th
10
Welcome to
Grade Honors
English!
Mrs. Ebersole
About Me…
 My name is Laura Ebersole
 I’ve taught at Upper Merion for
15 years.
 My undergrad work was at U. of
Delaware (go Blue Hens!) and
my master’s degree is from
West Chester University.
 I also direct plays, am a class
sponsor, and live in the district
(you may see me in the Middle
School or at Caley).
My Beliefs

All children,,,







can learn
should be held to high expectations
Should have choices that meet their
areas of special interests.
deserve exposure to higher level
concepts to promote critical thinking and
problem solving
Need strong communication skills as a
vital component in any career path.
Can improve their writing skills by
reading challenging material.
Must take risks in order to grow.
Essential Questions: Grade 10

While there are many questions we will
address through our reading and writing,
below are the essential questions that shape
our coursework:

How does the process of self-discovery shape an
individual's identity?
How does social/economic/class structure affect an
individual's identity?
What makes us stand out amongst a society that values
sameness?
What qualities define an effective leader?





How do we use our words to persuade others?
How are themes in literature reflected in our personal
lives?
Major Assessments
Grammar


1 formal unit per quarter
Focus areas include
clauses/phrases, parallel
structure, comma review,
commonly confused words,
agreement, active/passive
voice.
Projects





1 per quarter
Reading Olympic project
Ad campaign
Research wikispace
Zine Poetry project
Novel tests

Writing





Approximately 4 a marking
period
Mixture of SAT words, In-text
vocabulary, and Tone Words
Analytical writing
Literary comparison Essays
Creative Writing
District performance tasks


Vocabulary Quizzes
Based on Essential
questions, class
discussions, literary terms,
and reading strategies.

Writing and reading
1 per quarter
PSSA domain specific
rubric

Grading Policy
Components (point value system)






Reading
Writing
Grammar
Vocabulary
Projects
Criteria





90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
A Exceeds expectations
B Meets expectations
C Needs improvement to
meet expectations
65-69%
D Below expectations
Below 65% F
Extended Learning





Students can earn up to 10 bonus
points per marking period for submitting
additional writing assignments. Items
might include:
Submissions for Venture
Reviews of plays, sporting events, or
other school sponsored events.
Book, Music, or Film reviews.
Submissions must be 1 page of text
and be received at least 1 week before
the end of the marking period.
How can students improve
their organization?




Keep an English notebook or digital
notebook, devoting sections to
reading, writing, grammar,
vocabulary, and research.
Use a study buddy or email the
teacher if they are missing a class
due to illness, sporting event, or
music pull out.
Review “Ning” for blogging, videos,
and peer editing.
Subscribe to ical for due dates,
notes, and announcements.
How can we work together?




Ask students what will be due in
the next week and monitor their
progress.
Encourage students to develop
self advocacy while still offering
parental support.
Please contact me with
questions, problems, or
concerns.
Stress the importance of
balancing responsibilities.
What do you like to read?





Books I’ve read this summer and
found interesting:
Understanding Creativity by Jane
Piirto, Ph.D.
Late Lost and Unprepared: A
Parent’s Guide to Helping Children
with Executive Functioning by Joyce
Cooper-Kahn and Laurie Dietzel
The Hunger Games series
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.