What's in the Bag?

 Any guesses what all I've brought home today?

I hate bringing work home, but this is the first Saturday that I *won't* be working since school started. I'll be coaching at our first volleyball tournament. So excited!

My homework this weekend...

Book order

Grading handwriting 

Grading placement assessments

New science curriculum

(need to plan for next week)

After last week when I had so many pictures, I couldn't share them all...this is the ONLY picture. :(

Short weeks always seem so much harder to me! 

Here's a quick rundown of our week (without pictures):

We practiced Daily 5 rounds--ready to rock and roll on Monday (I hope)!

We continued our Addition Strategies unit and started on Subtraction Strategies as well.

Speaking of that...kids love the simplest games. Give them two dice (one with larger numbers) and let them roll. They write a subtraction number sentence and solve. Happiness all around. :-)

We learned the "rule of 5" for illustrating. Not sure where I got this, but the kiddos have to make sure their illustrations have 5 details and 5 colors.

We studied The Pledge of Allegiance in K-2 social studies and made these books from Sliding into Second. 

And finally, I was adventurous this year and ordered some stability balls for my class. I only got 5 for now--wanted to try them out. I'm drawing names for now and making observations as to how it helps--or distracts--my kiddos. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of them! I promise I will soon.

Have a great weekend!

Reading Stories and Writing Biographies

Hey there! 

It feels like it has been forever since I posted...that could be because I missed my Friday post last week. We had a ladies conference at church that kept me busy. 

I'm back today to catch you up on a few things going on around here before I race off to my children's band concert. It is definitely that time of year when the days and evenings are just crammed with activities! Yikes! 

We were supposed to have "Farm Day" this afternoon, but we were rained out. :-( 

So...I thought it was the perfect day to visit the computer lab. 

You see, earlier this week we had interviewed classmates and wrote a biography in our journals. It was time for the final draft.

Here we are practicing our interview skills.

They were so excited to type their biographies! Before we headed to the lab, I explained that they would need to really listen and follow my directions exactly. If they failed to do so, I would become annoyed and I would want to quit. Ha!

This class is absolutely amazing! I just can't say enough good things about them. They did a great job, and we only had one student move another student's folder to an unknown location by mistake. Hee hee. I call it a success! We'll have to finish typing next week.

We have also reading our basal stories differently the last few weeks. I like to do this at the end of the year to keep things exciting and secretly work on learning to cooperate with one another. 

I take each story and type up the questions from the teacher's manual. The groups then read the story and take turns being the teacher by asking the comprehension questions. We discuss the importance of getting along with each other and make sure there are no "hogs or bumps on the log." They are getting pretty good at working together. It is fun to watch!

That's all I have for today! I'm off to the band concert. Both my kids play...my son is playing piano in the jazz band for the first time. He's talked non-stop about it for weeks (and if you knew my son that in itself would tell you how excited he is--he is not a talker)!

Have a great weekend!

Writing About Science

It's Saturday! 

And I'm at home with no plans to leave!

Can you feel my excitement?

I have not spent a Saturday at home in almost two months, and if you've followed the blog very long you know how tough this has been on me. 

I confess, I'm a homebody!

I had big plans to celebrate this occasion by deep-cleaning the house, but it seems instead I will be running to the restroom every twenty minutes or so (sorry--TMI--but it is the truth). :-(

So I better get to it...

I use Lucy Calkins' (or Calkins's? I never remember which so I looked it up and apparently it is debatable and I prefer the first!) Units of Study for writing. This week we started writing like scientists!

We did a simple experiment using a toy car, ramp, and meter stick to find out if the car would go farther on the carpet or the gym floor. I loved it because we also got some practice measuring (which we have been working on in math). You just can't beat an activity that combines writing, science, and math!

Here's some pictures:

Here's hoping you are having a great Saturday (and that mine gets better soon)! :-)

TPT Finds, Rainbow Editing and the BEST Folders

 

I had to get in on this fun linky over at Blog Hoppin' to show what I picked up at the TPT sale. I'm pretty excited about my finds. Unfortunately, as I'm checking out the linky I'm finding more things to put on my wish list! Ha!

 

So take a look:

 

Can you tell I'm thinking about taking the leap into interactive notebooks next year?

 

It's all because of these Grammar Flippers that I got this summer as a freebie from Teacher's Clubhouse. (I'm sorry, but I don't think they are a freebie--or for sale--anymore--can't seem to find them.) I've been using them all year long with our grammar skill for the week. We do them and the kids take them home never to be seen again...and that grammar skill (unfortunately) is forgotten or confused with the next thing... So I had this bright idea that next year, I could use them in an interactive notebook that the kids (and I) could refer back to as needed.

 

Anyway, these Interactive Science Journals (bundled) by Primary Graffiti have been on my list for awhile. I haven't had too much time to look them over yet, but I am so excited to use them next year!

 

The other one...2nd Grade Interactive Reading Notebook by Nicole Shelby seemed like the perfect choice to go along with my grammar notebooks. I'm planning to use them together in one notebook.

