Odd and Even Math Monsters

While studying what makes numbers odd and even, the students were able to get creative and put their odd and even math skills to use.  The class created creatures that could include any body parts they could imagine up.  They had to record 4 odd and 4 even body parts.  There were a variety of ideas brainstormed: eyes, mouth, nose, arms, legs, horns, heads, tail, teeth, wings, stripes, polka dots, and many more!  This project is so much fun!

Doubles Rap!

We finally got our doubles rap successfully taped today!  The class did such a great job, and this rap is a lot of fun to practice!

Daily 5

We use the structure of Daily 5 for our reading block.  This structure teaches the children to make independent work choices that help them grow as readers and writers.  In 2nd grade we have 3 rounds of Daily 5 every day.  I meet with a group of students each round to work on reading skills and strategies, writing, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension.  When not meeting with me, the students choose from read to self, read to someone, work on writing, word work, or listen to reading.

Each choice was introduced slowly at the beginning of the year with an emphasis on building habits to help make us as successful as possible.  We revisit the expectations often of staying focused, working quietly, and reading or writing the whole time. 

Our Daily 5 block begins with a read aloud in which we focus on a skill or strategy for the students to be using and practicing in their own reading.  We are currently working on word attack strategies to help us work through tricky words in text. 

Bunny Trail Construction

On Friday we had the opportunity to meet Lanesboro's mayor, Autumn Johnson, in the park to help with the construction of the Bunny Trail.  The students were able to jump in and help with shoveling gravel and using wheelbarrows to transport it up the hill.  We had so much fun being a part of this process, and this trail is beautiful!  Thanks to Autumn for including us!

You're Finally Here! books

On the first day of school we read the book "You're Finally Here!" by Melanie Watt.

In the following weeks the students worked on writing and illustrating their own books sharing where they had been all summer that kept them from getting to 2nd grade. Their books turned out great, and it's been fun for the class to read each others.   We will be temporarily keeping them in a basket on the rug to be enjoyed during Daily 5 time.  

Math Stations

Last week the class was slowly introduced to our math stations: teacher time, assignment station, and game/partner work.  We worked on a "Math About Me" project to learn about teacher time and assignment station.  The students began to learn a few math games to practice cooperative work expectations with a partner.

The students rotate through all 3 stations during our math block at different times.  
I love using this approach because it allows me to see small groups of 4-6 students instead of teaching a lesson to the whole class at the same time.  It gives me the chance to differentiate the instruction when needed and give support to those students who may initially struggle with a new skill.  They have done fantastic with our stations!

A Special Place for Our Writing

Last week we finished decorating our writing binders.  The students brought in special pictures, stickers, and paper to personalize their binders.  This binder will hold all of their creative ideas, fiction stories, and personal narratives of school events, family traditions, play date recounts, and so much more throughout the year!

Our 5 Bee Promise

Within the first weeks of school, the students were introduced to our 5 Bee Promise.  The 5 Bees represent how we work, play, and treat each other.  A different book was read to go along with each "Bee," and we also took time to discuss why each one was important.  The students had many examples from their lives for our "Bees."

Once the entire Bee Promise was introduced, the students received their bee punch tickets.  Each day I recognize one student at the end of the day for being hard working, being a good listener, being kind, being responsible, or believing in him or herself.  I explain to the class what I saw that student do throughout the day that was representative of our 5 Bee Promise.  That student gets a punch on his or her ticket.  I then ask the class what they saw this student do throughout the day that follows our 5 Bee Promise, and they are full of examples!

The students can look through the Best "Bee"havior Catalog once their tickets are filled with 8 punches.  They will also have the chance to earn a punch every Friday by bringing back their homework.  

Go Burros!

What a day we had celebrating Homecoming at Lanesboro!  Our morning started with cupcake decorating and face painting.  We walked through the parade as Super Burros.  Homecoming is such a fun day to bring the school and community together!

The First Week of 2nd Grade

Whew!  What a fast week this was, and this is one group of hard working 2nd graders!  We've been learning so much about how 2nd grade works!

Each day we've continued to practice our expectations for read to self and build our stamina.  As 2nd grade read to self experts, we know that in order to do our best reading during this time we need to find a good spot, get started right away, and stay focused on our reading.  The students were eager to learn about our special chairs and pillow spots.  Who doesn't love to read in a comfy spot?!  We also learned this week how to shop for books in our classroom library.  It is always exciting for the students to get into our classroom library and start picking out books they love!  On Friday, read to someone was introduced.

We started our math stations this week as well.  Each day the students will be rotating through 3 stations: teacher lesson, assignment station, and partner station.  The partner station could be playing a partner game, reviewing math concepts with your partner's help, or using the i-pad or computer.  They have been rotating through these stations like pros!

We've continued to work on our books about where we've been all summer.  We started the process with a bubble map for our ideas, and then worked on putting those ideas into sentences.  After conferencing with me, the students are putting those sentences into their books and illustrating.  I can't wait for them to finish their books and share with their classmates all their ideas and illustrations!

They've also been creating an art project inspired by the book "Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli" by Barbara Jean Hicks.  Getting out those new watercolor paints is so fun!

First Day Fun!

We had a fantastic first day in 2nd grade!  We began building stamina for read to self, we learned about the partner station in our math rotation, and we practiced by playing a math game with a partner, and we began our first writing project about where we've been all summer!  What a fun class this is!