ELA and History
Syllabus
Ms. Kiernan and Mr. Thacker
ELA and History
Syllabus
Ms. Kiernan and Mr. Thacker
WELCOME!
Welcome to my class!
In my class, you can expect to learn by doing through project-based learning (PBL), hands-on, interactive and collaborative methods . Students can expect to be challenged and work out of their comfort zone while DARING GREATLY!
A little about Ms. Kiernan....
I've been teaching for over twenty years! I started teaching 5th grade GATE (gifted and talented) in Fairfax, Virginia. I moved to Los Angeles and taught 5th grade and then moved to 6th grade.
In my free time, I like to travel, hike, golf, go to the beach and GO, DODGERS! I have two adult children who live here in California and a tuxedo cat named Figaro.
My favorite subjects are English (I was an English major in college) and history (ancient cultures) which I why l love teaching it @ Portola!
A little about Mr. Thacker...
I am the special education teacher for 6th grade History and English Language Arts. I come to the Academy of Integrated Arts and Technology after working in the medical field of Dialysis for over 30 years. I have a dual special education credential from CSUN and am currently working on my master’s degree.
The thing I most enjoy is spending time with my wife and three kids. I have a daughter who is starting 6th grade, and my twins are entering the world of high school. I enjoy going to the movies and to the beach in my free time. I am also a die-hard Dodgers and Lakers fan and love anything Star Wars related!
It was my passion for teaching that led to a career change, and I am so excited to embark on this journey of learning together with the students.
In this class your academic grade will be calculated with something called Equitable Grading and Instruction (EGI). This is a standards-based grading system.
Your academic grade will be based on how well you master specific “learning targets” that are based on the state standards.
Each learning target will have one or more assessments that gives you the chance to demonstrate how well you have mastered that learning target. Remember, assessments can be tests, projects, etc.
Your grade is a reflection of what you have learned, and you can retake or redo any assessment if you want to better demonstrate your understanding. If you want to retake a test, you will need to complete test corrections, make up any missed work, and complete additional practice before you are given a retake assessment.
You will still be assigned homework and class work, however these assignments will not impact your academic grade in this class. Instead, your homework and classwork will count towards your work habits grade.
Here's how your graded work and assessment are reflected on Report Cards: