Guide on OHS Teachers and Classes

As class registration approaches students have one question on their mind, what teacher should I take? A lot is riding on this one decision. All students learn differently. Some do better with hands-on learning, some prefer lectures, some prefer assignments online, and some prefer paper assignments. But there is really no way to know what a class is going to be like until you take it.

As current juniors are preparing to register for their senior year classes they have lots of questions about what to do. They want their senior year to be the perfect year, but a bad class will ruin that fantasy very quickly. So this is a guide to give some background on each of the teachers that teach math and English classes for 12th graders.

First up, math teachers. There are a few different math classes you can take your senior year, with an amazing selection of teachers to choose from. Here they are:

Mr Coxson: He teaches math 1010/1050 Concurrent Enrollment, Math Decision Making and AP calculus BC for seniors. It’s a current enrollment class. He says his teaching style focuses on active involvement. A typical day in his class is students interacting at the whiteboard, discussing mathematics. His policy for late work and make-up work is that all work must be turned in by the day of the test, and for the college class points are docked when it’s late. His Math 1010/1050 and Math Decision Making assignments are online, and for AP calculus a textbook is used, but all assignments are turned in online. The workload for AP calculus and Math 1010/1050 is about 1-2 hours per day of homework. For Math Decision Making it’s about 30 minutes to an hour of homework per day. When asked to describe his classroom environment he says “students are actively engaged. There is a lot of talking and interacting. I rarely lecture”. To anyone thinking about taking his class he says “If these classes meet your needs, I look forward to working with you. If you would like to discuss it, please come see me and we will chat about it”.

Mrs Ellingford: She teaches AP Calculus. Her teaching style is more direct instruction, with some independent and small group work. A typical day in her class includes going over homework questions, learning new material, and most days there is some time to work on homework in class. For her class the late work and make up policy is that late homework is penalized. She says “calculus builds on each lesson and staying caught up is so important”. There are remediation opportunities for quizzes and tests. She uses paper assignments for her class, either in a textbook or a worksheet. The workload for the class is homework everyday that takes about 45 minutes to complete. When asked what her classroom environment is like she says “I strive for a positive environment where students feel successful and supported”. For students considering taking her class she says “Taking AP Calculus is a commitment, make sure you have time in your schedule for daily homework. Also, I love teaching and am always happy to help students”.

Mrs Ramsten: She teaches Math 1010/1050 Concurrent Enrollment and AP calculus AB. Her teaching style is very hands on, very little lecture. She says “You cannot learn math without doing math”. A typical day in her class is students are assigned a random group each day and work on whiteboards on the wall. She says “We are standing and moving a lot. You will discuss math and do math with your group while I circulate and answer questions and facilitate learning”. For her late work and make-up work policy she says “The policy is a little different based on the class, but in either case turning in your work late can really hurt your learning, since each day is dependent on knowledge from the previous day. Late work will be accepted until the day of the test, but it is recommended that you fix low homework scores to improve”. In AP Calculus AB it is paper assignments that are graded and submitted on Canvas. For Math 1010/1050 Concurrent Enrollment, it is almost exclusively digital assignments. The workload is about an hour to an hour and a half of homework per day. When asked what her classroom environment is like she says “Chaotic! But in a good way. We work together, it can be loud and noisy, but learning is doing”. To students considering taking her classes she says “just be prepared to put in the time”.

Ms. Shaw: She teaches Pre-calculus for seniors. She says her teaching style is straightforward and caring. A typical day in her class includes a daily quiz to start class, correcting homework, learning new material, and using class time to work. No late work is expected unless it is an excused absence. Extra credit is usually available to students who want to make up for missed work. The assignments are usually on paper with some digital. For this class there is usually time in class that allows for having no homework, but some topics may require at home work, or if you need help, or you wasted your allotted class time. When asked what her classroom environment is like she says “High expectations that students respect each other, the teacher, and the class. We try to have fun when it’s appropriate”. To students considering taking her class she says “a 4th year of math is a great idea. Precal teaches you what you would need to know for college math without the pressure, pacing, or rigor the college course needs. I am always around to help with math questions”.