 

Okay, moving on to Listen Up! by Fluttering Through First Grade. I knew I wanted this as soon as I saw Christy and Tammy blog about it. My kids could definitely use some help in the area of listening skills! I'm going to try one (or two, or three, or four) next week. ;-)

 

And finally, Building Skills at Home Parent Handouts by Primary Junction. No need to wait for a sale on this one. It is only $1.00 regular price.

 

Now for a TPT find that I purchased awhile ago...

 

Rainbow Edit Writing Process from Emily at I Love My Classroom.

 

I finally got around to putting it to use and my only regret is that I didn't start sooner! We went through each color and looked through our most recent story as a whole class. Now I realize I should have had a story on chart paper and modeled it first, but I can definitely tell that it is going to help my kiddos check their over their own writing. And next week, I'll be modeling the rainbow edit on chart paper (duh, right?) as we go over it again.

 

One last thing...if you are looking for some folders that will hold up all year, you need to check out Nicky's Folders. The Teachers...Parents Communicator is perfect for a homework folder. I'm going to be using them in my GO Books next year. The intermediate school has been using them for years (since I was the secretary there). They are AMAZING!

 

Psst...Coming Soon...and Schedule Spotlight Series - Writing!

Okay...okay...enough with the suspense. Here's the big secret I've been keeping.

 

 

Did you see that? Second Grade bloggers... As most of you know, our blog has become a 1st and 2nd grade blog with Kristi still teaching 1st and me moving to 2nd.

 

Still feels weird not to be a firstie! 

 

You are not going to want to miss this freebie hop! There are so many great bloggers teaming up for this, I know the FREEBIES will be amazing! While we are targeting second grade, there will be some freebies that would work for multiple grades. The hop will start on Saturday so check back here for directions on how to get started.

 

And if you are a FIRST GRADE teacher, don't worry. Kristi and I are planning something just for you, too!

 

Now on to...

 

When you're done reading, click the picture to go check out all the other great writing ideas!

 

Writing!

 

I have been waiting for this one! I have done my writing differently every year I've taught (3 years) and am already planning changes for next year.

 

Let me give you a quick history (in first grade)...

 

Year One - Taught writing using the basal (Treasures) and was not at all happy with the lack of growth in my kiddos.

 

Year Two - Writer's Workshop! Loved this...mini-lesson followed by 30 minute block of writing time.

 

Year Three - Insert Daily 5. Not enough time for seperate Writer's Workshop so it became their "Work on Writing" time and I required students to do it daily. I did my mini-lessons in the afternoon with no immediate practice time for the kiddos. Did not like this!

 

Next year...regardless of grade, I would have went back to a seperate Writer's Workshop time.

 

Here's what I'm thinking my schedule will look like next year in 2nd grade:

 

8:30-10:00  Reading Block - Daily 5

10:00-10:30  Recess

10:30-11:40  Math

11:40-12:10  Lunch

12:10-12:40  Writer's Workshop

12:40-1:00  Science/Social Studies Extension

1:00-1:30  MTSS (or RTI if you are not in Kansas)

1:30-2:30  Specials

2:30-3:00  Snack/Read Aloud/Pack Up

 

Obviously, it is not finalized yet... The one thing I know is that I will definitely have a seperate Writer's Workshop and "Work on Writing" in Daily 5 will be more 'fun' types of writing...choosing to make a card, write a letter, etc. By making my main writing seperate from Daily 5, I won't have to require students to do "Work on Writing" daily so I will be able to rotate kids through more of the Daily 5 activities. I will also be giving the kiddos time to practice immediately after the mini-lesson which is what I thought was so successful my second year teaching.

 

As for resources, I have been using Mrs. Meacham's mini-lessons and writing workshop ideas. I'm in the process of begging my district to buy this for me:

 

 

Well, I think that covers it. If you're still with me, I'd love to hear from you. How do you teach writing in your classroom?

 

Do you have Lucy Calkins' Units of Study? If so, what do you think of it?

 

Have a blessed day!

 

 

 

Writing Bulletin Board!!!

Place Value Boot Camp is going great! I know Kristi is going to share some pictures when she blogs this weekend, but I'll just say it has been fun and (best of all) it seems to be working! Hooray!

 

I wanted to share some pictures of the bulletin board we did for our "First Grade Authors." They did a great job with their narrative writing. I tried to get some pictures with illustrations then get a little closer so you could read their super cute stories. Check them out:

 

 

I have to tell you about this last one... I brainstormed with each student individually to make sure their story had a plot (LOL!) using the Sombody Wanted But So strategy. The little girl who wrote this one came up with a very simple, unexciting story when she was with me. I ended up telling her to go pick her favorite out of her Writer's Notebook and copy it because they were far better than when I "helped" her!

 

Happy Wednesday! Tomorrow is "Friday" for us. We have self-directed staff development on Friday, which means time to work in our rooms! Yippee!

 

Crystal

 

Word Work

We are so excited about the Daily Five that we just started in our classrooms this year.  So far, it is going great!  We have introduced the read to self and work on writing.  Next week, we plan to launch word work and read to someone.  We were curious about the word work and wondered what others were doing as activities for this part.  Would love to hear about the things you are having your kiddos do during this part of the Daily Five.

Hope all of you are starting your year off great!  Kristi