Reading Fluency and Roll and Read FUN!

Today we worked on our sight words for the week by playing the roll and read game.  The kids love playing this game.  They simply roll the dice and whatever number they roll they find it on the paper and say the word.  If they get the word right then they put an X on the square.  Whoever, gets a word to the top first wins the game.  

The other game they played was the roll and read fluency game.  They roll the dice and find that number on the paper.  They read the sentence with the correct expression.  If they read it correctly then they get to put a tally mark under that number.  Whoever gets the most tally marks wins the game.  My kids have been getting really good at using the right expression when they read.  Many of them started out reading sentences that have an exclamation mark at the end by expressing only the last word (LOL!). After practicing with this game, they have started to use expression throughout the entire sentence instead of just the last word (YAY!). 

I hope all of you are having a great day!

Five for...You Understand!

Good morning!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday late again. 

Picture #1 should be a mouse...or me attempting to get rid of a mouse. But I have to give you some backstory in order for you to fully appreciate my mouse story.

As you know, I have a pretty challenging class this year...

Monday was a great day! I felt like my class was coming along...learning my expectations, behaving fairly well. I have come to accept the fact that a "good day" is going to include some minor behavior problems. I left Monday feeling good...about my class, my ability to teach.

Tuesday was awful! I left feeling awful about my class and my ability to teach. I was determined to make Wednesday a better day!

The difference I decided--at least the part that I could control--was the following directions game. We are now playing this game for almost every single transition in our room.

Anyway, on Wednesday we were off to a great start...my class (unusually quiet) on the rug for morning meeting.

One of them shouts, "There's a mouse!" 

It was true. I had seen the little pest the day before.

Picture the chaos that ensues as I try to get the mouse to flee into the hallway while trying to calm my class down. 

I really wanted to smash the thing, but I didn't think I should in front of the children. 

And our friend decided to be a stubborn one...or got too scared to move. 

I'm not sure which. 

So the chaos continued...for way too long. 

And when the mouse finally left our classroom, well I'll let you just picture what had happened to that quiet class on the rug off to a great start...

P.S. The mouse has been caught.

On to the pictures...

1

 

This is hanging outside my classroom door. My kiddos are loving the different things I come up with...sometimes defining a new word, a math problem, etc. They are disappointed if I forget to change the problem!

2 

We played our "I Have...Who Has...?" game with our Unit 1 words as a whole group because we had a few extra minutes before recess. I usually like to play it in small group with each kiddo getting 6-7 cards. We struggle to listen and pay attention so this game is a challenge! I challenged them to "beat their time" so we could go play a few minutes early. We have LOTS of "I Have...Who Has...?" games in our TPT store if you're interested!

3

 

Our STAR homework is in full swing. I think I set the goal too low this year. They are blowing past it every week!  

4

Hotshots is going great! I haven't released them to do it on their own yet, but we are getting close.
 

  

Sometimes we work with partners. They are learning what working together actually means in room! I have one partner read the question. Both answer (unless one is completely stuck) and cover it with their hand. Then they "check." At that point, they have to decide if they agree or disagree. Then do some "math talk" to decide who is correct.

 

Sometimes we do it whole group. I just project it on the board and we STAY together to get it done! ;-)

5

You might remember that my son runs cross country, so I have never been one to watch football.

I prefer climate controlled sports! Ha!

Last night I ventured out to watch my nephew's football game. This is me...under two blankets and still freezing!

 

 Today I'm coaching the JV girls in a volleyball tournament, so I better get going!

Have a great weekend! 

Wisdom for Wednesday-Thank you God

Welcome to:

How true is this?  So easy and quick to thank God.  So I begin to ponder if it is that simple, why have I missed many days to thank him?  There are many things that I am thankful for in my life and I should be thanking him daily for those things that he has provided to me.  I remember someone saying one time:  "If God were to take away everything you didn't thank him for today, what would you have left?"  This made me realize that I had a lot of things to be thankful for and because it is simple and fast, I should make the effort every day to thank him.  

Have a great day!

Making Rain Experiment

My co-teacher and I get our classes together every Friday for about 30 minutes to do a Science experiment or some Social Studies.  Last week, we talked about the water cycle.  Our science experiment was making rain.  We had a cup of water and put shaving cream on top of it (clouds) and then the kids used droppers to drop food coloring (precipitation) onto the shaving cream (clouds).  Once the shaving cream (clouds) couldn't hold the food coloring (precipitation) any more, then it started to come down to the bottom of the cup which looked like rain.  The kids were so excited about it and couldn't believe it when their food coloring started to drip down from the shaving cream.  It's always fun to watch them do science experiments because they are always excited about them!

