Handbook for Next Year's Bloggers

Hey everybody! Good news, you're about to take Mrs. Duke's class. There are a few big points that are absolutley imperative that you know if you are going to be successful in Mrs. Duke's class. If you remember these things, than there is a good chance that you will be able to succeed in her class but if you get lazy and forget than bad things will happen.


Number 1: If you are not going to put a fair amount of effort and time into the doing the work that she gives you than the work is not worth doing. Mrs. Duke doesn't give you meaningless homework to do, so simply completing it without thinking about it or really trying to do it to the best of your ability is pointless. All the homework she gives you has a purpose and isn't effective if you don't put enough effort or time into it. Make sure that you give yourself enough time to do English every night, it really will help.


Number 2: Classroom discussions are just as important as homework. The discussions that we have in class are just as important to your understanding of the information as the homework that we do. So, try your best to be an engaged participant in classroom conversation because if you are, not only will you enjoy class more, you will also be better equipped to answer deeper questions about the topic which is very important in Mrs. Duke's class.


Number 3: When reading books for Mrs. Duke, actually read the books. Her class is nearly impossible to succeed in if you have not read the material she has asked you to read the way she asks you to read it. When we read in Mrs. Duke's class we aren't just reading, we are also looking for things in the book. We are looking for characteristics of that book's time period, themes in the book, important points that are made, and also whatever else Mrs. Duke tells you to look for. These things are very important to your understanding of the book as well as that of the material she teaches you in the class.


Number 4: Last but definitely not least, everything that Mrs. Duke does has a point. She never gives us anything that is not going to be important or that we are going to be able to forget. For example, if Mrs. Duke spends 3 days teaching something and going over it, you can probably figure out that it is important and that you are going to need to know that information. Mrs. Duke doesn't waste time either, she isn't mean and like, "all work all the time." She understands that we need breaks sometimes and she is willing to give them to us, but when it is time to work, don't dilly dally.