I am a native Planoite and graduated from Plano Senior High School in 1982 when that was the only high school in Plano! I have  an only daughter who also graduated from Plano Senior High; she is an Army wife and has blessed me two precious grandboys!  I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.S. in Education.  This is my 25th year teaching English in Plano but is my 28th year to teach--I love my job!  The students keep me young and are always entertaining.  

English I Course Syllabus

In this course, students learn to apply their understandings of reading and writing processes to a variety of genres including poetry, drama, fiction, informational, and argumentative.  Students will study both classic and contemporary texts with an emphasis on author’s purpose and message.  The use of the Writer’s notebook, the synthesis and presentation of ideas, and frequent opportunities for teamwork and collaboration are also key components of this course.

 Foundations of Literature

In this unit of study, students will build the foundational skills that are important to self-select texts and comprehend and interpret fictional texts. Emphasis will be placed on effective comprehension strategies like annotation and making textual connections relating to the outside world. Students will also be learning the foundational writing skills including thesis statements, commentary and evidence. 

 Aiming for Success

In this unit of study, students will explore the concept of success and what it means to be successful. The study of fiction, nonfiction, and research will enhance and broaden their understanding of what it means to be successful.  Students will build connections between themselves, texts, and society. At the conclusion of the unit, students will synthesize the information they learned in a presentation.

 Voices in Nonfiction

In this unit of study, students will explore the techniques authors use to engage readers. This study includes analysis of the genre characteristics and structural elements of informational and argumentative texts. The unit concludes with the creation of an informational extended constructed response. 

 All the World’s a Stage

In this unit of study, students will engage in a supported opportunity to work with complex texts and compare texts across genres. Students will read a drama and a verse novel using close reading strategies and critical inquiry to analyze author’s choices. The unit will incorporate fiction writing that will be the culminating writing experience of the year.