Ms. Rocky
Parker School 2010 English & History
Middle School Teacher
UC Berkeley
My Life
• Married to Mr. Dave• 3 sons- Jake, Dallas & Jude• Have 2 Cats- Farrah & Coda (Dexter & Xena)• Play Guitar & Sing• Theoretical Physics, Hard Sci-Fi Books,
Movies, Music, Cartoon Network shows
My Life
• Hundreds of “adopted” kids & students – NFL, MLB, Olympic Swim Team, WNBA, PGA– 924 Gilman, Fantasy Records, Tyrannosaurus Recs
• Many careers:- Theatre Tech - Radio Announcer - Archaeologist - Speech & Debate Coach- College Instructor - Sports Writer
HOW I TEACH
I BELIEVE...
I believe…
…that teaching and learning are Give-&-Take relationships
Oftentimes, I have just as much to learn from you as you do from me, and I want to learn!
I believe…
…that everything is connected
Start from a point that you are already interested in and you can translate that into all aspects of your learning and life.
I believe…
…in using all forms of multimedia from books to movies to TV shows to music to video games
The most important thing is to find a launching point for each person’s academic excellence and success in life.
I believe…
• …books are the foundation for understanding life.
• …movies can teach us important lessons.• …music can focus our brains.• …video games are not always mindless.
I believe…
• …football is life. I am a football freak.• …Cal is the center of the Universe.• …strawberry is better than chocolate. • …that EVERYONE can dance.• …Counting Crows is the best band ever.• …in aliens.• …in ghosts, vampires & zombies.
I believe…
• …knowing where we come from is as important as knowing where we want to go.
• …“none of us is anything until the least of us is something.” (Floyd Little, NFL Hall of Fame Induction Speech, 2010)
• ...in the exceptional, the amazing, and the unexpected.
• …that wisdom can come from anyone.
THINGS TO KNOW
WHAT I EXPECT…
Things to know…
• …just because an adult said something doesn’t make it right or true. QUESTION ALWAYS.
• …if you disagree, that’s ok. DO SO WITH EVIDENCE, NOT OPINION.
• …without students, there is no need for a teacher. TAKE YOUR ROLE HERE SERIOUSLY.
• …if you cant find a way to have fun doing something, LOOK AT IT ANOTHER WAY.
What I expect…
…you as students to show respect for:– Teachers & Staff– Your Peers – Yourself
by not compromising the class with disruptive behavior.
I EXPECT…
What I expect…
…you to construct and maintain an open discussion and dialogue with me and with your fellow students.
…that you will talk to me if you are having problems and let me work a solution out with you.
I EXPECT…
What I expect…
…that you will learn the rules of my classroom and respect them.
…that you will VOICE YOUR OPINIONS, weather it agrees or disagrees with me or anyone else, while showing respect for others.
I EXPECT…
CLASS RULES
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT…
LITERATURE & GRAMMAR SKILLS
THROUGH THEMES
6th GRADE ENGLISH
SyllabusAcademic Integrity & Honesty / Student Info
SIGN & RETURNHow to Avoid Plagiarism – KEEP FOR
REFERENCEStudy Skills Sheet – KEEP FOR REFERENCEParker School Style Sheet – KEEP FOR
REFERENCEParker School Value Shield
POST OVER YOUR DESK AT HOME
Package Documents
Critical Reading, Writing, and Thinking skillsTheme each trimester Reinforcement the school wide expectations of Excellence,
Integrity, and CompassionUse critical analysis skills to understand, interpret, and tackle
Complex pieces of literature Concepts Ideas Thoughts
Multimedia approach to connect with literature and link the readings with theme Movies Television Music Video Games
Course Description
Keep notes on all readings and lecturesDifferent forms and styles of note taking Various assignments will involve note
takingNotes will be checked periodicallyNote taking is part of class participationWill contribute to the in-class portion of
your gradeWill contribute to the participation portion
of your grade as well.
Note Taking
1st Term : Fairy Tales, Fables & Folk Tales (Compassion)Readings
Classic and Retold Grimm’s fairytalesAesop’s FablesMother Goose RhymesStinky Cheese Man/True Story of the three little pigsThe Frog Prince Continued
MediaThe Brothers Grimm (film by Terry Gilliam)Shrek (film)Enchanted (film)Into the Woods (Broadway show)
Themes, Readings & Media
2nd Term: Tall Tales (Integrity)Readings
The Baron MunchausenThe Princess BrideAmerican Tall TalesAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the
Looking GlassMedia
The Baron Munchausen (Film by Terry Gilliam)The Princess Bride (Film by Rob Reiner)Alice in Wonderland (both the 1945 and 2010
Disney)
Themes, Readings & Media
3rd Term: Heros, Monsters & Myth (Excellence)Readings
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning ThiefEdith Hamilton MythologyThe Odyssey (Mary Pope Osborne) Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth
Media The Power of Myth (PBS-Television)Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Film)Clash of the Gods ( History Channel-Television)O Brother Where Art Thou (Film)Time Bandits (Film)
Themes, Readings & Media
Daily class questionsDaily in-class writing assignmentsWILL NOT leave the classroomIS confidential
Read another student’s notebook and there WILL be serious ramifications including but not limited to detention, suspension & expulsion
In Class Notebooks
Homework is given for the week on the first day the class meets
The majority of homework will be submitted online Any homework which is due in class will be notedWork Due In-class will be due when statedOnline discussion groups are part of homework for this
course Assignments more then 24 hours late will not be
accepted online and arrangements must be made with the teacher for any exception
Major assignments/projects may span several weeks. Daily homework assignments are posted to the website
on Mondays
Homework Assignments
Throughout the course of the year extra credit opportunities will be presented and you will be able to take advantage of this provided you have a passing grade already.
Extra Credit
Grading will be based on 5 categories as follows :
1. Homework2. Tests & Quizzes3. In-Class Writing & Participation4. Projects5. Online Discussion Participation
Grading Policies
GradingHomework
Tests & Quizzes
In-Class Writing & Participation
Course Projects
Online Discussion Participation
Read & Review with your parents
Sign & return
Fill out the Info Sheet on the back
Sign & return
Academic Integrity & Honesty
Daily Points are rewards you get for various activities in class.
Daily Points are not given for turning in assignments or completing projects
Daily Points do not contribute to your grade – they are in addition to assignment grade points
1 Daily Point is rewarded for each daily questionThose who go above and beyond the assignment
parameter may receive additional pointsIn-class writing assignments are not optional
and will have an impact on your grade
Daily Points…
Once every week you will be able to redeem your Daily Points for various rewards, including: Food items CandyClass coupons
“Get Out of One Homework Assignment”“Change Seats to Sit Closer to a Friend”“Choose a Lunchtime Movie”
Store redeemable certificatesXbox live or PlayStation network cardsOther rewards to be determined
Rewards…
Once a month you will have the opportunity to play
“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” in order to earn extra DP
You must buy in with 10 DP in order to participate
Questions will be a review of the previous weeks lessons along with general knowledge questions
Millionaire…
Media Lunch ViewingsList &
Permission Slip
Lunch Movies…
Come to my room any timeLunchtime movies on Tuesday & ThursdayVia my email [email protected] attention after 4pm
Use my Twitter @RockyAtParker Any questions posted on Twitter will be answered by 9 pm
that dayCheck the twitter page for Assignment Updates, Changes, or
Announcements about the class.
Email: [email protected]: @RockyAtParkerPhone: 808-885-7933 ext 127
Communication