Mrs. Thiele's ELA
Welcome to 8th Grade English Language Arts! I am excited to begin another school year at Burnet CISD. This is my sixth year teaching in the district, and I look forward to partnering with students and families to make this a successful and rewarding year.
Before joining Burnet CISD, I taught English Language Arts and Writing in Florida. I hold a master's degree in Teaching English and German as Second Languages from Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia. I also hold an ESOL K–12 endorsement and maintain professional teaching certifications in both Texas and Florida.
My goal is to create a classroom where students feel challenged, supported, and encouraged to grow as readers, writers, thinkers, and communicators. I believe that every student can achieve success through hard work, curiosity, and perseverance.
Outside of school, I enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors, swimming, kayaking, and meeting new people. My husband is a high school teacher and football coach, and together we have two sons. Our family also includes four cats and one very energetic MWD, who keep life fun and busy!
I am looking forward to an exciting year of learning, growth, and success with all of my students!
8th Grade English Language Arts
This course is designed to strengthen students' communication skills through the continued development of reading, writing, speaking, listening, vocabulary, and grammar. Students will engage with a variety of engaging texts and real-world topics that promote critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication. Instruction will provide opportunities to review previously learned concepts while developing new academic skills through meaningful and relevant learning experiences.
Throughout the school year, students will build a strong foundation in the reading and writing process. They will read, analyze, and respond to a wide range of literary and informational texts, including fiction, poetry, drama, literary nonfiction, informational texts, and argumentative texts. Students will develop analytical and writing skills by examining texts across multiple genres and will complete a research project toward the end of the school year.
Students are expected to maintain an organized interactive notebook that will serve as a resource for class notes, new learning, vocabulary, writing practice, reflections, and other instructional materials throughout the year.
Email is the best way to contact me. I will respond to you within 24 hours!
- Email:[email protected]
- School phone: 512-756-6182
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Grade Policy
50% Daily
50% Tests
Honors 60% Tests
Honors 40% Daily
Make-Up Policy:
- Absent students will be required to go to google classroom or check with the teacher for missing work.
- Students will be given extra time to complete any work: students can submit the assignment no later than 4 pm next day without any penalty.
- Any submission after is -10 points for any additional day (weekend included).
- For example, if the assignment is on Monday, students can submit it by Tuesday at 4 pm without losing any points. Next day will be -10 points.
- Students will be advised on due dates ahead of the time.
- Quality of work counts.
- Students can always improve their grade if they reach out to me personally.
Cheating/Plagiarism
Plagiarism or any representation of another's work as your own is cheating.
Plagiarism will result in a chance to redo assignments or receive a 0.
AI responses are considered cheating and will result a chance to redo assignments or receive a 0.
Classroom expectations:
- Prompt - In your seat and working on the Bellwork activity when the tardy bell rings.
- Prepared - Come to class with all necessary supplies (pencil, etc.) and any assigned work (pick it up when entering the classroom).
- Productive - Students are engaged and participating, on-task conversations.
- Positive - Expecting and striving for success for themselves and others.
- Polite - Respect for staff, other students, self, and property.
Class supplies:
- Folder (optional, and helps students to keep ELA assignments organized)
- Writing utensils (pencils, pens)
- Composition Notebook (can be continued from the 7th Grade ELA course)
- Glue Stick
- Highlighters/ Color markers/ Color pencils
- Headphones (must have wires)
