Ms. Weiss

I love working at AAEC-PV! The small school atmosphere allows me to really get to know and work with my students, and I like pushing them to think critically and address ideas and texts in ways they may not have previously thought were possible.  In my classes, we do a lot of reading, writing, talking, sharing, and laughing.  J

This is my 14th year as a teacher, and I have taught middle school, high school, and college classes.  I received my BA in English from University of California, Riverside, my MA in English from New York University, and my teaching certification from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  I teach all of the junior English 3 classes (American Literature), an English 2 Honors class, an Applied Communications class, and I head the Senior Project program as well.  I am also available for Spanish tutoring as needed.  The easiest way to reach me any time of day is email: rweiss@aaechighschools.com.

 

English 2 Honors   R. Weiss       AAEC-PV       2010-2011

 

Welcome to English class!  We are going to be covering a large portion of literature this year, and you can expect to do a lot of reading and writing!  We’ll match up with your history teacher for some curriculum along the way, and we’ll be covering a wide variety of literature.  Should be exciting!  J

 

Our Year-long Plan (subject to change):

 

Semester One: Greek Mythology

Oedipus the King by Sophocles

                                Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer 

                                Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

                                Outside Reading Projects (Word Lit choices)

                                Assorted Short Stories and Poetry

                                Literary Criticism

                               

 

Semester Two: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

                                  The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

                                  Outside Reading Projects (Nonfiction choices)

                                  Assorted Short Stories and Poetry

                                  Awareness and Action Project

                                  Argumentation

                                  Literary Criticism

 

These are works of literature that the majority of Universities will expect you to have read. The themes, difficulty levels, and styles vary, but all are good examples of what our cannon has to offer. We will do various writing assignments with these works, as well as the major projects.

English 3       R. Weiss       AAEC-PV       2010-2011

Welcome to English class!  We are going to be covering a large portion of American Literature this year, and you can expect to do A LOT of reading!  We’ll be working in tandem with your history teacher for many projects along the way, and covering about 250 years or so, from Colonial times through the 1980s.  Should be exciting!  J

 

Our Year-long Plan (subject to change):

 

Semester One: The Crucible by Arthur Miller

                                Transcendentalism (Emerson, Thoreau, etc.)

                                Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

                                The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

                                Outside Reading Novel (censored choices)

                                Various poems and Short Stories

                                Literary Analysis

                                Literary Criticism

                               

Semester Two: Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

                                The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

                                Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

                                Outside Reading Novel (American Classic choices)

                                Various Poems and Short Stories

                                Research Paper

                                Literary Criticism

                               

 

These are works of literature that the majority of Universities will expect you to have read. The themes and styles vary, but as juniors in a challenging, college-preparatory program, these works represent a wide variety of American points of view along the way. We will do various writing assignments with these works, as well as the major projects.

 

 

 

 

Requirements:

Aside from the basic requirement that you be respectful of yourself, your classmates, me and the literature we read, I’d also like you to come to class prepared.  What does this mean?  On a daily basis, please bring with you:

 

1.       Your Planner

2.       Pens and Pencils

3.       A single notebook to be used only in English class (may stay in room)

4.       A three-ringed notebook, with pockets, dividers, and plenty of paper

5.       An open mind

 

 

Missing/Late work Policy:

If you are absent, you must fill out a Missing Work Agreement the day you return.  You will get the missing assignments with the due date (one day for each absence).  If work is not turned in by due date, it is considered late.

 

Late work—an assignment turned in after it was due—may be turned in on the Friday of that same week it was due.  It must be turned in on that Friday.  If your late work would have earned you a 75% or better, you’ll get a flat 50% grade (for example, if you would have gotten a 40/50 on the assignment, you will just receive 25/50).  If your work would have earned you less than a 75%, you will get a ZERO.  Bottom line, turn in your work on time for the best grade in the class.  A zero will really hurt your grade.

 

Discipline Issues:

You are in high school, so I don’t expect to have any issues.  If there is a minor disruption, you will get a detention and/or leave the room.  Anything worse than minor, you may not be asked to return.  I expect you to be respectful of me, yourself, your classmates, the classroom and the literature we read.  It’s not too hard. 

 

Restroom Passes:

Please try to be present in the classroom during class time.  If you must leave the room to use the restroom, you may ask to do so quickly.  If you go to the restroom more than 3 times in a month, you may lose the privilege.  Use your breaks for drinks, restroom, etc. 

 

Homework:

You will have vocabulary homework most Mondays and Tuesdays (they are short assignments that should take you no longer than 15 minutes).  Additionally, there will be reading assignments outside of class, as well as other homework assignments, on a regular basis, as well as long-term projects.  Please keep on top of your work, because zeros are what bring your grade down the most.

 

Planner:

I expect you to have a planner with you in class each day and to write down the week’s assignments (both in class and homework assignments) in the planner.  That way, if you are absent or unsure of what is due, you have a written record and can stay on track.  Occasionally, I may do spot-checks of your planner for points.  The week’s work is posted on the white board at the back of the room for you to copy.

 

Contact:

Should you need to contact me outside of school hours, email is the best way to reach me. I can respond quickly.  My email address is Rweiss@aaechighschools.com.  You can leave a message for me at school too, but it may take a little bit longer for a response.  During school hours, just come see me!