October 29, 2025 - We’ve officially hit the point in the semester where major grades start to make an impact and for good reason. Major grades make up 60% of your overall grade, meaning they carry significant weight. Recently, juniors turned in (or in some cases, did not turn in) their essays, and many of you are now seeing how one assignment can drastically affect your average.

Here’s the truth: when you don’t turn something in, even after the one-week late window, the grade becomes a zero. And zeros don’t whisper; they shout. It’s not a teacher’s punishment, it’s a reflection of missing evidence of your learning.

Every student has opportunities to succeed. You’re given class time to work. You have access to notes, feedback, and plenty of chances to ask questions throughout the writing process. These are tools, not suggestions. Using them, consistently, is the difference between watching your grade drop and watching your effort pay off.

How to Stay on Track for Major Grades

1. Utilize class time. That’s your built-in work time, period, use it wisely.

2. Ask questions early and often. Confused? Unsure where to start? Ask before it’s too late. The day that the essay is due, is not the day to ask questions. 

3. Use your notes and resources. Everything we do in class connects to your major assignments.

4. Watch the due dates. Late work closes after one week. Don’t let the window close on your grade.

Major grades are designed to show your growth, your understanding, and your ability to apply what you’ve learned. They’re not meant to scare you — they’re meant to push you. Take ownership, use the time you’re given, and stay proactive.

Because the truth is simple: when you put in the work, your grades will show it.

October 20, 2025 - Let’s be real...homework isn’t the “thing” it used to be. Gone are the days when students came home with stacks of worksheets and nightly assignments. But that doesn’t mean homework has disappeared. In truth, homework still exists… if you put yourself in that position.

Here’s the deal: as a general rule, I don’t assign regular homework in my general education English courses. You’re given class time to complete your work, plenty of it. I believe your evenings should be for rest, family, sports, jobs, and recharging. However, if you choose not to use your class time wisely, that’s when homework appears. If you’re “saving it for later to do at home,” you’re not earning your Active Learner Participation points. Class time is your opportunity to focus, ask questions, and get work done, not socialize or wander. When that time is wasted, the work still has to happen, and that means it becomes homework.

Tips for Staying Focused and On Track

1. Set small goals. Break assignments into manageable chunks and complete one piece at a time.

2. Ask for help early. Don’t wait until the deadline to speak up. I’m here to help if you ask.

3. Stay organized. Keep your notebook updated and your materials in one place.

4. Use your time wisely. The minutes in class are precious...once they’re gone, you can’t get them back.

A Note to Parents - Thank you for partnering with me in supporting your student’s success. Please help encourage your child to complete their work during the class time provided. Remind them to check mrshinkle.com for daily plans and updates if they’re absent, and to grab any missing materials from the file folder by the door when they return. With consistency and communication, we can keep students on track and confident in their learning.

Homework isn’t a punishment, it’s often a choice. Let’s make smart choices together and keep the focus where it belongs: on learning, growth, and progress.

August 18, 2025 - Welcome to a brand-new school year and the very first edition of The Write Stuff! Whether you’ve been counting down the days to get back into the classroom (I know, there are at least two of you) or you’re here because the law says you have to be, I’m glad you’re here. English might be your favorite subject… or it might be the thing you’ve been dreading since June. Either way, this class will be exactly what you make of it.

Here’s the deal: we’re going to work hard this year. You’ll read things that challenge you, write things that stretch you, and learn skills you’ll use long after you’ve turned in your last essay. Some days will feel easy, some will feel like climbing a hill with bricks in your backpack — but every day, I expect you to show up ready to try your best. Effort matters. Attitude matters. You matter.

So buckle up, bring your brain (and maybe an energy drink), and get ready for a year of thinking, reading, and writing like never before.