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Welcome to Dunkerton High School English
This website provides you with the opportunity to examine the curricula of sophomore, junior, and senior English. You are invited to check out course descriptions, assignments, classroom procedures, and other important information as it occurs.

Communication among students, teachers, and parents is vital to a successful education. This website is intended to offer the opportunity for me to directly keep in touch with students and parents about important information, assignments, and tips for learning. If parents wish to speak with me, they may do so either by email or telephone. I would be happy to speak with you on the telephone after the school day at 3:10. You may call the school and ask for my extension, 167; if I am not available, you may leave a message on my answering machine. I will check it daily and attempt to get back to you soon as possible. My email address is the following: sphelan@dunkerton.k12.ia.us. Of course, we can always set up a meeting with the teacher, parents, and student.

When students are absent from school, they may check the website for assignments. I will do my best to keep assignments updated as much as possible.

Listed below are important pieces of information:

  • Students were provided course descriptions at the beginning of the year. They should be in their possessions. They include a syllabus for the course as well as a description of my assessment procedures.
  • Students are required to follow the rules and expectations for the class. They should have a list of these in their possessions as well.
  • My assessment procedures are different from traditional grading methods. Both students and parents need to understand them. Please see the above course description handouts.
  • Because I use a great deal of assessment in my classes, I find the grade computerized program difficult to utilize. Therefore, if you have a question about your son's or daughter's standing in class, you should contact me either ny telephone or e-mail. However, if a student is struggling in my class, I will make every effort to contact you.  
  • It is vital for students to keep all work for portfolio completion at the end of each nine weeks and for evidence at teacher-student conferences for mid-term and for the end of the quarter. All students should have a folder for Writing Workshop writing and formal projects, a folder for tests and projects, and a notebook for either DOL for junior high or for literature work at the high school level.
  • All formal work must be word processed; therefore, students need to find accesses to computers at school and at home.

In the News...
 
     So that I may create the best possible curriculum for students, I often visit with former high school students about their college and professional careers. The following are a few key comments:
  • A sophomore at Iowa University reported that she completed seven research papers in her first semester of school. She said that she would have failed had she not completely understood the research process.
  • A junior at the University of Northern Iowa reported that he wrote a mini-research paper a week in a humanities class. "I survived because I understood the research process and because I had extensively reviewed the mechanics of writing in high school," he said.
  • A professional businessman who makes a salary in the six figures commented that many job applicants do not get hired because they lack writing and reasoning skills.

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Meet the Challenge!
 
     There are no shortcuts to developing effective writing skills. Students should take every opportunity to practice their skills during writing workshop as well as with formal writing assignments. Good writing requires hard work, but there are few accomplishments more gratifying.

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Please get in touch with any questions or comments on my site.

Communication Skills, a Foundation for Life