Welcome to Miss Finnegan's Class!
I hope you are all ready for a fun filled year!!
About Myself
I am a graduate of the University of Dubuque in Secondary Education in English, along with a Middle School Endorsement in Social Studies and an Instructional Strategist I Endorsement. My hobbies include reading, running, being crafty, spending time with my lovely friends, family, and cat.
I will be teaching High School Literature and Writing this year at Clayton Ridge! The following information on the newsletter will be useful for every student in my classroom.
I also want to stress how excited I am to teach every single student that walks in my classroom. My goal as a teacher is to reach every student in some way that will move them to be successful in the classroom. My passion is strong in this subject, and I cannot wait to share that passion with these students. I strongly encourage students to come to me with questions at any time. Students may find certain parts of class challenging at times, but if we all work hard together to gain a deeper understanding of the subject at hand, that makes our success even better.
Feel free to contact me at any point via email, mfinnegan@crcsd.k12.ia.us, or by school phone, 563-547-5201 ext. 121
What I Expect Out of My Students
High School English Core Curriculum
This introductory course mandatory for all 9th grade students. In English 1, students will learn about basic writing procedures, along with different writing styles, i.e. MLA and APA. Grammar and vocabulary will also be taught through out the course. Stories and books will also be read through out the course. Students will have the chance to identify themes, plots and styles of writing through out these readings. Journal writing will also be a daily assignment.
Composition (10th Grade)
This mandatory course broadens every student's writing skills to a whole new level. Students will broaden their knowledge on different writing skills and styles. They will be required to write several research papers, along with personal papers. Students will also learn how to cite items properly within a paper, and learn how to create an effective annotated bibliography.
American Literature (11th Grade)
Studying literature from the founding of the American heritage is extremely important. Students will learn in this course about different types of analysis on American literature. This mandatory course will also integrate well with American history. Students will be able to practice their research skills for writing assignments on works from the early American literature.
World Literature (12th Grade)
This final English class prepares students with cultural works of writing from all across the world. Students will explore the history of these works, along with the ties they hold in our history today. Students will analyze many works and research their beliefs. A final research paper is to be completed near the end of the course, along with an oral presentation on the research completed.
Can't Get Enough English and Want More?! Take Some English Electives!
Storytelling in Literature
Storytelling plays a big part in literature throughout the entire world. Storytelling in Literature is offered for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students wishing to fulfill an English elective. Students will be required to recite stories they find, and also do research on particular impacts of stories being told throughout history.
Memoirs
By taking the Memoir elective, students will be studying memoirs of people throughout history. This elective is open to any high school student. Students will also write their own memoir with certain personal experiences in account.
Tracing the Arthurian Tradition
This class will explore the history and and legend of King Arthur in Britain and America. This elective open to any 11th or 12th grade student will be required to research the effects of this legend throughout history.
The American Dream
This course is available to 11th and 12th grade students who are interested in American Literature. Students will be researching the question, "What is the American Dream?" Throughout this course, students will read multiple works by different authors to try and answer this question through different analyzing techniques.
The Hero's Quest
This elective, open to any high school student, will study the different types of Hero Quest stories throughout history. Students will research the theme of these stories and why it appeals to readers so well. Students will discover the characteristics of the hero throughout the course, and put together their own media presentation of a hero in a quest.
Consequences and Rewards
- "Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become". -C.S. Lewis