Ms. Polanski’s
2nd Grade Class
Welcome Parents!
Before We Begin
 Sign up for a Fall conference
 Sign up for volunteer opportunities-fill
out volunteer form
 Look around the room
 Write your child and tell them your hopes
and dreams for them for this year
Welcome to Room 21!
 Introduction
 University of MN (B.S., M.Ed.)
Georgetown (TEFL)
Hamline University Urban Learner Certificate
 Over 14 years of elementary school teaching
 4th year in LCPS
 Experience teaching Pre-K-6 and adults
 Supervised student teachers and literacy
coaches.
Routines
 Morning Procedures
 School starts at 7:50 so please make sure your child
arrives on time.
 If you know your child will be absent please call the
absentee line (703-957-4391) or send a note or email in advance.
 Meals
 Snack - Nut Free 9:15ish
 Lunch 11:25-11:55 –Come and eat with your child!
 Dismissal
 Buses start loading at 2:35. Car riders and Daycare
released at 2:40.
 Please send a note or e-mail about any changes.
Please do NOT send an e-mail if the change occurs
after school starts just call the office and leave a
message. (703-957-4390)
Classroom Expectations
 We will have a calm, open, warm and safe
environment so our brains can do their best
work.
 Our classroom rules are:
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Gentle, nice, light touch for all living things
Listen and be quiet when others are talking
Walk in the classroom
Be nice
Classroom Opportunities
 Students earn classroom dollars by asking good
questions, doing extra research, following directions,
offering solutions to problems, repeating something
important from the announcements, etc
 Students use their classroom dollars for many
special things including reading to Arcola staff
during DEAR (Drop Everything and Read), creating
a flip chart for the class, checking out one of my
books, stuffed animals or learning games overnight
or for the weekend, teaching the class about a topic
they researched, reading to a younger student,
going on a mission to an upper grade etc.
Consequences
 Students are expected to follow the school
and classroom rules
 Gentle reminders are given when needed
 If a student needs additional reminders
they may be fined classroom dollars along
with a follow-up discussion when needed
 Persistent behaviors will be discussed with
parents and school administration
Our Daily Schedule
 Academic Blocks (Average Daily Time)
 2-3 hours Language Arts
 reading, writing, word study, read aloud, shared reading
 1 hour Math
 45 minutes for Science or Social Studies
 Specials
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PE ( Tues., Wed, and Fri.) - tennis shoes
Music (Mon., and Fri.)
Library (Thursday.)
Computer Lab (Tuesday.) Dream Box (Wednesday)
Art (Thursday)
SEARCH and Guidance (EOW Monday.)
Recess (daily for 15 minutes)
Curriculum
 Virginia SOL’s (web site)
 9 week plans (web site)
 Language Arts
 Balance Literacy Approach
 Readers Workshop: shared reading (poems and
readers theater), guided reading (flexible groups),
independent reading and read alouds
 Writers Workshop: generating ideas, develop
independent and fluent writing, editing and revising
skills
 Word Study: understand patterns and spelling rules,
recognize “oddballs”
Curriculum
 Math
 Math centers and manipulatives to improve and extend
knowledge
 Math To The Moon – math facts
 Dream Box – computer based program individualized
based on student’s level
 Problem Solving – math journals
 Socials Studies and Science
 VA SOL’s drives instruction
 9 week plans
 Study guides are sent for tests
Grading Policy
 Assignments are scored with a 4/E, 3/M, 2/P, 1/B.
 4/E = exceeds standards, 3/M = meets standards,
2/P = making progress towards standard, 1/B = below
standard
 These letters are not the same as the traditional A-F report
card
 Effort is scored with O, S, N
 O = Outstanding, S = Satisfactory, N = Needs
Improvement
Grading Policy
 Please keep in mind that information about a child’s
achievement and development may be gathered in a
number of ways. Some techniques are:
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Observations
Rubrics
Discussions/conferences
Work samples
Class participation
Formative and Summative Assessments
County wide assessments (PALS an DRA)
Sample Rubric
Standard: Math SOL 2.4
Learning Target: The student will count forward by 2s, 5s, and 10s
to 100 and count backwards by 10s starting from 100, as well as
identify even and odd numbers.
4
The student will skip count forward and backwards
using other multiples from various starting points, as
well as explain how to identify even and odd numbers.
3
The student will count forward by 2s, 5s, and 10s to
100 and count backwards by 10s starting from 100, as
well as identify even and odd numbers.
2
The student will count forward by 2s, 5s, and 10s to
100 starting at 2, 5, and 10.
1
The student will count forward by 10s to 100.
Report Cards
Report cards are issued 4 times a year.
Conferences are held in the fall and by request.
LCPS uses a standard based report card
Students are assessed on their academic
achievement and effort level.
 Reading Level (above, on, or below)
 Comment section will elaborate on student’s
strengths and weaknesses
 Phoenix
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Homework
Look in agenda every night.
Reading (10 minutes nightly)
Raz-Kids one day a week (Thursday)
Word Study (Monday.) spellingcity.com – please see
the web site for directions
 Math -IXL or Dream Box (Tuesday) ixl.com
 Research (Wednesday)Science, Social Studies, Math,
etc. Can be done online, in a book, interviewing
someone, in a magazine, etc.
 Pick any days including weekends for your 4 days
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Communication
 Folders
 Take Home Folders (green)
 Homework-spelling words
 Notes to and from school
 Thursday Folders (red)
 PTA and school information
 Student work
 Agendas
 Homework - written instructions
 Phone Calls
 Please leave a message in the office. (703-957-4390)
 E-mail Updates-be sure that I have your current email
Communication
 E-mail - do NOT use for emergencies
 cathy.polanski@lcps.org
 Website http://www.lcps.org/arcola
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Upcoming Events
Nine Week Plans
Newsletters
Homework
Classroom Schedule
Grading Policy
State SOL’s
Curriculum Web Sites
Birthdays
 Birthdays
 LCPS does not allow any food or non-food items
to celebrate birthdays.
 Student’s name will be announced on the
morning announcements.
 Students cannot pass out invitations at school.
 Parents are welcome to donate a book to the
Arcola library to honor your child’s birthday
Student of the Week
 Each student will have a
special week to design a
poster (provided by me)
about their favorite books
and bring in items to share
with the class.
 The poster will be sent home
a week before it is due.
Medication
 If your child requires medication,
please give it directly to our
school nurse. The children are
not allowed to give it to the
nurse.
 Children are NOT allowed to have
medication in class. This includes
cough drops.
I’m looking forward to
a great year!