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
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
RSS Feed
