Dear Parents,
I am excited to enter another school year teaching what I love. I cannot imagine a world without reading, writing, and lively discussion of how both relate to the human condition past, present, and future. It is my hope that your child will enjoy my class and by the end of the year be able to read actively, write effectively, and communicate well. We will actively read various genres of American Literature from 20th and 21st century including novels, articles, poetry, fiction, essays, song lyrics, art, and photo journals. We will write our own versions of these genres in an attempt to find our own unique voices that are reflective of our place in time and the society in which we live. We will discuss in small groups as well as in the classroom setting what the literature then and now says about our identity as individuals and collectively as Southerners, Americans, and citizens of the world. We will agree, disagree, consider, reconsider, and hopefully leave here with a better understanding of not only other people’s views within the classroom, but hopefully views from all over the world.
As a model for effective communication, I am easily accessible to both my students and their parents/guardians. Therefore, my iPhone is synched with my school email for immediate communication. In addition, I use the webpage as a source for disseminating information to the parents, and I use Moodle to both inform and to instruct my students. I return phone messages and emails in a timely manner and contact parents if I feel their child is in academic peril or exhibiting behavior that is inappropriate. I ask that you email me early in the year so I can add your email address or addresses to my global mailing list.
There are ways that you can be a part of our classroom and thus a part of your child’s success. First, please make sure that your child comes to class every day possible. Attendance is vital to your child’s success. Secondly, please make sure that you provide computer/internet access for your child in the evenings so he/she can stay on top of the assignments and complete the work assigned. Finally, ask to your child about what we are doing in this class. Read what we are reading, discuss with them what we are discussing, and if you would like to, come to class and share with us your perspectives. I’d love for you to come and tell us how the themes were are studying relate to your life. I’d like for the students to know how reading, writing, and communicating are vital to the real world life you are living. If you are reading an amazing book, come talk to us about it. If you write something interesting, come read it to us.
Thank you for entrusting me with your child. I consider it an honor to be in the teaching profession and a privilege to teach here at Mountain Brook. I thank you in advance for your support. Feel free to contact me whenever you have any questions or concerns or if you just want to give me some insight that will help me know your child better.
Best,
Denise Wadsworth Trimm
English 11 and Muse literary magazine sponsor
414-3800 ext. 7628
Room 211
