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

2. 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 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.

3. 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 or phone within one business day
Grades posted online through ParentVue in a timely manner

4. 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

5. Communication Current email address(es) sent to:
What your teacher and your student expect from YOU:
Current address(es) sent to:
*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 .
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

6. Text Reminders

7. Parent Vue

8. 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”

9. Stay Informed at Aprende!
Jagwire Weekly Newsletter
Text Notifications

10. Attitude and Effort

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

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

13. 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

14. Grading Scale

15. 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.

16. 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! 

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

22. Thanks so much for attending!
Thanks so much for attending!