Emma Steward

March 9, 2014
Setting and Context


Located on the northern side of Colorado, the city of Loveland had a diverse economic
base containing 62,000 residents (District Spotlight). The employment of these citizens ranges
from semi-skilled to professional with larger emphasis on skilled-technical area, and local
employers include Hewlett-Packard, Agilent, Wal-Mart, McKee Medical Center, Medical Center
of the Rockies, Hach Company, and U.S. West Resources (District Spotlight). In the summer
months, tourism is a significant contributor to the local economy (District Spotlight). Outdoor
activities and destinations such as playgrounds, baseball/softball fields, dog parks, amphitheaters,
parks with bike racks, trailheads, gazebos, pavilions, and sculpture gardens, picnic areas, and
horseshoe pits are utilized all year around by residents and sports playing students
(CityFacilities). The city school district, Thompson School District, serves about 14,500 k-12
students, with 20 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 4 high schools, an alternative high
school and Thompson Online school (District Spotlight). Students may choose to continue their
education at one of the seven universities within commuting distance from Loveland (District
Spotlight). Students from Loveland high school have many ways to get involved in their local
community by volunteering through structured student clubs or academic programs such as IB,
Key Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, or other clubs with a spirit of service
(Jones).
Loveland High School has been an established school since 1877, and the building itself
is over 100 years old (District Spotlight). Demographics of the school reflect those of the general
population, 79% Caucasian students, 16% Hispanic students, 1% African American students, and
1% Asian students (GreatSchools). A total of 23% of the student population qualifies for free or
reduced-price breakfast and lunch (GreatSchools). The staff at LHS is made up of five
administrators, five counselors and 90 certified instructors; in addition, there are part-time
certified specialists, including a psychologist, a social worker and a nurse (District Spotlight).
LHS is a qualified International Baccalaureate World school offering Advanced Placement
classes for any of the 1,500 students in grades 9-12 (District Spotlight). A comprehensive
program of courses is offered to students including college preparatory, general education, and
career education classes as well as special programs for students with disabilities and those
needing English language acquisition (District Spotlight). The high school has been operating on
a block schedule since fall of 1992. Classes meet for 95 minutes every other day for eighteen
weeks which is a semester class (District Spotlight).
The following is Loveland High Schools mission and vision:
We promise to provide a physically, psychologically and emotionally safe environment
where we will hold all to high expectations by: Taking all necessary steps to empower
our school community to learn at high levels, Expecting a student- and learning-centered
community, Encouraging risk-taking in order to thrive in an ever-changing world
(District Spotlight).
In accordance with the high expectations noted in the mission and vision, approximately 40% of
the 2012 graduating senior class planned to attend a four-year collegiate institution. Roughly
36% will attend at least a two-year college after graduation (District Spotlight). TCAP results
from 2013 include 44% in math, 72% in reading, and 61% in writing (GreatSchools).
About 59% of the students participate in school activities outside the classroom (District
Spotlight). Extracurricular opportunities at the school include: golf, soccer, tennis, cross country,
football, gymnastics, cheerleading, basketball, wrestling, tennis, softball, volleyball, and
swimming in the sports arena; and DECA, National Honors Society, Colorado Youth Outdoors,
Key Club, Latinos United in the Community, Knowledge Bowl, River Watch, Robotics,
Yearbook, Student Council, Library Club, Anime, Theater and Act One in the club department
(District Spotlight).
I have had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Madison-Dunns English class twice a
week. More specifically, this is a college level English class conducted through Colorado
University for transferrable college credit, available for upperclassmen at Loveland High School.
With full attendance there are 12 males and 16 females in the class, but with second semester
juniors and seniors there is hardly ever a full classroom. About 80% of the students are
Caucasian and 20% of the classroom population is Hispanic. The general personality of this class
can be described as hard working, goal oriented, and easily distracted. The climate of the
classroom is highly focused on developing individual writing skills for college. Lessons are
centered mostly on a mandated curriculum, dealing with different types of essays, higher
thinking development, and writing across different venues for multiple audiences. The students
who take this class are neither remedial nor advanced, this class serves the average student
population. Since this class requires a monetary fee, students elect to take this class, and there is
little parent involvement due to the independent and collegiate nature. Mrs. Madison-Dunn has
been an English teacher at Loveland High School for ten years now. Her classroom, shared with
a math teacher, is very straightforward. There is little signage or decoration to distract students
from learning. The desks are placed on the West and North wall, and there is a chalkboard as
well as a retractable projection screen readily available for use. As a preservice English teacher
and current college student, I can relate to this class very well. I feel that I am prepared to
advocate for the writing requirements of this class as a college student and equipped to make an
English class interesting and relevant to their lives as upperclassmen.
These students have previously had two to three years of writing instruction in high
school and write at a rather sophisticated level. Currently the class is working on persuasive
essays, and I have been asked to create a lesson that will aid them in the revision process of their
rough drafts. Undoubtedly the students in this class have gone through many revision lessons
during the course of their high school careers. I do not intend to reinvent the wheel with my
lesson. Yet I also want to provide them with enough structure and reference materials to be able
to make significant changes in their papers. No matter the age or occupation, a writer can never
practice too much revision! This is an important lesson to teach now, because the students have
been working on their rough drafts for a couple of weeks and intend to turn in their papers next
week.























Works Cited

"City Facilities (List)." City of Loveland, CO :. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/index.aspx?page=1936>.

"District Spotlight." Loveland High School / Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.
<http://thompsonschools.org/loveland>.

Jones, Matt. Personal interview. 04 Mar. 2014.

"Loveland High School." GreatSchools. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.greatschools.org/colorado/loveland/1171-Loveland-High-
School/?tab=demographics>.