About Me

Welcome!

My name is Mr. Lassow and I am pleased to be working with RHS students this year.

I am a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, where I studied English while also learning to climb ice and rock. After college I studied literature and received a master’s degree from The Bread Loaf School of English. Most recently I have completed a second masters in English Education from Converse College, Spartanburg.

I have worked with students for years, at the high school and elementary levels, and I have spent time in my past working as a chef in fine-dining restaurants. In my free time I enjoy reading and cooking, at home, or when traveling across the country and around the world. I like to spend my weekends hiking and biking in the Blue Ridge Mountains whenever I can. 

I look forward to the multimedia and multi-faceted work we will all create together this year. I hope that we will create some unique products together, which will help us to better enjoy literature, while also helping to prepare each of us for the unique challenges that we will continue to face in the future, both in school, as well as in the next phases of our lives.

Why English?

The study of books and stories allows us the important experience of measuring ourselves against the characters we read about. Reading literature, we decipher our characters' beliefs by inferring why they act the way they do. By measuring our own actions against those of literary figures, we better understand what we believe, and therefore gain understanding as to who we are as individuals and where we fit into the society that we are all a part of. 

With that said, much of what we discuss will not have a “right” answer. This class will be a place where we can discuss the issues in the books we read, as they might relate to our own lives and what we observe in the world. I do not expect you to memorize any correct answers, but I do expect you to engage in the material in a way that shows me you are actively thinking about the texts, about the world, and about yourselves. 

This year: 

I am very much looking forward to having you in class this year, even though everything will look a bit different. Class formats will be very different this year with the transition to block scheduling,  so please read this letter carefully in order to best understand the class set-up and expectations.

Traits of Successful Learners: 

Violations of the Intellectual Integrity policy are very serious. Students are to view and reflect on the Intellectual Integrity module at the beginning of the course in order to understand what constitutes “cheating” in this class. The consequence of violating the Intellectual Integrity Policy is that no credit will be given for the assignment. 

Communication

In this course, I am here to help you.  My job is to answer your questions, provide you with the resources you need to demonstrate subject mastery, and to assist you throughout the course. If you have any technical issues or other questions relating to the course, feel free to contact me in one of these ways:

1) Email me at jmlassow@greenville.k12.sc.us. THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO REACH ME.  Please use proper email format and  your best spelling, punctuation and grammar in your emails to me. Use a specific Subject line, then identify yourself and the course you are in at the beginning of your email and be very specific in your question. Always use your school email account for any correspondence with me. I will respond within 24 hours to all emails. 

2) Call at 864-355-7871.  If I am unavailable, your call may go straight to voicemail.  Leave a message, and I will call you back within 24 hours.  Remember to include your first and last name, which course you are taking, how to reach you, and what you need.  Speak slowly and clearly when leaving voicemail messages. If I cannot hear or understand your voice message, then I cannot call you back.

As an instructor in RHS E-Learning, I am here to help you learn. But I don't know that you need help unless you ASK.  Always reach out to me with your questions!

Learning Management System:

In this class we will use GOOGLE CLASSROOM as our platform for communication. I will give you weekly agendas on Friday in Google Classroom. Please note the due dates of all upcoming assignments. 

Find more information and a tour of my Google Classroom here.

If a parent has not received an invitation to join Google Classroom as a guardian, they should email that they would like me to add them to the classroom with a Guardian account. Visit the following link for more information on Google Classroom parent/Guardian accounts:

https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6388136?hl=en

Attendance: 

Be here on time. The door shuts at the bell, after which time you will need go to the attendance office to receive a late pass. 

Grades

During the school year, students may view grades in PowerSchool on the student portal, 

Major Grades: 60%

Minor Grades: 40%

Late Work: 

10 points per day up to 5 days, at which time it becomes a zero. Late "homework" is not accepted.  You must remember to successfully submit each assignment in Google Classroom so that it is counted as turned in on time.  

Office Hours

Friday, First Block,  in J117

Communication is the KEY to success. If you contact me and I do not respond within 24 hours, please contact me again.

Student Expectations:

As an online student, I expect you to--

Teacher Expectations:

As your teacher, you can expect me to--


I look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,

Mr. Lassow