Welcome to Ms. Engelbrecht's Classroom website! Ms. Engelbrecht teaches sophomore and junior literature and composition at Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, NM.
Here, you will find notes, assignments, and additional resources for your class. Use the menu above to select the correct course. On any page, click on underlined text to open a link to additional pages or resources.
Honors Sophomore English
Honors English 10 is an advanced course designed to give students an accelerated reading experience and to prepare them for potential AP course work. Prose and rhetorical analysis, including the study of poetry, novels, plays, and nonfiction texts. Students will also continue the development of composition, syntax, vocabulary, and speaking skills. Emphasis in the literature study will be on close reading, historical and literary background, note-taking, formal essay writing, research, and the development of pre-AP skills. Students will focus on challenging works of literature in order to prepare them for the AP English program. This course is meant to prepare students for a college level course, and students can expect to do a considerable amount of reading and writing outside of class.
On-Level Sophomore English
English 10 is designed to give the student a foundation in poetry, prose, and argumentation, in addition to a continuation of the development of composition, grammar, usage, vocabulary, syntax, and speaking skills. Emphasis in the literature study will be on close reading, historical background, literary analysis, rhetorical analysis, research, and essay writing. Students will also build skills in research, media and image analysis, and critical thinking.
Advanced Placement English
Language & Composition
The AP English Language and Composition aligns to an introductory college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum, which requires students to develop evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays that proceed through several stages or drafts. Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Throughout the course, students develop a personal style by making appropriate grammatical choices. Additionally, students read and analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects in non-fiction texts, including graphic images as forms of text, from many disciplines and historical periods.
Classroom Library
Ms. Engelbrecht's classroom holds hundreds of books, including a wide range of genres, designed to suit a variety of student interests. In addition to a large fiction section of fantasy, science fiction, coming of age, mystery, and adventure texts, the library has a growing non-fiction section. These books remain in the classroom at all times to by used during Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) and in between activities. All books are generously donated to the library by former students, parents, and community members.
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Meet Ms. Engelbrecht
Ms. E is enjoying her sixth year teaching English at Los Alamos High School and her seventh year teaching overall. She is also looking forward to beginning a doctorate of education in curriculum and instruction in 2020.
Ms. E enjoys gardening, skiing, soaking at Ojo Caliente, seeing movies at the Violet Crown, and eating Indian food just about anywhere she can find it. An Oklahoma native, she lives in Los Alamos with her fiancé and Leonard, her infamous cat.
Credentials
A.A. Liberal Studies from Oklahoma City Community College
B.S. Language Arts Education from the University of Oklahoma
M.Ed. Reading Education from Vanderbilt University
NBCT Adolescent and Young Adult Language Arts
New Mexico Public Education Department Teaching Certificates
English, Grades 7-12
Reading, Grades K-12
Ms. Engelbrecht's Professional Website
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Understanding the Gradebook
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It is important to check PowerSchool weekly to monitor your progress, adjusting study habits and work ethic as needed.
Don't understand your grades? Not sure why you earned the score that appears in Powerschool? Ms. E adds comments and explanations to most assignments and scores.
Check out the guide to symbols and comments in PowerSchool.
Looking for the Summer Assignments?
Summer assignments are distributed in May and will be due on the first day of the upcoming school year.
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Honors English 10 Summer Assignment 2019
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Struggling in Ms. E's Class?
Not quite gelling with the expectations of the course? View some tips for success in Ms. Engelbrecht's class.
Here are some additional time saving tips and tricks for everything Google that will help you use your new Chromebook efficiently.
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Also, check out "The REAL LAHS Student Handbook." developed by LAHS students for LAHS students.
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If all else fails, consider your mindset about learning. Maybe you just haven't gotten it...yet. Watch Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset Video.
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Happy Learning!
- Ms. E
