Gerry Pierce






Gerry "Jack of All Trades" Pierce

Hello! My name is Gerry Pierce. I am the Department Chair of the High School Special Education Team, Get Back Coordinator of the Oak Grove Panther Football Team,  Softball Advisor to Coach Mickey, and Quality Control of Wrestling Program. This is my 29h year teaching Oak Grove.  

I earned my Bachelors and Masters from the University of Central Missouri.  

I am a fan of  The Walking Dead, Shameless, Ray Donovan, and Brooklyn 99.  I have the ocean in my veins and spend as much time as I can to be close to water. 

My plan is from 11:10-12:24 Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 816-690-4152 ext. 1645. 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. 

"In recalling their school years, students mostly remember their teachers, and not the courses they took."

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Transition Skills
816-690-4152
EXT. 1645

[email protected]

Daily Schedule
1st Hour - Essentials of English 
2nd Hour - Essentials of Math
3rd Hour - English IV
4th Hour - Geometry
5th Hour - Plan 
6th Hour - English III
7th Hour - English II  
8th Hour - Advisory

 

Course Description:  This course is designed to provide the student with the skills necessary to be successful in a post-secondary world while learning academic skills to be successful in high school.  Transition is a term used to refer to changing from one environment to another or one situation to another.  In this case, it is a change from both middle school to high school settings (and the academic challenges that change brings), as well as a change from formal schooling to post-secondary training /college, the world of work, and independent living.  The class will work on transition skills such as:  post-secondary education (vocational, internships, college, etc.), work skills (interpersonal relationships, interviewing techniques, resume development, etc.), and independent living skills (budget, time-management, living arrangements, etc.).  Academic skills will include:  memorization techniques, study skills, time-management, note-taking skills, test strategies, writing and reading skills, and more. 

Course credit:  This course provides the student with the opportunity to earn credit toward high school graduation.  ½ credit can be earned each semester with 1 full credit for a full year.  The emphasis again will be credit EARNED which includes participation and the fulfillment of the following course requirements:

Daily Activities:  Each day you will come in and complete a daily board activity       displayed on the board.  You will do this on your study skills sheet.  The study skills sheet will be provided.  Each day is worth 5 pts. We will briefly discuss this before going on to class work. There may be days       when we choose a journal about the topic.  If you are an excused absent, you are still able to copy each activity down for full points.  If unexcused, you may still copy this down for points, but it is up to you to get it from the teacher. 

Planner checks:  Each day you will be expected to bring your planner and have each hour filled out appropriately with topic and assignment (if any).  You will receive 5 points for each day.  Please note that you must bring your planner!  This is a significant part of your grade and this course’s expectations.  If you lose it, they are $5 from the office.  (This is an easy way to keep up your grade up in this class!)

Transition Assignments:  A portion of our time each week will be spent on topics specific to transitioning out of this school environment and into ‘the real world’.      Topics to be covered will include:  post-secondary education (vocational, internships, college, etc.), work skills, independent living skills (budget, time-            management, living arrangements, etc.), and much more.  We will complete a book talk each quarter, along with a speech over a specific topic.  The topic, due dates, and total points will be determined. We will also complete several informal surveys to find out several things that interest you, including and a formalized test (Transition Planning Inventory), or TPI.            

Weekly Progress:  Every Friday you will be evaluated on your time spent in Transition Skills.  You will be evaluated on time-management, attitude, class preparedness, your focus on tasks, and pride/effort on work.  These are worth 20 pts each. 

          Grades will then be based on:

 

            Daily Activities          

            Planner checks           

            Transition                   

            Weekly progress        

 

Class Expectations

 

  1. No talking while the teacher is talking!
  2. Expect Respect (Respect others around you)
    • No put-downs
    • Use appropriate language (no cursing)
  3. Bring necessary materials to class (paper, pencil, pen, Cromebook)
  4. Take responsibility and be accountable

If for any reason these expectations are not met, the following consequences could be given as appropriate for each situation:

  • warning
  • alternative assignments
  • alternative seating
  • hand written apologies
  • time held after the bell
  • detentions (school sponsored as well as teacher sponsored)
  • referral (missed detention, violation of multiple rules in 1 class period, or refusal to serve given consequences within block)

 

  • Note to parents: We will be working on many skills throughout the year. One specific thing that the staff needs in order to complete the annual IEP is a formal transition assessment called a “Transition Planning Inventory” (or TPI).This takes about 20-30 minutes of response time and asks students about their plans after high school, which we can provide some extra opportunities in those areas. I look forward to working with your student this year! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. THANK YOU!!!

Gerry Pierce