Welcome to My Class!

My name is Charles Crimando, and I teach a variety of English courses at Wylie E. Groves High School. Below, you will find some information about some courses I teach. Feel free to reach out to me any time you have questions.

Please refer to my Schoology page for our syllabus, class calendar, and all out-of-class assignments. 

English 11A

In this course, you will be examining how to write (more specifically, how to persuade) and read more effectively. Through the course, we will discover what it means to live in our time, confronting the unique challenges we face right now. We will have opportunities to decide what positive changes we wish to make on our worlds, lighting the way for others in the future. We will also prepare for the tasks that junior year presents, including the SAT. We will read The Kite Runner.

English 9A

This course provides students with the opportunity to study literary forms, the development of a reading habit, and the improvement of language and composition skills. The course pursues a thematic focus using a variety of texts as vehicles for discussion. Writing and reading are critical elements to success in any field. Beyond that, though, I believe that literature is a way to connect all of us. You should certainly learn how to write and read effectively in this class, but more than that, I hope we can learn more about what it means to be a human being. 

English 11B

In this course, you will be examining how to write (more specifically, how to persuade) and read more effectively. Through the course, we will discover what it means to live in our time, confronting the unique challenges we face right now. We will have opportunities to decide what positive changes we wish to make on our worlds, lighting the way for others in the future. We will read The Great Gatsby and Hamlet.

English 12B

Google is famously known for giving its employees 20% of their on-the-clock time to dedicate to a pet project or idea--which may explain why they have come to be known for such innovative thinking.  In English 12B, the student will delve into a “Genius Hour” project of independent inquiry. This project is self-designed and serves to bring closure to your high school experience and prepare you for further collegiate study.   

This class will be focused on self-determined learning, it is important that learners acquire both competencies and capabilities (Stephenson, 1994 as cited in McAuliffe et al., 2008, p. 3; Hase & Kenyon, 2000, 2007). Competency can be understood as proven ability in acquiring knowledge and skills, while capability is characterized by learner confidence in his or her competency and, as a result, the ability “to take appropriate and effective action to formulate and solve problems in both familiar and unfamiliar and changing settings” (Cairns, 2000, p. 1, as cited in Gardner, Hase, Gardner, Dunn, & Carryer, 2007, p. 252). Capable people exhibit the following traits:

• Self-efficacy, in knowing how to learn and continuously reflect on the learning process;
• Communication and teamwork skills, working well with others and being openly communicative;
• Creativity, particularly in applying competencies to new and unfamiliar situations and by being adaptable and flexible in approach;
• Positive values (Hase & Kenyon, 2000; Kenyon & Hase, 2010; Gardner et al., 2007).