Blog Archives

Room 10 Update - September 1

8/31/2014

Hello Parents,

I hope you are enjoying the long weekend. Our class feels complete now... Aysa joined us and we were lucky to meet our new aide, Ms. Ahearn.

This week, we will learn a new set of word parts (the Poseidon Set) and spelling words to go with them. We will begin to earn more beads/points for using or finding words that include the word parts we have learned. Outside of school, if your child notices a word with a word part we have learned, ask him or her to tell you what the word part means, and then help him/her use that knowledge to figure out the meaning of the word. If students let me know about these found words, I will give them a bead. It is always fun to see how many we can accumulate throughout the year.

Homework is due on Tuesday, and a new packet will be sent home that is due Monday, September 8. It includes...

a new I'd Rather Read log and response sheet. Students should be reading books at their level and should answer a different question this week.
two word problems along with a math practice sheet. Students should show their work in two different ways for the word problems. A picture or diagram should be one of the ways. We are working in class on showing our thinking, including with a number line and a bar diagram. This will get easier as the year progresses.
a spelling activity menu, from which they will each choose two activities.
an instruction sheet on how to post a response for a Video Writing Prompt. Students will be required to watch a short video and then post their answers to a few questions on the comment page. I will approve all comments before they are posted. Please have your child let me know if they cannot watch the video at home. I think it is a good idea to have them first type their answers in Word, and then copy and paste their text into the comment section. This way, they can spell check and save their work.

A few other things...

We will make most of our flashcards in class this week, but some students may need to finish them at home.
There is not a new Poem of the Week assignment.
There are links to typing practice sites posted under the "Other" tab.
I did not remind students about the continents + oceans quiz (oops!!), so I am moving it to Thursday, instead of Wednesday. They will identify the location of the continents and oceans on a world map. Spelling counts. They have a map they can use to study. There are also a few games posted on my Social Studies Websites page.
I will see you at Back to School Morning on September 10!

As usual, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks for all of your support.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,
Christina Polay

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Room 10 Update - August 24

8/24/2014

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Hello Parents,

The homework is due tomorrow. A new packet will be sent home that will be due Tuesday, September 2. It includes...

a new I'd Rather Read log and response sheet. The paragraph will be written at home this week.
two word problems along with a math practice sheet on place value. Students should show their work in two different ways for the word problems. A picture or diagram should be one of the ways.
a spelling activity menu, from which they will each choose two activities.
a Poem of the Week assignment sheet. The assignments are split into days of the week as a guide to help students manage their time, but they are all due next Tuesday.

This week, in class we will continue to explore the place value standards in math, specifically Number & Operations in Base Ten (the first 3 of 6 standards in this unit). These concepts will be reinforced throughout the year and go beyond memorizing the place value chart and identifying the place name.

The first standard (4.NBT.1.) states that students should "recognize that in a multi-digit whole number, a digit in one place represents ten times what it represents in the place to its right." We will explore the idea of each place value being ten times the value of the place to its right through a community service project.

In 2012, the Ocean Conservancy reported that nearly 1,000,000 bottle lids/caps were collected during beach cleanups around the world. We can reduce the number that end up in the ocean by collecting them! We can use our collection to really see what it means to have ten times any place value! We can reflect on the number of disposable bottles we are using, because behind every lid/cap is a used bottle! We are collecting all sorts of lids and caps... from milk and juice containers, condiment bottles, water bottles, etc... There is also an option to participate in the beach clean up. This year, the International Coastal Cleanup Day is September 20. I will send home information soon about the event in case you and your child are interested in participating. I will be there for sure! In the meantime, send in your lids and caps.

In Social Studies, we will have our first quiz on September 3 on the continents and oceans. Spelling counts. I showed them how they could use the resource I gave them to study. We are also learning about our state and will make an educational travel brochure about one region.

In language arts, we will begin reading our first novel, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. We will take the spelling, vocabulary, and word part quizzes on Thursday.

There is no school this Friday or Monday.

I hope to see you all shortly at the Back to School BBQ!

