AP/IB Language and Composition
Lana Schmidt/SCHS
My Philosophy
Writing: Hope you like it, because there’s a ton of it. If it makes you feel any better, AP Comp teachers are constantly approached by former students who say that this is the class in which they learned how to write. It will be the same for you. Reading? Of course. This is a college level class, which means that you will be exposed a wealth of rich and varied texts, from short stories to Sports Illustrated articles, to thought- provoking essays, to print advertisements. FUN! You are 100% responsible for your assignments, always! What this means: •When you are absent, you are to either check schoolloop or talk to me immediately upon your return. •If you will be absent at a future date for any reason, you must speak with me as soon as you know about that absence to work out assignments. •You are to be mindful of deadlines. All of them are absolute with no excuses. Organize, plan and get things done. Success in this class greatly depends on excellent time management.
I see my class room as being a balanced atmosphere of learning and play. I expect intellectual development, but I also love it when the class trusts each other enough to discuss issues in fun and engaging way. We can joke with out hurting others, we can play without disrupting the learning process. Most importantly, trust is the number one thing I aspire to. How is trust established? WE DO IT TOGETHER! It starts with respect. I respect you first. I will respect your opinion; if you screw up, I will chalk it up as bad judgment and trust you to fix it. I will be approachable and open to your needs. YOU, in turn, will show me respect by adhering to classroom policy. You also show respect by honoring your classmates. There is no room for intolerance, negativity, or unthoughtful criticism. We share quite a bit of ourselves in this class: our opinions, our writings, our creativity… the only way to make this work is to establish trust through respect. Trust and respect are the cornerstones for any relationship, as well as a testament to your character. Make it happen. What happens if you break a rule? 1.You risk bringing out the evil in me. I am a pretty patient teacher. Don’t keep pushing it because all it tells me is that I am being disrespected– not good! 2.You risk annoying your classmates. Even though YOU think you are being cute, there are a few others who think you are being a nuisance. Having a little fun is great, but please use judgement so you don’t interrupt their learning. 3.Detention, zero on assignment, phone call home, or visit to principal. If you fail to serve a detention, you will be referred to the principal for further discipline.
