Welcome Parents! Ms. Polay 7th Grade English Language Arts

About the Teacher In 2013, I earned a bachelor’s degree in English – Creative Writing from Brigham Young University – Idaho. In 2017, I earned a Master of Education degree in Teaching and Teacher Education from the University of Arizona. During the 2016-2017 school year, I completed my internship and student teaching 7th grade ELA here at Aprende! I am excited to be part of this amazing community and work with your student.

Communication What you can expect from the teacher: Updated website, which may include such items as the assignment calendar for each class, homework help, handouts, or additional resources Text reminders (optional) regarding homework, major deadlines, and upcoming events The commitment to reply to parent contact via email or phone within one business day Grades posted online through ParentVue in a timely manner

Communication What you can expect from your student: Clear expectations of assignments each week (a hard-copy agenda is encouraged) Knowledge of classroom structure and behavior Ways to communicate classroom learning with you at home

Communication Current email address(es) sent to: What your teacher and your student expect from YOU: Current email address(es) sent to: rpolay@kyrene.org *Please put the first and last name of your student as the subject line; include the class period and your first and last name in the email. The commitment to check your student‘s grade on ParentVue on a regular basis The commitment to check the teacher’s website on a regular basis

Text Reminders

Parent Vue

Parent Newsletters 1. On the Parent Resources page, scroll down to “N” for “Newsletters”. 2. Subscribe to the newsletters you want to receive by checking the box. You can subscribe to “Kyrene Community News” and the School Newsletter for “Aprende”

Stay Informed at Aprende! Jagwire Weekly Newsletter Text Notifications

Attitude and Effort

Curriculum Four major units Unit 5 “Facing Adversity” Unit 2 “Space” Unit 3 “Turning Points” Unit 4 “People and the Planet”

Curriculum Each unit will include one essay Types of Essays Explanatory/Descriptive Expository/Informative Argumentative

Curriculum Each unit will include a trade book Suggested trade books A Long Walk to Water Robot Dreams/Illustrated Man The Outsiders Freak the Mighty

Grading Scale

Grading Scale 100% - 90% = A 89% - 80% = B 79% - 70% = C 69% - 60% = D 59% - 50% = F Tests/Quizzes/Essays comprise 80% of the grade; Homework/Classwork comprise 20% of the grade.

Attendance & Assignments If your student is absent – it is his/her responsibility to get any missed work upon return. A planner is a great resource. Please do not request homework ahead of time or if your student is only absent for one day. Assignments are posted online on my website and ParentVue/StudentVue. Your student is your best source of information about our class! 

Homework Philosophy Homework is never assigned as busy work. Students will have more nightly homework if class assignments are not completed. Therefore, encourage your student to use class time to his/her best ability. Students can expect homework Monday-Thursday. Your student should be reading 50 pages a week and preparing for a bi-weekly blog that evaluates reading comprehension and literary elements Grammar practice and review Reading and reviewing literature from the textbooks, online literature, and novels read in class to prepare for class discussions and upcoming assessments Research to prepare for classroom discussions

Ms. Polay’s Philosophy “Something significant, magical, and inspiring happens with each work you read in the pages of a book. You explore new lands, meet new people, feel new emotions, and are no longer the same person you were one word prior to reading it.”  -Martha Sweeny

We use computers to draft, revise, peer revise, and publish! Technology in the classroom Notice the students busy using 1:1 technology. Notice the self-directed learning. Notice the great lighting and silent work environment.

Language Arts Supplies 1 two-pocket folder for language arts work 3-subject spiral notebook for grammar, warm-ups, and notes Loose leaf college-rule notebook paper 1-2 packs of 3x5 index cards Post-it notes Blue or black ink pens Pencils and erasers Red pen for correcting and editing Highlighters (yellow, green, blue, and pink) Optional: planner, flash drive, art supplies, glue stick, scissors

Thanks so much for attending! rpolay@kyrene.org Thanks so much for attending!