Have a great week,
Christina Polay

P.S. I am receiving my lausd.net emails on my phone now. I still can't get it to work on my computer, but at least I will be notified on my phone! There is no need to email me at both addresses anymore. Thanks!

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Room 10 Update - August 17

8/17/2014

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Hello Parents,

Happy Sunday! We are off to a great start. Our scholars are quickly learning the routines and class procedures and it has been a lot of fun getting to know them. This week, our schedule will start to look more typical. This update will be a little longer than usual. :)

Each Monday, scholars will receive the homework assignments for the week. The assignments are due the following Monday. One of the assignments due each week is the "I'd Rather Read" log and response sheet. This is an ongoing assignment that is intended to develop critical thinking skills and mastery in writing a Response to Literature. Some weeks, I will replace it with a different writing assignment that is not based on what they are reading.

For the next ten weeks, my spelling/vocabulary instruction will follow the Reading Olympians program, which focuses on word parts (Greek and Latin root words, prefixes, and suffixes). We will learn ten sets of highly used word parts. Each set is named after a Greek god/goddess. As they learn, find, and use the word parts, they will earn reading beads and ultimately reading tags for each set. You can help by pointing out words that contain the word parts. Our first set is the Nike Set. Students are required to know the meaning of the word parts. They will take a quiz weekly.

The spelling list each week contains words made from the ten word parts. Students are required to know the spelling and meaning of the words. They will take a quiz weekly.

Usually, we will work with each list for one week, but we will learn the first list for two weeks. Therefore, the first spelling, vocabulary, and word part quizzes will be Thursday, August 28. For homework, students will make flashcards using large index cards I will provide. We will make one in class as an example. Click here for instructions on how to make the flashcards.

Visit the Language Arts page to learn more. I will update the links weekly.

The math homework will consist of at least one word problem and a practice page for concepts we are working on in class. Students are required to show their work. When proving their answers for the word problems, students should explain how they found their answer and try to show their work in two different ways. This will become easier to do as the year progresses, as we learn how to prove our answers in different ways in class (although the problems may become more challenging). I get most excited about seeing my students discover new ways to solve problems as they uncover patterns and relationships in math. Not everyone shares my excitement about word problems at first, and your child might feel anxious about solving them. You can help ease the transition by asking them to start by pulling out the facts, and then identifying what the question is asking. ("What do you know from the problem? What are you trying to find out?") Drawing a picture or a diagram is VERY helpful. If you find that your child is stumped on a problem, ask him or her to come to me and ask me about it.

In a few weeks, we will start our Earth Science unit, Rocks and Minerals. At that time, students will have a weekly science homework assignment about what we are learning in class. It will consist of one to three questions and will act as a summary of the week's concepts.

My class will also be required to log on to LEXIA for 25 minutes each week. Information will be sent home in the next couple of weeks.

The last homework assignment will not be every week and it will include EITHER a Social Studies assignment or a Poem of the Week assignment.

I would like to help your child learn time management, so I will make suggestions throughout the week as to what should be done each night. It might seem like a lot of homework altogether, but it should take about 45 minutes each night (not including independent reading time). If it is taking longer, please let me know. Also, feel free to have your child type the assignments if he or she chooses.

Enough about homework! This Tuesday morning, I am hosting a Room 10 Meet and Greet so that you can better get to know me and the other parents in the class. It will be in the classroom from 7:40 - 8:05 a.m. I hope to see you there. I will also be at the Back to School BBQ on Sunday, August 24.

Thank you to Kara's mom, Sabine, for helping me piece together emails for the class. Once I get everyone's surveys back, I will have a more complete list.

I apologize to those who might receive this information twice: LAUSD unfortunately changed their email policy. They now require teachers to email parents through teacher LAUSD accounts. I haven't been successful in setting up my LAUSD account in Mail, which means I will not know if I have an email waiting for me unless I log on. Because I like to respond in a timely manner, please email me at both of my accounts so I receive a notification on my phone/computer. The two email addresses are: cme5472@lausd.net and mrspolay@gmail.com. If I figure out how to link the two accounts, I'll let you know. Sorry for the inconvenience!

