To my new students and parents of those students,
Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year and to IB English! This summer, my nine year-old daughter Katie spent a week at a Girl Scout camp called Camp Eveningshade. On the first particular evening, bad storms raged through the campground, and we found ourselves stuck in a hot, stifling cabin eating dinner by flashlight. At one point, Katie looked at me with her big hazel eyes and said, “I’d rather play with boys than do this!”
I laughed at how much of a “girly girl” she is and then asked her, “What’s so bad about playing with boys?” She started listing her rationale, paused, and then said, “Maybe boys aren’t so bad after all!” Suddenly, being stuck in the hot, stifling cabin wasn’t so bad either.
I tell this story because I want you to look at this year with a specific perspective. If you’ve talked to a current senior, you know that along with junior year comes your first IB and/or AP classes, stress, a ton of work, the SATs, thinking about colleges, the prom, your class rank….the list goes on and on. Stop thinking and stressing about those things for just a minute and take a deep breath. Junior year doesn’t have to be the stressful, overwhelming year you have heard about in your interactions with those who were sitting in your seats last year. It’s all about the perspective you have and the lenses you choose to look at things. I’m hoping your own stifling hot cabins will, like Katie discovered, not be so bad after all.
I will be honest and tell you I am a writing teacher who means serious business but who adores teaching and tries to make every class fun but meaningful. I have a Master’s degree in writing and plan to make it my mission to teach you how to write well. My class is not a repeat of every English class you’ve had in your time in school. I teach in a workshop format where you will learn the “how” and “why” of things and not just produce writing for the sake of a grade. I never learned how to write in high school. When I got to college, I turned in my first English paper, and my professor called me into his office. “You really don’t know how to write,” he said. He was the first person to sit me down and teach me about writing. I want to do the same for you because I don't want you to get to college and find you haven't learned the how about writing.
I also am a reading teacher. As a lover of all things with pages, spines, and tables of contents, I will encourage you to read Every. Single. Day. College students are expected to read a large amount of material in a week. “200-600 pages a week was common….I consistently hear 100-600 pages a week from current college students” (Kittle 20). I am asking you to make reading a part of your life. Don’t use the fact that you are too busy, you have too much other work, etc. as an excuse. Develop a reading life. You will be given time to read in class each day. Use that time. Cherish it.
This year is all about perspective. Please keep that in mind. Before you begin to complain that you have so much work, write yourself a schedule to balance your time. Read the books. Spend time with one another. Get in on a group chat to work with each other. Ask questions. Pace yourself (You will see me use Pace puns quite often in this class!) Read. Write. Read some more. From my perspective, I’m excited for this year and can’t wait to spend it with you!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kelly Pace
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