Mrs. Brown's Library

I feel very fortunate to welcome you and your student to my English 2 classroom at Peninsula High School. This will be a demanding and rewarding year as your student continues academic course work and school activities on the road toward graduation and college.

 

The goals of this class are for students to learn to communicate persuasively and effectively through writing and speaking; to be become independent, critical, and enthusiastic readers; to enhance their vocabularies; and to demonstrate initiative, organization, and responsibility in their approach to schoolwork.

 

This year we will read a selection of literature. Possibilities include, but are not limited to: Lord of the Flies, 1984, The Catcher in the Rye, Little Fires Everywhere, The Glass Castle, and Jane Eyre. Each of these works will serve as a launching pad for critical analysis, essay writing, and presentation skills. Some of the content in each of these pieces is for a mature audience, so please let me know if you are concerned about any of the readings. As a result we will discuss some serious themes such as, the nature of humanity, coping with grief, and social constraints.

 

In addition to fiction, the class will be studying a selection of related short stories, nonfiction, and poetry from our Holt Textbooks as well as supplemental materials that are designed to meet the Common Core. These will allow for students to develop their skills in writing, grammar, and vocabulary; skills they will need in their upcoming high school and college years. Students will also engage in an assortment of learning tasks such as discussions, role-playing, dramatizations, group work, presentations, independent research, and individual writing assignments.

 

To encourage students to be life-long readers as well as practice analytical and evaluative skills students will select one Contemporary Complimentary Reading book from the teacher-supplied list per semester. These readings will supplement our understanding of The Catcher in the Rye and Jane Eyre. I encourage students to select books that challenge, yet contain subject matter that interests them. I encourage students to find books that challenge them, yet contains subject matter that is interesting to them. Students will keep track of their reading progress and complete a book project for each.

 

In order to help your student achieve these goals, please be observant of his or her homework load; students will have at least 30 minutes of reading homework per night in addition to weekly vocabulary and proofreading practice.

 

Please encourage your student to communicate with me about any struggles he/she may have with the course or school in general. I look forward to working with you and your child. Please do not hesitate to contact me with concerns, questions, or just to say “Hi!” .

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Mrs. Suzanne S. Brown

Voicemail: 310.377.4888 ext. 623

Email: browns@pvpusd.net