Welcome to English Class!!

This year will be a little different for me as I will be out on maternity leave until after Thanksgiving.  Until then, the fantastic veteran Tom Martinson will be taking over my Freshmen and Senior classes.  My husband, Chris, and I welcomed our first little munchkin, Grayson James, on June 7th.  We are having a wonderful time as new parents. 

As a teacher here at LHS, I am a firm believer in making education real for my students.  There is great value in taking the classroom material and applying it to the real world.  If you can't see how literature, writing techniques, and oral communication can be used when you pursue your future, then I ask, "What's the point?" I want education to mean something when you go home each day and when you need it in the years to come.

I grew up in Pelham, NH as the oldest of four.  After graduating, I earned my Bachelors and Masters Degree in English Teaching from the University of New Hampshire.  I began teaching at LHS the following year.  I have had the privilege of teaching a wide variety of classes and am blessed to have had such a range of exposure to the student population; from honors courses at the freshman and junior levels, to team taught humanities, to half a dozen senior elective classes. 

Outside of school, I am an avid skier and golfer-two things there just doesn't seem to be enough time or money for.  I love entertaining, traveling, and being with my family and friends.  

Currently, I am part of the Adult Education Program at LHS.  I have taught Mass Media and Portfolio Writing for the past several years; it is another experience that exposes me to an even greater population of students.  I have truly enjoyed working with this group!

In conjunction with teaching, I advise the LHS Chapter of the National Honor Society, a community based organization that works to fundraise and aid those in need.  This past fall, our organization donated over $3500 to local charities.  We also held the annual spring tournament with Pinkerton Academy and a generous donation was made to the Peter Sohm Memorial Fund.  

Along with my Executive Board, I am very excited to get started with the upcoming school year.

President - Tyler Mitchell

Vice President - Julia Wasserman

Secretary - Abigail Joy

Treasurer - Emily Parrot

Historian - Rebecca Wallace

Community Service Coordinator - Alissa Rogers

Publicist - Morgan Parr

 

I am also the Co-Advisor for the Class of 2013.  With Mrs. Rich, we are ready to help the senior class have an amazing final year at LHS!

President - Ethan Doherty

Vice President - Anthony Ferrara

Secretary - Sabrina Wallace

Treasurer - Emma Stepanik

Publicist - Keegan Smith

Historian - Josh Leahy

Activities Coordinator - Devin Boyle

Prom Committee Chair - Morgan McGrath

 

 

Below, I have included my schedule.  

A Period     College Prep 9

B Period    Writing Workshop

C Period     Honors English 9

D Period    Free

E Period     College Prep 0

F Period     Phase 6 Door Duty

 G Period     Honors English 9

H Period     Free

 

LHS will continue to measure student curriculum with competencies in all classes.  Below, I have included the competencies for the three courses I am teaching.

Honors English 9

Competency One:  Students will be able to use the writing process to compose a literary based thesis paper that utilizes correct MLA format including citation.

Competency Two:  Students will be able to engage in oral presentations that generate class discussion.

Competency Three:  Students will be able to use self directed learning in the completion of an assigned major project.

Competency Four:  Students will be able to use technology in the completion of an assigned major project.

College Prep 9

Competency One:  Students will comprehend, interpret, analyze, evaluate, and apply literary concepts to a short story.

Competency Two:  Students will be able to use the writing process to compose a literary based thesis paper that utilizes correct MLA format including citation.

Competency Three:  Students will be able to engage in oral presentations that generate class discussion.

Competency Four:  Students will be able to use self-directed learning in the completion of an assigned major project.

Women in Literature

Competency One:  Students will be able to show sufficient growth of their writing skills through creative writing.

Competency Two:  Students will be able to use technology and research to gather information and then compose a paper using the correct MLA format.

Competency Three:  Students will be able to engage in oral presentations that generate class discussion.

Competency Four:  Students will be able to use strategies to comprehend, interpret, and appreciate texts.

Writing Workshop

Competency One:  Students will be able to show sufficient growth of their writing skills through creative writing.

Competency Two:  Students will be able to show sufficient growth of their writing skills through technical writing.

Competency Three:  Students will be able to show sufficient growth of their writing skills through creative format writing.

Competency Four:  Students will be able to show sufficient growth of their writing through oral presentations and peer editing/workshopping.

 

Finally, the staff is now deeply invested in the X2 grading and attendance program.  I have included the codes that will be used universally in the high school and have also added a few you will see in my grade book. 

School Wide Codes

ABS         

ABSENT, counts as a Zero    

EX            

Student is EXCUSED, counts as No Score

MI           

MISSING, counts as a Zero

BG           

BEING GRADED, counts as No Score

OP            

OPTIONAL, counts as No Score

Unique Code(s) for My Classroom

ANCY      

ASSIGNED-NOT COLLECTED YET, counts as No Score until Collected

TBAG          

TO BE ASSIGNED or GIVEN, counts as No Score until Assigned or Given

 

I hope you find, here, any and all information needed and also answers to any questions you may have.  Feel free to contact me by email at mshank@londonderry.org, by phone at 432-6941 ext. 2842, or come by and visit in Room 626!!   

Mary Shank