  is posted online
• Every handout is available, if you are absent,
  with your name on it the class’ crate. There is
  ONE extra without a name. This is the master
  copy. You cannot take it, but you can copy it.
      Halbrooks’ Classroom Online
•   HalbrooksClassroomOnline.com
•   The Weekly Syllabus
•   Handouts
•   Power Point Presentations
•   Final Exam Review Materials
                 Class Rules
• Understand the routine- come in and start
  working
• Don’t text or use your cell phone even if it’s to
  your parents/guardians –go to guidance or the
  office for permission to do that
• Communicate with me. I want to help you,
  but I can’t help you if I don’t know you need
  help.
• Seating chart?
                Classroom Tour
•   Your Desk/My Desk
•   The Closet
•   The Quote Wall
•   The Word Wall
•   The Class Crate
•   Fire Drill Information
            If you are absent:
• The weekly lesson plans are online. Look and see
  what you missed. If you don’t have access to a
  computer then call a friend and ask them to look
  it up. Also, my plans are posted in the room.
• Any papers you missed are in the crate with your
  name on them. Get them yourself please.
• If you missed a test or quiz you must make an
  appointment to make it up. You do NOT have
  until the end of the semester to make up work.
               Index Card
Your Name
Your Year of Graduation
Your email Address
Your Parents’/Guardians’ Names
Their email address
Parents’/ Guardians’ Phone Number
Anything I need to know about you