Some new sites

I have found a few new sites that the students seem to like.

We have a subscription to Tumblebooks.  If you would like our name and password, please notify me.  The students also know the name and password.

We also are enjoying Math Playground.  We found a balance game that involves logic.  Enjoy!

Kris Kringle

I had the joy of knowing an actor from our area when I worked at a local theatre.  He has always been gracious and comes in every now and again to read to my class.  This year, he was in the show that we saw for a field trip and still agreed to come in.  Here are some photos of us at the show and some with him...and yes, some thought he was Santa, even though he only played him in the show.

Reactions to a Book

If you can't tell, we've been predicting.  We also discovered the books, Not a Stick and Not a Box.  The class loved them!  I had to video record (while I was reading) today so you could hear them. 

One of my favorite times of the day is to read to the class.  They are enthralled with books!  Please, please, please continue to read to your child as they grow!  It's great for conversation, maintaining a relationship with them, and just good for your soul!

Inferring

Every year I bring in my neighbor's trash (this would be my own trash, but I mislead the students and let them believe I took it from my neighbor's to learn about them).

Here is their (my) trash:

Some of their inferences:

• They like vegetables (cans of corn and beets).
• It's a woman (because there is a lot of cooking type items).
• They like bread (pita package and Hawaiian bread package).
• They like to read (magazine and newspaper).
• They don't read the newspaper (newspaper in trash).
• They have kids (Cuties box and hot cocoa box).
• They like to cook (Cooking Light magazine).

And if you've been following our blog, you know that I also took a cookie out of the trash for a lesson.  My class was definitely appalled today and have asked that I stop getting items out of the trash.  Their facial expressions were priceless!

 

A Friday filled with Fun...

A present waited for the students today in morning meeting.  We opened it together.  I bought 3-D Eye Spy for them.  This afternoon, while students made ornaments, we rotated some stations.

While some students played games (yes, educational, even if they didn't know it), others made ornaments and then we flip-flopped.  I had the boys in groups and the girls in another group.  I snapped some photos while the girls were making the ornaments.  (I am playing around with the miniature effect on my camera, so some faces are blurred.)

The class worked well together and didn't argue, fight, or tattle about game play.  Students helped clean up.  It was a great afternoon!!!

Playing Apples to Apples

Playing 3-D Eye Spy

Trying to get Zeke in the photo...He's definitely camera shy!

Creating some ornaments

Playing Eye Spy Word Wall Words

Playing on the iPads

Hanging our ornaments

Connecting Home and School

I was blessed to receive this photo of one our students reading his how to book to his brother.  There's nothing better than seeing their work being proudly displayed and shared at home.  Look at how his brother is enthralled with it!

Knowing that he has an audience to share his writing made a difference.  Knowing our audience has become a very important lesson in our writing unit right now. 

Listening to the writers talk about who their book is for, I can see they have truly thought about what their receiver would want to read about! 

Quality in our Gifts

In our writing workshop, we are looking at the process of our writing.  Today, we looked at the quality.  I presented some "gifts" to my students to share what I might give to our parent volunteers. 

A cookie taken from the trash (seriously)!

A broken up cookie that was made.

Whoppers tied up with ribbon.

The students quickly decided the last gift was the best and we connected it to our writing.  We don't want to give writing that was taken out of the trash.  We don't want to give writing that isn't quality.  We want to give our best!

Here's hoping our study will be great!

Food!

I am always game to have my students try new foods.  Here are some shots of us trying some great food (at least in my mind).

Pistachio muffins and pistachio pudding

Trying sushi for the first time...

Fan of sushi!

Fan of sushi!

Definitely not a fan!

Fan?

Maybe?  Maybe not...

Not sure...

Not a fan!

Fan of nori!

American Education Week

Last week to celebrate American Education Week, our second grade team invited parents in to have lunch with their child and to spend the recess exploring five of the top things in second grade.  It was great to have parents come in and to just watch everyone in action.  Here are a few snapshots of the great time that was had on Friday.  (Sorry for the black and whites, but I was playing around with my green filter earlier.)

Small Moment - Leah

Small Moment - Brittany

Small Moment - Herman