Jeri Dunn
Hello! I’m back! For the first semester, I will be the high school English/Language Arts instructor. I am so grateful to the parents, students, administration and community members who cared enough to ask about my plans. I feel needed, have always enjoyed teaching, love to see how much my students have developed, and find ultimate value in the state and national curriculum that helps our school to succeed. However, forty and one-half years might just be enough, so that—come January—I might really retire!
EDUCATION
Graduated from New Salem High School
College at Mary College for one year
Graduated from Dickinson State College with a major in English, a minor in psychology and an endorsement in reading.
📃 RULES AND PROCEDURES
Each student is required to read and sign a contract for my English classes, so that they know and understand the rules and importance of their participation and preparation for the class periods themselves. The freshmen students will also need to get a parent/guardian signature so that their significant adults also know of my conditions and recommendations for having class success.
1. Be prepared with a textbook, notebook, paper, and writing utensils. 2. Be certain work is on time as I generally do not accept late work as we correct in class and get immediate feedback on that work. 3. Keep your hands to yourselves. 4. No cursing or inappropriate language is allowed. 5. If a student knows he or she will be absent, each will have one day plus as many days of that absence to complete work. 6. If a student knows he or she will be gone, the responsibility lies within that student to get required work done before being absent. 7. Pay attention in class and raise your hand. 8. Do your own work and use the option when allowed to work in groups or to compare completed homework. 9. Sit in your assigned seat. 10. Treat any substitute teacher with respect. 11. Gum and mints are allowed, but trash cans must be used appropriately. 12. Expect a possible midterm exam and a semester exam with questions on units that we will work on cumulatively for those time periods. 13. Be prepared for silent reading. 14. No outside beverages except water are allowed.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT & RESOURCES
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
ENGLISH & LANGUAGE ARTS
SUSTAINED SILENT READING
On the class contracts this year, there is an entry for participation in silent reading. The students need to know of its significance to the school, the school’s accreditation, and the desire of administration for us to continue this program. Students will not be allowed to read a textbook or use this fifteen minutes’ time for homework. They should choose something of interest to themselves and bring it with them for the week that they will be having reading in my English classes. We will not have silent reading on Flex Fridays or during activity-heavy days, such as Homecoming. However, there may be times when I will choose to opt out of silent reading for the day or the week because of unit testing, semester testing, or testing by Mrs. Olson or Ms. Svihovec.
SCHEDULE AND AVAILABILITY
I plan on being available from 7:45 through 12:45 on regular education days. However, I am usually in the building and available by 7:15 if arrangements are pre-arranged. Most students know to talk to me in-person the day before they need me, so that it is easy for me and the office to give access to my room—even by 7:30. Because I will not be having a home room assigned, I will be available —after announcements—but only if the home room instructor doesn’t have a team-building or group activity planned. Since I do not plan to leave until after 12:45, I will also be able to accommodate students for extra help, makeup work, or assignments during the students’ lunch time. Please, just remember to plan ahead and to be accountable for your work!