I've been teaching English at Sierra Vista for over 25 years and I love it more than ever. I'm so glad to be here for another year and I'm looking forward to seeing what the students can do!
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My English class is primarily focused on two areas: Reading and Writing. There is no educational experience for students more vital than spending at least 20 uninterrupted minutes reading a book of their own choosing. Through this experience students gain reading fluency, encounter new vocabulary, build mental endurance that increases attention span and focus, and numerous benefits. For more information on the benefits of independent reading, check the For Parents tab. Currently denied access to my classroom library or the school library, students continue to have access to books through the Covina Public Library which offers curbside pickup, online bookstores like Amazon, or their StudySync library. Students have access to several novels in digital form in their StudySync Library. I've also added digital versions of about a dozen classics in the Reading TAB of their Google Classroom. Check out my Virtual Library. Parents can be tremendously helpful to their students by helping them choose a book and helping them develop a strategy to consistently read for at least 20 minutes a day. Student have an personal AR goal each quarter (Honors students 20 points.) Students will gain experience writing in a variety of styles and formats this year. My goal is to prepare students to be able to write effectively in order to successfully tackle any writing assignment thrown at them in high school. This year students will have experiences writing narratives, explanatory/informational essays, and persuasive/argumentative writing. Through post-writing reflection on what they did well and where they need to improve, students will be supported in managing their own development as a writer. Parents can be extremely helpful to their students during quarantine by making sure students are keeping to a regular schedule: getting enough sleep, getting exercise, attending all classes. What students get out of school is exactly what they put into school. Class Expectations 1. Participate as much as possible. Be ready to respond to questions and be ready to ask your own questions. 2. Complete all work and assignments on time. 3. Ask for help when you need it. Ask me in class, email me, or message me. 4. Keep up. Don't fall behind. It is always better to keep up than catch up. All assignments are posted ahead of time and students should record all assignments in the agenda each Monday. Every student is capable of earning an A. Grades are generally updated on a weekly basis and are visible through Parent Portal. If you do not know how to log on to Parent Portal or get the Aeries Mobile Portal app for your phone, please contact the office immediately. Parents, please understand that I am an “old school” English teacher. I teach bell to bell, expect students to come well-rested, prepared to learn, and knowing how to behave in class. If you have any questions about my class, please call me at the school. You can also contact me by e-mail at [email protected] Sincerely, mr.jgeorge.weebly.com Joseph George Grades are based on the points students earn by completing assignments and taking tests. All assignments and tests are posted and students should record all assignments and test dates in the agenda each Monday. There are no surprise assignments. If students choose not to complete them when they are due, I'll respect that choice. Therefore, no unexcused late work is accepted. Every student is capable of earning an A. By completing all assignments, a student will receive a good grade. Grades are generally updated on a weekly basis and are visible through Parent Portal. Parents and students are encouraged to stay on top of their grades using the GRADES app. Recommended Reading Countless studies point to reading as the crucial factor in shaping a person’s ability to write well and think critically. For this reason, home reading is an important part of Sierra Vista’s English program. I strongly encourage students to select their own books, but parents can play an important role in helping their child find a book that will engage their interest. Below is a list of recommended books organized by Inquiry Unit. (Bolded titles are recommended for Honors Students.) Find free digital books in StudySync! For more recommendations, check online: George's Goodreads or here: Student Reviews Exploring Identity Bad Boy Walter Dean Myers Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson Living Up the Street Gary Soto I Am Malala Malala Yousafszai Stargirl Jerry Spinelli Born a Crime Trevor Noah The Truth About Forever Sarah Dessen Soul Surfer Bethany Hamilton Life in Motion Misty Copeland Narrative in the Life of Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass The Autobiography of Malcolm X Alex Haley The Hamilton Affair Elizabeth Cobbs Science Fiction (Science and Ethics) The Giver Lois Lowry Uglies Scott Westerfeld Unwind Neal Shusterman Scythe Neal Shusterman Jurassic Park Michael Crichton House of the Scorpion Nancy Farmer Frankenstein Mary Shelley Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson The Invisible Man H.G. Wells Brave New World Aldous Huxley Responding to Injustice March (graphic novel series) Rep. John Lewis They Called Us Enemy George Takei Diary of a Young Girl Anne Frank Maus Art Spiegelman Warriors Don't Cry Melba Patillo The Boy in the Striped Pajamas John Boyne Number the Stars Lois Lowry Prisoner B-3087 Alan Gratz The Book Thief Markus Zusak The Help Kathryn Stockett Unbroken Laura Hillenbrand Night Elie Wiesel Man’s Search for Meaning Viktor Frankl Life in Literature That was Then, This is Now S.E. Hinton Rumble Fish S.E. Hinton Something Rotten Alan Gratz Something Wicked Alan Gratz What's His Face Gordon Korman The Shakespeare Stealer Gary Blackwood American History Witch of Blackbird Pond Elizabeth George Speare Chains Laurie Halse Anderson Fever 1793 Laurie Halse Anderson Johnny Tremain Esther Forbes Glory Field Walter Dean Myers Or Give Me Death Ann Rinaldi 1776 David McCullough Beloved Toni Morrison The Killer Angels Michael Shaara Roots Alex Haley |