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Class Catalog

 Director: Karen Edwards Grades: 6-8 Colorguard is a great sport/art for boys and girls. Students will develop self confidence and team work as they learn skills, including rhythm, balance and the proper use of flags and other equipment.  This sense of belonging and the support of a team can be a foundation for life-long success.

This class meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Saturday practices from December through March.  Competitions are on Saturdays during February and March.

 Teacher: Varies Grades: K-6

The KTL Wednesday Core Classes include enrichment activities based on the Core Kit monthly themes. These can be found in the books "What Your (insert grade) Needs to Know."

In this class, which includes Beginning Latin, students will use the Minimus curriculum from Cambridge University Press, and daily home assignments will be taken from the English from the Roots Up Level 1 vocabulary lists.  Internet use is not needed.  2nd - 4th grade students will attend with a parent; 5th and 6th graders may attend without a parent.

English Roots Teacher: Susan Nisan Grades: 6-8 As required in California State Standard for Reading 1.2, all 7th graders who attend classes will study English root words on Thursdays along with spelling, grammar and beginning Latin from the Minimus curriculum.  The class is also available to KTL 8th graders and to 6th graders who have already completed a year of English Roots.  Students will have daily assignments at home from the English from the Roots Up Level I or Level II or individualized vocabulary lists.  Students will take the Exploratory National Latin Exam in March.  Dictionary use is required; internet use is not required.

 Latin 1A & 1B Teacher: Susan Nisan Grades: 7-12

 These Latin courses will use the ECCE ROMANI curriculum with supplements from the college-level Wheelock's Latin curriculum in Latin 1B.  These courses will earn 2.5 units per semester.  Students will meet twice a week, and can expect from 20 to 40 minutes of independent assignments on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  In addition, students will work on a writing project related to Roman culture and will take the Intro or Level 1 National Latin Exam in March.  Weekly internet access is helpful but not required.  Students must make adequate progress in core classes to enroll in this elective.

Note:  If there is enough interest, a two-week intensive Latin 1A course may be offered in August for students in grades 8-12 who wish to bypass Latin 1A and enroll directly in Latin 1B.  Contact snisan@keyestolearning.com.

 Introduction to Languages Teacher: Vicki   Harmon Grades: 7-9 This is an introductory course to several languages and the culture and geography.   Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills will be developed, but the initial focus will be on receptive language skills.  Students will learn basic vocabulary and phrases, and by the end of the course will have a receptive vocabulary of 300 words and be able to converse at an elementary level.  This course is worth 2.5 credits per semester.

 7th Grade Literature Teacher: Grade: 7This class will focus on the state standards and Core Knowledge for 7th grade, and will focus primarily on writing and literature.  Students will use the texts Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman, The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Cay by Theodore Taylor, Writers Inc. by Sebranek, et al., The Write Path II by Steven Fox and the AVID Press, and Literature and the Language Arts.  This class is worth 5 units per semester.

 American Literature Teacher: Grades: 9-12Students will focus on literature written from the founding of America through present day.  Students will study short stories, essays, poetry, folktales and 3-4 novels, and complete several writing assignments ranging from creative writing to expository writing, including critical analysis essays of literature.  Texts used will be The Crucible by Author Miller, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Language of Literature by McDougal Littell, Wordly Wise by Kenneth Hodkinson, and The Write Path II by Steven Fox and the AVID Press.  This course is worth 5 units per semester.

Pre Algebra Teacher: Grades: 7, 8, 9 This yearlong course uses the Saxon Algebra ½ textbook, and covers all topics normally taught in pre-algebra as well as topics from geometry. This class is recommended for seventh graders or above who plan to take first-year algebra the following year.

Prerequisite: Must take math placement test or have permission from teacher.

Algebra 1Teacher: Denise Silveira Grades: 7-12This yearlong course uses the Saxon Algebra 1 textbook, and covers topics typically taught in a first-year algebra course. This class is recommended for students who have successfully completed a pre-algebra course.

Prerequisite: Must take a math placement test or have permission from teacher.

This yearlong course uses the Saxon Algebra 2 textbook, and covers all topics normally taught in an algebra call as well as topics from geometry.  Prerequisite:  Must take a math placement test and have permission form teacher

 Teacher: Monique Becker Grades: 3-9ALEKS is the new way to learn math on the internet. ALEKS enables the student to work on those concepts the student is ready to learn. ALEKS is a full-time automated tutor, including explanations, practice, and feedback. ALEKS closely interacts with the student, continuously updating its precise map of the student's knowledge. ALEKS operates in both English and Spanish.

ALEKS combines the advantages of one-on-one instruction and evaluation with the convenience of being available on your computer 24 ours a day 7 days a week.

Prerequisite: You must sign up through Monique Becker or Denise Silveira.

 Teacher: Staff Grades: 7-12The classes begin with about 15 minutes of exercise, (sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, and stretching). After stretching, students will walk/run 2-4 laps around the track. Students will learn the fundamentals and rules of sports.

 Health Teacher: Jeanette Fanconi Grades:7-12Students will be learning about all aspects of their health, what they can do to prevent health problems, how to handle problems when they occur, and how to improve their health.  This course not only provides information, but encourages them to develop personal and social skills and positive attitudes about health.

 Earth Science Teacher: Grades: 9-12The Earth Science class uses the Holt Science & Technology Series: Inside the Restless Earth, Earth's Changing Surface, Water on Earth, Weather and Climate, and Astronomy.  The course is composed of 3 units worth of class/home work and 2 units worth of labwork each semester.  State and National standards will be met.

 Teacher: Carol Carlsen Grades : Varies depending on parent volunteers The Junior Master Gardner is an innovative gardening project designed for grades 4th and up. This is a Hands-on class that teaches students about horticultural and environmental science. It also teaches students leadership and life skills. Students will spend part of the time working in KTL's garden, planting, maintaining, and harvesting produce. This class meets weekly.

There has also been interest shown in canning. If you are interested in more please contact Carol Carlsen at the Charter School.

 7th Grade Humanities Teacher: Vicki Harmon Grade: 7In this course, students will gain a working knowledge of the great civilizations of the world and the major events of history, learn about physical and cultural geography, and work together to identify and study a public policy issue.  They will read at least three historically-based works of literature, and become familiar with certain art periods and different styles of music.  This course uses the texts Glencoe: Human Heritage and We The People...Project Citizen, and is worth 5 units per semester.

 Teacher: Vicki Harmon Grade: 8Students will gain an intimate knowledge of our country's history, increase their knowledge of America's geography and culture, and learn about political philosophy and political science.  They will read at least three historically-based works of literature, and become familiar with certain art periods and different styles of music.  This course uses the texts Glencoe: The American Journey and We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution, and is worth 5 units per semester.