welcome!

This is our space to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and reflect on the themes of our  course. Adding content and sharing has never been easier! We will build the knowledge on this site together by contributing to online discussions, sharing our research, and through creating and and posting to your personal blog as a way to showcase our course creations.
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Overall, this site should help us reflect on the themes course, celebrate our accomplishments, and streamline how we learn and share information.

your teacher:

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An interest in helping young people discover and define their writing voice and reading interests drives Ms. Jennifer Ward to cultivate a student-centered learning environment, one that supports individual learning goals and incorporates purposeful use of technology. In March 2017, Ms. Ward was named teacher of the month by Michigan's 86th district state representative, Thomas Albert.  In March 2016, she was named a TED-Ed Innovative Educator and is also a Google Certified Innovator, National Writing Project Fellow, and a 2014 PASCD Emerging Leader.  Ms. Ward taught for 13 years in a Philadelphia suburban district and returned to her home state in 2015. Most recently, she taught at Ionia High School.

​This is her second year as a Grandville Bulldog.  Ms. Ward teaches 10th grade American literature and honors American literature as well as  Independent Novel Study courses.

Ms. Ward

​stay informed:

Students in Ms. Ward's students and their parents can sign up to receive a daily text message of our homework by clicking on the appropriate class below:

what we're working on:

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AMERICAN LITERATURE:     
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At the close of our first semester, students submitted their essays on a societal issue they selected to research.  Now, we will be revising those essays into talks.  Students will be asked to think about how to best communicate their ideas using verbal and nonverbal communication skills.  Students will develop their presentations using appropriate and thoughtfully designed visual aids, and some students will be recording their speeches to submit to the TED -Ed Student Talks program.
​HONORS AMERICAN LITERATURE:
                                                               (4th and 5th hours)

In our study of Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun, we will be practicing our close reading skills in order to help us comprehend and interpret this powerful play. In particular, we will analyze a number of key quotations from this play, looking closely to understand the meaning and impact of word choice, setting, and characterization techniques. As we read, students will want to keep track of key quotations and scenes in order to help write an analytical responses to issues presented in the text. By the close of the unit, students will be able to 
  • identify how the author’s description of the setting impacts the action of the play,
  • determine reading strategies (e.g., ask questions, make connections, take notes, make inferences, re-read) that will help them comprehend difficult texts,
  • identify the myriad of factors that impact a person’s ability to make decisions,
  • demonstrate close reading skills through analysis of key quotations from the play,
  • engage in a literary analysis of the play A Raisin in the Sun by analyzing characterization, plot, setting, figurative language, theme, and symbolism, and
  • incorporate specific, well-selected quotations and evidence in written responses to reading the play.
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​INDEPENDENT NOVEL STUDY:
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This month we will be exploring a wide variety of genres and sharing our favorite new reads through book talks. You will be able to see some of our book talks on our new GHS book talk playlist.

​social contract:

Respect-
  • When you interact with others either in class or online, it is important to be respectful; be respectful of other people and respect yourself. This means that personal attacks, inappropriate language and content, insults and harassment of any kind are strictly forbidden. This online class site is an extension of our physical classroom. Ask yourself if your comments would be acceptable in our physical classroom setting.
Rigor-
  • Before posting a comment, question, or blog entry, ask yourself, "will this forward the discussion we are having?" Your thoughts and ideas should be supported, and you should be using specific details to illustrate your ideas. Your posts should build on the discussion by responding to comments other students have made on a particular subject.
Grades-
  • Yes, you will be graded on some of your contributions to this site. What does this mean? Your blog entries and online discussion posts should be thoughtful reflections, interesting ideas, and discussion provoking comments related to our texts. You will be told in advance which posts will be graded and how they will be assessed. Be sure to proofread before you post.

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