Happy 2022-2023 school year!!  I bring you greetings from the greater N.L. Dillard Middle School.  I am a Master Teacher in the area of English Language Arts (ELA) and I teach 8th grade ELA classes. I am also certified in gifted education and teach Adult Basic General Educational Development (GED) classes for adults.  As we begin the 2022-2023 school year, my top priority is to ensure that our classroom is safe and orderly, and that the learning environment is not disrupted.  I offer many choices for students to learn in order to provide a challenging, exciting, and personalized education.  My goal is for all students to reach their full potential.  I love teaching ELA, and reading is one of my favorite hobbies!  I thoroughly enjoy teaching my students each and every year!!

I am originally from Morganton, North Carolina.  I received my Bachelors of Science in Middle School Education from Winston-Salem State University and a Master's Degree in Language Arts from North Carolina A&T State University.  I also received specialized certification in gifted education from the University of Virginia.  My teaching experience began in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the majority of my teaching career was with the Danville Public Schools in Danville, Virginia.  I am married to Edward Gunn.  I have one daughter, Kristi, and two grandchildren - Jackson and Taylor.

My goal for all of my students this year is to provide the same level of education for all students.  I want all of our students to reach their full potential and to do their best.  In order for this to happen, I will expect each of my students to work hard, stay focused and to complete all assignments and turn them in on time.  In addition, my goal is to prepare my students for the English End of Grade (EOG) test and high school in the near future. 

It is my belief that all students can succeed.  I am a firm believer in the 3R's of education, Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships.  A rigorous curriculum keeps students involved in the class.  Students must see the relevance of the material to their everyday lives, in order to keep students engaged.  Finally, I strive to maintain a working relationship between the students as well as the parents in order for all students to be successful. 

Every student should be in class daily and on time.  However, I do understand that there will be circumstances that will require students to miss school.  When these occur, it is the responsibility of the student to get and complete all the make-up work.  These documents will be placed in the classroom or in the digital learning platform while the students are at home.  If a test is missed, the student will need to reschedule a time to retake the test.  If the student misses enough days, it will make it difficult for the student to do well on the test, the student can take the test any time before the next test date. 

Communication

Communication between the home and school environment is critical in creating a successful learning environment.  It is advantageous to students when parents, teachers, and students are all working for a common goal of succeeding and excelling in life.  Therefore, should you need to contact or meet with me, I will do my best to make myself available to you.  My preferred method of contact is to meet face to face, or a telephone call.

Course Outline

This year, students will be studying and discussing topics related to the EOG Test.  We will continue the curriculum through iReady, Engage NY, novels, short stories, and vocabulary enrichment, which consistently pushes students to be the best that they can be.  Topics covered through this program include, but are not limited to, the following:

Fictional Elements         Informational Text Elements        Poetic Elements          Narrative Writing        Argumentative Writing        Information and Persuasion Writing         Literary Analysis 

8th Grade Daily Schedule

BETI Block             7:45 - 8:15

Core 1                    8:18 - 9:22

Core 2                  9:25 - 10:29

Core 3                10:32 - 11:36

Core 4/Lunch      11:39  - 1:19

Elective 1               1:22 - 2:06

Elective 2               2:09 - 2:55

Dismissal                   2:55

Lunch                   12:30 - 1:00