A Picture Book of Helen Keller

Helen Keller Booklet

Here Comes the Strikeout

Here Comes the Strikeout

We (my 2nd grade team) are trying to create some activities for sets of books that we already have. We are quickly coming to the end of our basal however, we still have a few weeks to fill with our typical routine. This is a cute reader that will probably excite a couple of my ball players :)

We have been told that the group we are getting next year are on an average LOW. I know that I shouldn't be thinking about next year already, however, I have... and I think I'll take the first couple weeks to concentrate on word families. I plan to use literature that I have in my classroom library and these activities to cover some of my reading basics.

ay word family
How do you use word families in your classroom?

Fixing Fractions

We are actually becoming pros at fractions... however, this is another practice (for the boys :) with a bit of a construction theme). Today we introduced the game and it was Mrs. Evans vs. the class. We used one game board under the projector and they used the construction cones to determine their answers. It was a hoot... ManY times, I landed on the exact same question... thus, I was not able to progress. They thought it was real funny... UNTIL payback came for them. I read the questions aloud and then pulled sticks (kid's names) for the answer...(that way EVERYONE HAD to be on board.) We were both down to 1 answer... we flipped back and forth a couple of times because the right answer was already covered... FINALLY, Mrs. Evans landed on the question that I needed and immediately before I even manipulated my blocks (under the projector) they were groaning because they knew it was the answer that I needed to win the game.

I had to promise them that this game would be added to our math games for fast finishers.

Fun times + Learning times = fun day at school :)

Fixing Fractions

Measurement Man

Our second grader need to know if something holds more than or less than a cup. It is pretty basic. After reading Room For Ripley we expanded the lesson a bit with Measurement Man. It was so cute... the kids starting quizzing each other with measurements while they were cutting them out. "Karlton... if I only have quarts, but in all it equals a gallon. How many quarts do I have?" I love these kiddos!

Measurement Man

Number of the Day

So... in Survivor we discussed and observed "Number of the Day". We decided to create 2 seperate versions (due to the tally marks). Can't wait for everyone to give it a try :)

Version 1

Version 2

'Lil Bunny Hop

The kids had a great time with 'Lil Bunny Hop today. They asked if they could do it again tomorrow....

probably not, however, maybe

Jelly Beans in an Egg :)

Tally Twelve Turtles

Activity

All Apple

This activity has a little graphing, doubles game and doubles booklet.

Monkey Business

monkey business graphing game

Small Group Graphing

Provide each table with graphing instructions and the needed material and have fun with this activity.

Graphing Around the Room

activities

Want to get your kiddos up and moving and discussing graphing... this activity does just that. Use the manipulatives that you already have in your classroom, throw a label up and have 11 fun stations to rotate through. (A list of manips for each station are on the last page.)

labels

I heard a version of this activity at Core Academy in 2009. She was a darling presentor with fun ideas... I just took them back to my computer to cute them up and prepare a hard copy for future use. I wish I knew her name to give her credit!

Final Survival Class - Data and Graphing

Tonight was my final Survival Class. I appreciate each sweet teacher that spent many hours with me in an after school class :) I hope as everyone left today with their bag of manipulatives and folder of ideas... they also realized that they left with new friendships. Gathering teachers together in a room to brainstorm is a fabulous tool... throw a Diet Coke into the mix and it might be considered a tamed party :) Thank you again for sharing and offering your ideas and support. Best of luck in the 2011-2012 school year. Every year gets better... gets a bit easier... and a lot more fun! Sincerely, Lory

Easter Fractions

One math concept that is pretty overwhelming to little 2nd graders is dividing a set of objects into equal numbers and identifying the parts as halves, thirds, or fourths.

They can recognize the fraction of a geometric shape. They can color in the fraction of a geometric shape... and after lots of practice they can divide sets and identify the fraction. Wahoo!!

Easter fractions

Going Green

April is so busy. This week we are celebrating Earth Day along with Easter.

Spin a Sentence

The middle of April always marks the moment of reviewing for EOL testing. This week we're refreshing the idea of a complete sentence... always a fun one. Hopefully this little spinner activity will add a little color and fun. I printed the spinner page on the color printer on to cardstock and laminated it for future use. Just in case we need a little extra practice ;)

Tommy dePaola's The Art Lesson

I can't believe we are on our final unit in the Houghton Mifflin Reading Series. We began the unit with Tommy dePaola's THE ART LESSON. The kids loved playing spin the bottle and answering questions.

game board for comprehension question cards

spin the bottle cards assessment

The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola

We are working on fractions and sets in class. Identifying 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4s are easy for the kiddos... it's dividing sets and determining the fraction of the set that is sometimes tricky. We continued to practice today by reading the Doorbell Rang and manipulating Cookie Crisp cereal. We are getting better each day. Tomorrow we will continue using any manipulative we can find to divide.

fraction fun

Another project :)

I guess it has been 7 years or so since our district switched to Houghton Mifflin Reading. We've created quite a set of activities to accompany each story. One that I have enjoyed doing daily with my students is Daily Language. I've created sentences incorporating our spelling words for that week. We focus on punctuation and capitalization also. One thing that I tried (just for fun) was offering the kids a spree if their handwriting was beautiful. I correct them each night. Next to the day I write their score -2 / -1 or a star if everything is correct. If their handwriting makes me happy... I add a smile at the end of the sentence and they get to eat a spree while they work on the next days sentence. It was AMAZING! A tiny spree made them slow down and try harder.

The back side of my Daily Language is a spelling text pad the kids work on for a few minutes (after they finish correcting and writing their sentence for the day). They use the telephone key pad to write the number sentence for each spelling word. It's a fun activity and opportunity for them to legally text in class ;) This is completed by Friday and turned in... just in time for the spelling test.

Silly Stories Daily Language/Spelling Text

TIME to go Camping

Getting ready to begin the review process for End of Level testing...

TIME to go Camping refreshes the kiddos with o'clock.

Hidden Words

Find the hidden words each month.

I love to read a picture book relating to the word on the sheet and discuss other vocabulary. Some months the kids are challenged to earn a certain number of points (5 letter words = 5 pts. etc.) Other months they are searching for a cerain amount of words. Another month it might be phonograms or consonant blends. We mix it up.. the kids really enjoy this quick challenge.

Unscrambled Eggs

It might not look like spring around home this spring break, however, I'm in the mood for some Easter fun (sunshine and heat...) I'm thing we might need to get out of town!

Unscrambled Eggs