Mrs.+Merrbach

=Mrs. Merrbach's Page=

Students are required to read for 20 minutes every day. Most days, students will be allowed to select their own texts; however, students may have assigned reading from time to time. It is imperative that students record completed texts on their weekly reading logs; these logs will be counted as 5% of their final grade for each term. Logs will be collected each Friday, and a new log will be given to students so they will have the opportunity to include any information from weekend reading sessions. For questions about the readings, please e-mail me at kelly.merrbach@fcps.org.
 * 25 Book Challenge:**

For class information and resources, scroll to the bottom of this page.**
 * Here's a little about me, my experiences, and my interests.

MA - McDaniel College (Current Student) BS - Frostburg State University AA - Hagerstown Community College
 * __Education and Experience__**

This is my second year teaching Language Arts at Oakdale Middle School. I also worked in the Special Education Department at the Frederick County Career and Technology Center for two years. Prior to that, I worked as a substitute teacher. I love school!

My husband, Greg, and I live in Frederick, Maryland. We love going hiking, exercising, playing board games, watching movies, dining out, and watching baseball. My personal hobbies include reading (of course), writing, acting, and singing. Oh, and more reading!
 * __Family and Hobbies__**

Some of my favorite (more modern) musical artists are Dave Matthews Band, Paris Combo, Carbon Leaf, Kelly Bell Band, and Five Iron Frenzy, but I also love more classic artists, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Etta James. The list goes on and on because I love music of all kinds. What kind of music do you like?
 * __Music and Movies__**

Since I like all different kinds of movies, it's hard to list //all// of my favorites here. Batman Begins, G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, Iron Man, X-Men, and The Incredible Hulk are some of my favorite action movies. I also like Finding Nemo, Dennis the Menace, Home Alone, Shrek, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, just to name a few.

Some of my favorite books are for middle-school aged students. I love __Twilight__, __The Boxes__, __Number the Stars__, __The Giver__, __Anne of Green Gables__, __Little House on the Prairie__, __Jacob Have I Loved__, __Where the Lilies Bloom__, and __A Wrinkle in Time__. To find out more of my favorites, come see me, and we'll talk books! Also, see below for some great book lists.
 * __Adult and Young Adult Literature__**

My favorite adult literature includes works by Frank McCourt (__Angela's Ashes__, __'Tis__, and __Teacher Man__), Mitch Albom (__Tuesdays with Morrie__, __The Five People You Meet In Heaven__, and __For One More Day__), and Sue Monk Kid (__Secret Life of__ Bees), Kaye Gibbons (__Charms for the Easy Life__). I also like comedic writers (Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck, David Sedaris) and classics (__Great Expectations__, __A Handful of Dust__, __Dracula__, __Frankenstein__, __1984__, __Winesburg, Ohio__, "The Importance of Being Ernest," "The Glass Menagerie," "The Tempest," and "Measure for Measure.")

For reading suggestions, try the following sites, or speak to your Media Specialist or L.A. teacher: [] [] [] [] [] [] []

__**Class Resources and Web Favorites**__ [|LA OverviewMerrbach.doc] [|Letter to Parents.doc] [|Frederick County Public Schools] [|Oakdale Middle School] [|Free Rice Games] [|Grammar Girl Podcasts] [|Discovery's Puzzle Maker] [|Scholastic Interactive Activities] [|Time Magazine for Kids] [|Go! Animate]