I'd like to make sure everyone has gotten this update. Please email me (at both email addresses) to let me know you have received it. I will give a printed copy to those who don't respond.

I hope I didn't overwhelm you with information!

Have a great week,
Christina Polay

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Meet and Greet

8/14/2014

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Room 10 Meet and Greet

Come get to know Mrs. Polay and other parents over coffee and pastries.

Tuesday, August 19 from 7:40 – 8:05 in Room 10

Hope to see you there,
Christina Polay

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August 14

8/14/2014

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Hello Parents,

Thank you for answering my parent survey so thoughtfully. You gave me a lot of insight into how I can better help your children. I feel lucky to have such a great group of students and parents.

On a different note, LAUSD unfortunately changed their email policy. They now require teachers to email parents through our LAUSD accounts. I haven't been successful in setting up my LAUSD account in Mail, which means I will not know I have an email waiting for me unless I log on. Because I like to respond in a timely manner, I am hoping you could email me at both of my accounts so I receive a notification on my phone/computer. The two email addresses are: cme5472@lausd.net, mrspolay@gmail.com. If I figure out how to link the two accounts, I'll let you know.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Thanks,
Christina Polay

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Beginning of the Year Letter

8/12/2014

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August 12, 2014

Dear Parents,

Welcome to room 10! I am excited to join the Warner Avenue community and to start exploring the world with your young scholar.

In my class, “scholar” has a very special meaning. A scholar is someone who is proud of his or her actions, cares enough to ask questions and find the answers, and most importantly, takes risks without being afraid to fail. These are the principles that inspire and guide us in everything we do throughout the year.

I am extremely passionate about teaching and learning and always seek ways to improve and grow as an educator. I have a Masters in Literacy and Language Arts from Loyola Marymount University, and have taught 4th grade at Roscomare Road Elementary, and 3rd and 4th grades at Canfield Elementary.

On a personal note, I’m not the only Polay starting at Warner today - My son, Salinger, is starting his first day of Kindergarten! My husband, Kevin, and I are thrilled to be joining WAVE…and I feel lucky to get to know the school as both a parent and a teacher. We also have a two-year-old daughter, Olive, who, before we know it, will become a Wildcat too!

I’d love to learn more about you and your scholar. I have attached a parent survey that will help get us started, and would also like to invite you to have coffee and pastries with me next Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. I hope to see you there!

Information about assignments and classroom policies and procedures will be sent home shortly. In the meantime, please check out my class website: www.mrspolay.com. Throughout the year, you will find a class calendar, information about class assignments, links to games and activities, student-recorded podcasts, a weekly blog written by the Scholar of the Week, pictures, videos, our student-made news site, and much more! Each week I will add to my Assignment & Update Blog, which is my weekly newsletter. I will email the update (usually) every Sunday. Integrating technology into the classroom is a hobby of mine. I encourage students to come up with ideas for projects that they would like to work on independently or with others.

I look forward to meeting you and working as a team to ensure your child’s academic success. If you ever have a question, please feel free to contact me. The best way to reach me with quick questions or comments is by email at cme5472@lausd.net. However, if there is something more extensive you’d like to discuss, let’s make an appointment to meet in person.

Sincerely,

Christina Polay

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Supply List

8/12/2014

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SUPPLY LIST FOR MRS. POLAY’S CLASS

Please have all your child’s supplies in class no later than Monday, 18th. These will remain in the classroom throughout the year.

1 pencil box
12 pack mini twistable crayons OR 1 pkg. colored pencils (Must be
small enough to fit inside your pencil box)
Pencils for your pencil box (mechanical are fine)
1 box of pencils for the class bin (not mechanical)
1 pair of student scissors
1 yellow highlighter
6-8 glue sticks
4 Two-pocket folders with prong fasteners: (Get the plastic or “poly” kind because they’re very sturdy) Different colors if possible.
1 pack of wide-ruled loose-leaf notebook paper
2 packs of baby wipes
Flash drive
3-4 Dry erase markers (Thick or thin, dark colors)