Back to School With Daily 5!

I'm excited for another great year in 2nd grade!  I've got a great group of students and I really look forward to working together his year.  Some of the things that I'm working on this year are the Daily 5 (Year 2) and the Daily 5 CAFE. 

I was very happy with the success of the implementation of the Daily 5 last year, but I want to make it even better this year.  I am going to have only 4 rotations at 15 min. each rather than 6 rotations at 12 min. each.  Given my enthusiasm for D5, I was trying to do too much each day.  Luckily, students did very well in language arts and reading, but I did feel it was a bit rushed.  Part of the way that I'll accomplish this is by only meeting with 4 reading groups per day.  I'm excited to get started (once training and stamina are built up this year, of course)!

I'm also excited about the CAFE.  I've come to the conclusion that it's really just good, explicit instruction.  It seems like a great way to make sure that you're teaching students all of the independent skills necesary to be a good reader and writer.  I'll report back on that later once we've begun lessons.

Another challenge this year is that we're having copier "challenges".   But, I am trying to be more efficient with my resources anyway, so that will be another improvement that I'll make this year to D5.  It'll be less paper intensive.  I plan to have students use their binders a lot more. 

I'm looking forward to building stamina so we can hit the ground running in my classroom this year!

Summer Reading Incentives

The end of school is so exciting, but also makes you wonder how you are going to keep your child reading over the summer.   I came across some reading incentive tools at a website that I subscribe to and I want to share the tools with you.  Basically, you can use a Bingo style board, coupon tickets, or banners to get your kids motivated to read.  I'm posting the pdf file with the tools that I downloaded as a subscriber to Howdoesshe.com.  Additionally posted the link to the full article.  I hope that you find some good ideas or tools here! 


http://www.howdoesshe.com/wp-content/uploads/HowDoesShe_summer_reading.pdf

http://www.howdoesshe.com/summer-reading-star-free-exclusive-printable

Howdoesshe.com has lots of great ideas for busy moms!

Great iPad Apps for the Classroom

I recently began having my students bring their own laptops, iPads, netbooks, etc. into the classroom with the goal of increasing access to learning with computers.  For the students who have laptops, they can go to many online learning websites.  However, the students with iPads are limited as to what they can use online due to Flash Player limitations.  As a result, I have been  reviewing iPad apps that are educational. Here are a few that I downloaded and used and highly recommend for 2nd or 3rd graders.

Stack the States
This game asks questions about the states, capitals, nicknames, etc. and students have to select the right answer.  This game is highly engaging!  There's a free version at the App Store or another version for $0.99.  P.S. There's also a Stack the Countries game!

Word Mess

This game has three ways to play and can be used to help students practice different skills at different levels of challenge.  The first is to find all occurrences of a word in a certain time frame.  The second is to find words that rhyme with a given word.  The 3rd is to find words that fit a category.    Word Mess is $0.99 at the App Store.



Chicken Coop Fractions

This game allows kids to practice estimating with fractions and decimal equivalents, fractions of a number, and improper fractions.  It's multilevel with easy and hard games.   It's also free at the App Store.



A "Fix" for" b and d" Reversals!

 Even though I teach 2nd grade, I've still got a couple students who reverse the lower case letters 

b and d.  I'm always looking for ways to help them permanently learn how to write these letters.  I found this article and it looks promising since kids have the tools they need right on their hands! 

http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2011/09/easy-letter-reversal-solution.html

Thinking About Spring Fever and Testing

As I head back to school after spring break, I'm already thinking about the standardized state testing that's just around the corner!  I'm also thinking about how "antsy" my students have been lately.  Here's a timely article that might really help keep students engaged.  http://www.minds-in-bloom.com/2012/04/advice-from-ot-if-you-want-children-to.html?m=1

Finally, a Blog!

I'm so glad to finally start my blog! I plan to share resources soon!