Welcome to 7th and 8th Grade English!
My name is Ms. Kristen Spangler, and the 2010-2011 academic year will be my fourth at the Harrisburg Academy, my eighth year teaching overall. It will also mark the first year following my completion of a Master of Science degree in Secondary Education, English, through Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a degree throughout which I maintained a perfect, 4.0 GPA!
I'm locally born and bred, a graduate of Northern York HS who also attended the West Shore School District. I received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Washington, a Masters degree from University of Glasgow (Scotland) and completed all but my dissertation in a doctoral programme at University College Cork (Ireland). In addition to travelling, skiing and photography, I am an avid reader and writer in my spare time. I enjoy reading all genres, from nonfiction and biography to children's literature and postmodern fiction. I write both fiction and poetry, though I admit to a preference for the former.
My goals for you as students are to incorporate your own reading interests into our classes, to facilitate discussion amongst you and to hopefully encourage you to read widely. I would like to suggest that you take a minute to review the effective reading strategies link that I've posted below; this may give you some idea of how I read and what I know you can achieve. Also, it may be helpful to read through the class guidelines in advance so that you know what I expect of you.
Finally, we will also explore the writing process in class, using a variety of topics to examine issues of style and content, creative and journalistic approaches and research methodology.
I look forward to another wonderful year with the rising 8th grade, the opportunity to work with students new to me in the rising 7th grade and the continued opportunity to further my own abilities as an educator. I wish you all a fantastic new school year!
Email: spangler.k@harrisburgacademy.org
* Grade 7
* Grade 8
* Effective Reading Strategies
* Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
* Credits