Spiders!

Like many of you, we have been learning about spiders during reading for the past couple weeks. I used the topic of spiders to teach about reading nonfiction, what schema is, and how to revise misconceptions. It was so much fun, the kids were so into it, and I think they learned a lot!

First we wrote down our schema about spiders on "brain files" (I got them from the amazing ladies at lessonplansos.blogspot.com). Then, I read pages from the book, Spinning Spiders to build more spider schema.

After a couple days of reading this book and sharing what we learned (and revising misconceptions), I gave my students a Time For Kids article about different types of spiders. They worked in pairs to fill out the Spider Schema worksheet to practice finding "new learning" and adding it to their schema. 

As a culminating activity, my students wrote a paragraph about spiders. Only about half of them fit on this bulletin board, but I think it turned out cute anyway! (The other half are on the wall next to the classroom door.) I found the adorable spider paper template from Courtney at Swimming into Second Grade...so helpful!

O.R.E.O. Project!!!!!

We participated in the OREO (Our Really Exciting Online) Project this year - it was sooooo much fun! Here are some pics of some of the activities we did: 

Stacking Oreos!!!

We made rural, suburban, urban communities!

We have been studying animal groups so we made animal sculptures:

We made charts explaining their Oreo communities

This is part of a city - the Oreos are the skyscrapers and the frosting is the sidewalk :)

This is a tree for part of the rural community - looks a little like a palm tree to me though :)

Here is one complete city block

Quick Reading Response Form

For the past few years I haven't been able to settle on a way to have students respond to reading in a meaningful way. This year I am trying something my co-worker, Katy has done in the past with 3rd graders (I had to modify it a little). Here's what it looks like:

See it in google docs here

I know my name is on the pdf...but I'd be more than happy to email a copy in a regular word document  - I don't know how to make google docs editable!

This form will be in my students' reading folder, which houses all daily 5 and cafe handouts/assignments. In the three prongs down the middle I have a bunch of lined paper that is meant for responding to reading. I don't know how I plan on keeping up with reading these responses, but hopefully I'll figure that out! Any suggestions?

Versatile Blogger!

I was so touched this morning when I found out I was awarded the Versatile Blogger Award from Jill at Marvelous Multiagers! How sweet of her! Be sure to check out her blog!

So according to the rules, I need to tell you 7 things about myself:

1. I love this time of year! Football, football, and more football! I also love taffy apples, sweaters, and leather jackets :)

2. I am getting my masters in reading from National Louis University, and will finish the program in March. 

3. I just got back from my cousin's wedding in Denver - she was the most beautiful bride!

4. I love sushi. So much. I have to tell myself that I'm not allowed to have it more than once a week, otherwise I'd probably order it every night. When I call the place down the street - they not only know me, but know what I order :) 

5. I am thinking about getting my phd in reading. Seems like a huge undertaking so that's why I'm still "thinking" about it. If anyone has done it already, I'd love to hear your experiences!

6. I have two addictions...maybe three. 1. Shoes 2. Children's books 3. Sweet Mandy B's cupcakes. Anyone who knows me knows I can't be trusted to enter a shoe store and not come out with a pair or two of shoes. The Amazon free shipping "trick" (if you spend $25, you qualify for free shipping) gets me every time. I figure, as long as I'm buying $10 worth of books, I might as well spend $25 and save on shipping! Logical, right?! And, if you live in Chicago and haven't been to Sweet Many B's yet, DON'T...you will become addicted like me! Their cupcakes and cakes and cookies are the best I've ever tasted :)

7. Last, I still dress up for Halloween...not alone - my friends do too :) This year, I am considering being Princess Jasmine. I have blonde hair - can I pull it off? I'm not so sure!

And now...the best part...I get to award 15 other blogs with the Versatile Blogger Award. Be sure to check out their blogs, as these women have all been incredible resources, encouragement, and inspiration to me!

1. 2nd Grade Shenanigans

2.  Lory's Page

3. Miss Kindergarten

4. Mrs. Bainbridge's Class

5. Simply 2nd Resources

6. Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons

7. Swimming into 2nd 

8. The Inspired Apple

9. Welcome to the Schroeder Page

10. Views from Room 205

11. Thinking of Teaching

12. The Teacher's Lane

13. The Teacher Wife

14. Spend a Day in 2nd Grade

15. Primary Inspired

Reading Level Chart for Parents

I just made this chart to give to parents at Open House this week. I am hoping to fill this out with each student twice a quarter (every 5 weeks) and send it home with progress reports and report cards. I am hoping if parents have a visual for where their child "should" be reading and what level their child is reading, they will be more motivated to read with their kids at home! Let me know if you like it or can use it! Get it here... Reading Chart

Cafe Questions

This is my third year trying to implement the Cafe model of guided reading, and although I love many aspects of it, I still have some questions. I used to teach guided reading using Fountas and Pinnell's model, which I know works based on research, but also feel like I want to keep evolving with the valid trends. I am hoping other people may have had the same questions and can give me a little help/clarity.  I think my favorite thing about cafe is that it organizes my strategy instruction, gives a nice classroom visual for our reading strategies, and develops self-awareness in students in terms of who they are as readers. I love doing strategy mini-lessons (especially comprehension) and I love focusing my small group time around strategy instruction. I also really like the opportunity to meet with students in individual conferences as needed. I appreciate the time to check in with students and their self-selected books. It seems more authentic than a typical guided reading group where I have chosen the book and have planned out the lesson very carefully. That said, I have a few unanswered questions:

1. Has anyone successfully implemented strategy groups in their classroom? I have tried, but either I don't seem to be able to wrap my mind around it or it just hasn't come up in my room - where I have students from a variety of levels needing the same strategy at the same time.

2. Are all your mini-lessons strategy lessons? Does anyone ever do a grammar lesson or a shared reading/interactive writing lesson instead?

3. For my lower students (I have 11 out of 30 students in 2nd grade reading at independent level C and below) I am thinking the more traditional Fountas and Pinnell guided reading lesson will be more effective. They are still so emergent and need that structured lesson plan that will give them explicit phonics/word study instruction, sight word practice, as well as accuracy (or decoding) strategies. Am I missing something, or do strategy groups Cafe style not look like this?

4. For people who do writer's workshop in addition to a literacy block, do you ever do writing mini-lessons (I'm thinking for students to practice during work on writing) during the literacy block?

As of now, I do three mini-lessons (comprehension, phonics dance, and then a rotation between accuracy, fluency, and expand vocabulary).

Anyway, I'd love to hear your philosophies on guided reading and what works in your classrooms! Your comments and opinions are so appreciated!

Happy Friday!

Class Pics

Well it's almost Friday and I can't believe how tired I am. I am sitting here in my workout clothes doing just about everything to avoid going to the gym. So I thought I'd share a few pics I took this week! Overall, it's been a great first three days - I have 20 girls and 8 boys - so we'll see what dynamic that might bring. I'm thinking some drama is in my future :) They are all really sweet though!

This is our word study board. The pockets are where students keep their spelling lists.

Here is a view of the front of the room - I LOVE the alphabet and vowels from Amy Lemons!

This is our class promise. The faces on the plates above the door are signed by each student meaning they agree to keep the promise.

This is our outside bulletin board. The kids wrote how they are going to be responsible in 2nd grade on the little strips of paper. 

This is the list we made when I introduced Bucket Filling yesterday. I think we will add to the list as we get going. 

I introduced read to someone today - and I have to say my kids did such a great job! Here are two girls reading together  - so cute to see!

Ok...I guess I have to go to the gym now...