Have a great day!

Take a Peek into 2nd!

Happy Friday!

I'm joining up with some of my second grade friends to "Take a Peek into 2nd" and hopefully introduce you to a new friendly face. We are planning to do this once a month for the next several months. Hopefully, when we're done you will have found some fantastic new teaching blogs to follow!

Here's a little more information so you can really get to know Jackie:

I have been teaching for over 5 years in Fairfax County, Virginia!  I was born and raised here and attended FCPS schools myself.  Most of my experience is in the primary grades, but I will admit teaching 2nd grade is my favorite!  I love teaching! Creating engaging lessons is my passion.  I believe that learning should be hands-on, meaningful, engaging, and collaborative! We can't learn alone, we learn the most when we work with others! Believe me, my classroom sure isn't the quietest one on the hall because we are constantly up moving, learning and interacting!

Outside of school I am a wife to a wonderful guy and a mom to our new baby girl born in May of 2015! I love working out, spending time outside, and being with my family. 

I got the name for my blog because it is teachers that are neat, sweet and hard to beat! Teachers make this world go round! Teachers are the most caring, creative and kind people I know!

 

I just love how she came up with her blog name! :-)

 

Jackie's passion for cooperative learning is found in the products she carries in her TPT store. Check out this fun little mixer she uses to build classroom community. 

 

 

It doubles as a great tool for persuasive writing. Students choose a card and then write why they would choose "this or that." 

Jackie has put this on sale for the weekend, so you can snag a copy for only $1.60! You can't beat that!

Wisdom for Wednesday - Prayer

Good morning!

I hope you're having a great week! 

My computer problems are partially fixed, so things are going much better than last time I checked in with you.

I have internet again in my classroom! Woohoo!

I can print, open documents online, and even check e-mail. My kids can do MobyMax--which they love. And we're going to start Book Adventure this week. Yippee!

My projector problem is going to be fixed soon. They had to order a part. I teased about having it the next day…but I'm hopeful that I'll be up and going next week. I literally use my projector ALL day so not having it (or it not working reliably) has been tough! How spoiled I am! I can't imagine teaching before all this "nifty" technology. ;-)

Okay, on to the reason you're really here today.

I know I have done many quotes on prayer, but that is because I know it is an area of my life that continuously needs work. Take a look:

I don't want to be a woman of little prayer, but there are days…

I usually start the day with my Bible study and prayer time, but sometimes I don't "take it with me."

I go throughout the day--busy and distracted--with little or no thought of what I studied. I "forget" to talk to God throughout the day. I make my own decisions. I go with the flow. Maybe something frustrates me and I talk to a friend instead of talking to The Friend. 

You get the idea...

At the end of the day, I think back and realize that I hadn't talked to God any during my busy day (and usually it has been an awful day if that is the case--just saying).

Our pastor just finished a series of messages from the book of Ephesians. In the final chapter, we read about the armour of God and the importance of prayer. It truly does "fasten" the armour. We can't fight the battles we face in life without prayer--and not little prayer, but big prayer. 

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:18

Wishing you a prayer-filled day!

Friday Fun and Today!

I will have to admit that I really like to have structure so I went beyond my comfort zone on Friday.  Here is why:

1.  We had been discussing the constitution all week long and my co-teacher and I decided for fun we would have the kids write with a feather and paint one of our rules.  They had a great time with it!

2.  We have an extra fun thing on Fridays.  The kids that have all of their work done and have had good behavior throughout the week get to participate.  This week we did blow painting.  We used paint mixed with dish soap and water.  I made little blow tools out of pipe cleaners.  The kids blew painted bubbles on to paper and made a painting.  They thought it was really cool.

3.  Sorry, I didn't get any pictures of this one.  To end our day we had what we call Family Groups.  The whole school gets together and each teacher has a student from different classes and we do an activity together.  We made little owls (our school theme) to put on a wreath.

I will have to say that by the end of the day I was exhausted and was ready for a little structure.  

Today, I had a meeting in the morning so I had to have a sub for the first time this year.  I got back right after their lunch time.  I am ready for a normal day with some structure (for me) tomorrow.  Although, tomorrow is our first day of Daily 5!!  :-)  Hope all goes well!

Have a great day!