Those are the teachers at OHS that teach the primary senior year Math classes. Now for the English teachers that teach 12th grade English:

Mr. Ellingford: He teaches AP English Language. When asked about his teaching style he says “I try to maintain a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere and approach the content I’m teaching. I use group and partner discussions as often as I can because I believe it’s the best way to encourage student participation in lessons and the writing process generally. I try to make sure students feel safe asking questions during class discussions and in small groups. I make my expectations for student behavior clear and try to firmly, but kindly, redirect student choices when they don’t line up with these expectations”. The day to day schedule in his class depends on the day. But it will include at least one of the following: peer revision, learning new concepts/strategies, individual writing, conferencing with each other, and/or analyzing other author’s writing. He has a separate grade for how well students are fulfilling expected behaviors. If a student submits an assignment late and they talk to him about the reason why, he will adjust their grade accordingly. The work itself is graded the same whether it’s on time or not. All work needs to be submitted by the end of the term it was assigned in. All of the writing for this class is digital, but class readings are on paper. For AP language, the workload could be around 30-60, depending on how much reading and writing the student needs to complete. When asked about his classroom environment he says “Softly lit, maybe too softly. I try to keep it smelling pleasant. I prefer tables to individual desks. I have some plants, but I’d like to have more. I try to keep things relaxed but still on-topic”. To any students considering taking his class he says “I’d love to have them in class!”.

Mr. Peck: He teaches English 1010/2010 which is a concurrent enrollment class. When asked what his teaching style is he says “I try to focus on the student first and teach to where they are at. I try to accomplish this through student-centered teaching that is interactive and collaborative. I try to bring in philosophical and thematic engagement. I feel much of my teaching is anecdotal, as well. Meaning, I like to tell stories that ground the learning in their lives and provide larger contexts for the content that is being learned”. A typical day in his class starts with 15-20 minutes of reading time, then a discussion if reading was assigned, then the content is learned. For this class most of the lessons are focused on learning how to write a variety of essays that focus on reading that has been previously done. He only has a late work policy for major assignments, they will be docked 5% per every school day that it’s late. “However, if there are extenuating circumstances, I am always happy to work with the student”. Both paper and digital assignments are used, final essays are turned in online. The workload for this class is higher because it’s a concurrent enrollment class. “Students are asked to read complex text and write challenging essays”. Students also have to read one book per term. Most of the homework is reading articles or personal books. Students also need to participate in class learning and keep major deadlines. The essays written for this class range from 2-10 pages. When asked what his classroom environment is like he says “I try to keep the environment relaxed and engaging. I like to have fun with whatever we are doing. And so, while there is a significant amount of rigor to the class, I also try to make the learning enjoyable and the atmosphere relaxed”. To students considering taking this class he says “Everyone that is wanting to go to college or wants to challenge themselves academically should take this class. I genuinely believe that any student can succeed in a concurrent enrollment class, and the benefits that come from taking this (and other challenging classes) are immeasurable”.

Mr Replogle: He teaches English 12. When asked about his teaching style says “I do my best to be authentic. We learn, we laugh, we try to do both”. A typical day in his class begins with reading, attending to timely matters like quizzes, collecting homework, recognition of birthdays and upcoming events, ect. And then working on whatever needs to be done. For missing work his policy is 50% off unless last time, then you have one day to get full class points on it. He uses both digital and paper assignments. The workload for this class can mostly all be done in class, and if it’s not finished it’s due by the start of the next class. When asked what his classroom environment is like he says “Fun, but productive. We have a good time”. To any students considering taking this class he says “Prepare to be challenged”.

Mr Rice: He teaches English 12, Mythology, and Film Lit. He says his teaching style is “relaxed but taken seriously. My students do not tend to see me as an obstacle to their education. I usually chat and joke with students before getting work done, and when it’s time to work, I expect students to work”. A typical day in this class starts with welcome, taking roll, and then reading time for 20 minutes. Then the lesson will be introduced and students are given time to work in groups or individually on the assignment. Students have one week to make up points that they missed. Late work is rarely accepted. Students should visit him during flex. Both paper and digital assignments are used. The workload is standard. Students usually only get poor grades when they miss class or are off task during class. When asked what his classroom environment is like he says “My classroom environment is casual, but I do not tolerate disrespect”. For students considering taking his classes he says “My Mythology and Film Literature courses fill up fast. Students who are not excited for the subject should let those who are interested sign up for the class. It is so much better for the teacher and the students when the students who want to take the class are there. Those who are only interested in the course credit will struggle. I expect engagement”.

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Alexis Hall

Alexis Hall is a senior at Orem High School. She is an avid reader and writer. She has been on ODC for the past three years. She is also a student director for the Writing Center. She believes writing is a powerful tool that brings us together and she hopes to reach people through her writing.