Miller, Ian - DVUSD Pathways

Welcome to Summer 2024 ENGLISH 1-2 Pathways

"You'll never get bored when you try something new. There's really no limit to what you can do."  Dr. Suess (pronounced Zoyce, did you know that? I just learned that and see how old I am. Oh, and he was not a Dr., he just put that in front of his name because his father wanted him to become a doctor. Hmmm)

Information About Your Course

Canvas continues as the main delivery of materials with additional in-class discussion.  Assignments will be posted daily on Canvas - students may only work on that day's assignments and will not have homework - given that they are managing their time in our 3 hour and 45 minute class period, Monday - Friday.

English 1 and 2 are courses that provide a one-semester science credit each for graduation requirements for high school.

The curriculum follows the DVUSD guidelines which are aligned with the Arizona State Standards.  Students will be encouraged to develop critical thinking skills, which are essential to learning.  Reading skills and strategies will be part of instruction and student practice.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Arrive promptly at 3:45 pm at the Boulder Creek High School's campus.  We dismiss promptly at 7: 15 pm. 

Login to Canvas online or with the Canvas app (iOs/Android).

Parents can also login to Canvas to observe classes and student progress. Parents even have their very own app!

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Bring your iPad fully charged and bring your charger to class. Be prepared to work on your assignments without the distraction of your cell phone. 

Find out more about DVUSD Technology, or get support for your technical needs.

Access your grades in PowerSchools.

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Students will provided with a report of their grades at the end of the week on paper. I will require parent signatures on each of these reports in order to make sure the student is successful.

 

POLICIES

Be Present, Be Prepared, and Be Polite

These are the policies I live by. We will review them constantly as the three P’s. They are not the only ones that I expect to follow these; I, myself will be following these as well to show students that they matter.

EXPECTATIONS

From Me:

• Emails: Answered within 24-48 hours at the latest. Please give me at least that amount of time, and if I do not answer you, please send me another email.
• News and Updates: Newsletter every Friday for the next week.
• Availability: I will be available every morning from 7 AM - 8 AM for anything you need from me, or just to talk. Please let me know at least 24 hours beforehand.

From Parents: 

• Respect of Time: I will not answer any emails from parents unless it says important in the subject line. I like to spend all my time with the kids and not even look at my computer unless I have to.
• Availability: I would love to know if you are available for any volunteering or donating for the good of the fifth grade.
• Google Classroom: Most or all of the assignments that kids will need will be available in Google classroom, and easy for you to print if the copy is lost. In addition please keep up with assignments on Google Classroom or through my agenda posted every week for the students.

From Students: 

• Participation: Willing and able to participate during Instruction, Stations, and Activities.
• Positive Mindset: Have a positive mindset going into the day and know that I am here for you and for your success not your failure.
• No Excuses: I am a teacher that respects people and their time and will give extensions to people who need them for specific reasons, but I will go by my late policy otherwise.

Parent Info For Contacting the Teacher

If you would like to contact the teacher, you may do so in the following way:

Parents and guardians may email me directly.

You may seek a response via email, phone, or video (Zoom).

When contacting the teacher please include the following:

To protect student information, only parents/guardians listed on the student contact sheet will be contacted. Also, any phone contact will come from a phone number as "Private" so I may need to leave a message to let you know it is me. 

• Your name
• Your student's name
• Your preferred method of contact
• Your best time for contact (Please note I have office hours for all my classes as listed in Canvas. If you need to contact me outside of the office hours for your student, please indicate that)

Email Mr. Miller

Degrees and Certifications:

Bachelors of Elementary Education with an emphasis in English
Certified to teacher k-8th grade and core subject of English

Mr. Miller

Background: I was born and raised in AZ. I went through the same school district you guys are apart of; Bellair Elementary was the start, Desert Sky Middle school for my adolescence, and I chose a different path for my high school years at Northwest Christian High School. After graduating from high school, I pursued my degree at Grand Canyon University. I started out pursuing a film degree, quickly changed to sociology, and then finally ended up with a degree in elementary education with an emphasis in English. I started my teaching career at Paseo Hills School completing my student teaching in a seventh-grade class and then continued my journey for the past three years at Gavilan Peak School. I was the seventh grade ELA teacher for two years and then I tried my hand in fifth grade. This is my first year teaching high school and I could not be more excited. As for my family life, I have been married to my amazing wife for four years and in those four years, we have accomplished a lot; purchased two dogs, bought a house, had two kids of our own. Currently, my wife is staying home with our two babies while I teach and work for Dutch Bros Coffee as a side gig. My hobbies include singing, board games, reading, and drama.

Why I am a teacher: It is plain and simple... I am a teacher because of the students. To watch a student grow into the person they are going to be, brings me so much joy. When I was a kid, I did not have an adult that believed in my abilities, until high school. The reason I am here today is because of that one teacher who poured into me in my adolescence. So that is the case for you as well. I am here for you. I am not here to fail you, but to make you succeed to the best of your ability. I am not here to make fun of you for anything you do, but lift you up for your strengths and lead you on a path of understanding for your shortcomings. 

Accomplishments:

• Started the Drama Department at Gavilan Peak and directed three musicals (Shrek Jr., Peter Pan Jr., and James and the Giant Peach Jr.) and one straight play (Dystopia: The Hungry Maze Game of Divergent Death).
• Received the DBacks Most Valuable Teacher award in May of 2020
• 12 News Teacher of the Week
• Guest Star on Educational Podcast: WellPlayED Season 4 Episode 16
• Pursuing my Masters at GCU in Curriculum and Instruction