Welcome to Ms. Thomas' Virtual English Classroom
Be true to your work, your word, and your friend. Henry David Thoreau
The new school year is always a mix of excitement for new beginnings and bitter-sweet as we say goodbye to summer. There will be quite a bit of work for our new Freshmen and for our College Students. I am always available through my e-mail [email protected] or through the main office phone number. September is a time when students will be adjusting to their new schedule and new repsonsibilities. If students or parents have concerns it is best to contact teachers right away. Students may come and see me during collaborative time Tuesday-Thursday.
Reading will be a key component for all of my students. I will have (almost) daily reading assignments. The ninth grade students will also have an independent reading program that fits alongside of the new reading period (ten minutes) each morning. So be sure your student has a pleasure reading book! Students may read fiction or nonfiction books for this program.
Here is a great quotation by Ann Patchet that I couldn't agree with more!
"Reading fiction is important. It is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in turn makes us more empathetic beings. Following complex story lines stretches our brains beyond the 140 characters of sound-bite thinking, and staying within the world of a novel gives us the ability to be quiet and alone, two skills that are disappearing faster than the polar icecaps."
Ann Patchett excerpt from "And the Winner Isn't"