ambuehk@gw.kirkwood.k12.mo.us

Welcome Students!

It is my hope that this website will act as tool for you to enhance your learning in my class. Each of the classes I teach has its own webpage that is subdivided by the units we will be studying. On each unit page, you will find links to all schedules, assignments, essays, and other educational links of importance for our learning. All material provided on this website will also be provided to you in written from in class; however, this website should act as a supplement for times when the dog ate your folder, your friend borrowed your essay prompt, and all other emergencies and crises.

A Bit About Me:

I have been teaching at Kirkwood since the fall of 2001. Before teaching at Kirkwood, I taught Composition at Forest Park Community College and Truman State University. I love teaching writing, and I hope to pass on that passion to you. Other passions include reading (duh!), golfing with my husband, John, and taking trips to the country. I have two cats, Cricket and Birdie. My favorite color is yellow and my favorite flowers are daisies. I hope to find out about you over the course of our time together as well.

Classroom Expectations:

I use "expectations" because the following are the criteria that I hope to inspire you to embrace in the classroom and in your studies. They are also the criteria that I promise to bring to you as a teacher.

THINK!: My main expectation in that you become critical thinkers, readers and writers. This means that you will engage with the work assigned, bring your ideas up in class, and apply those ideas to your writing.

RESPECT!: We will be doing the majority of our writing on issues that are personal to each individual writer. Due to this aspect of the course, it is crucial that we maintain a high level of respect for others' ideas, writing, and property.

WORK!: I expect that you will work in this class to improve your writing and understanding of culture. This means that you will complete homework and assignments on time, you will contribute ideas to the class, and that you will pay attention to details.

Policies:

These are the traditional rules of the school and the classroom that you are required by the English Department and Kirkwood High School to follow.

Tardies: If you arrive to class after the bell rings without a signed note, you will be asked to attend a mandatory contact after school the same day. An excess of tardies will result in detention.
Absences: If you are absent from class, you are responsible for coming to see me before school, during contact, or during homeroom to make up missed work. You will have 2 days to make up any missed work or quizzes from an excused absence. If your absence is unexcused, you may not make up missed work or turn in homework/assignments due the day of your absence. If you know you are going to be absent on a day when homework or assignments are due, it is your responsibility to arrange when you will submit your work.
Late Work: All work is due on the day assigned. Any assignments not turned in with the rest of the class will be considered “late.” Work will also be considered late if all portions of the assignment are not organized properly and turned in. Late work is penalized with a reduction in points: 10% the first day & 50% from the second day onward.
Plagiarism: Put simply, DO NOT COPY, STEAL, or BORROW other people’s work and call it your own! This includes cutting and pasting off the web, downloading essays, borrowing other people’s essays, and doing homework together that is turned in with the same answers verbatim. Anyone found plagiarizing will receive an automatic zero on the assignment and will be sent immediately to the grade level principal.

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"There are years that ask questions and there are years that answer."

Zora Neale Hurston