Where Did The Time Go?!?!

Okay so I know I have been a total loser at keeping up with things....even though the year totally FLEW by and all my sweet babies are off enjoying their summers and preparing for 3rd grade I thought I would catch up on a few photos that I came across during our last nine weeks of school. I am so proud of all of my students and wish you nothing but the best.

I love you!!!

 

 

Random...

 

School Play

 

 

 

 

 

Sea World

 

 

 

Graduation 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Field Day 2013

 

 

End of the Year Photos... (Tabatha not pictured)

Jose

 

 John

 

Brandon

 

Eddie

 

 Jharod

 

Raegan

 

DeAmoni

 

 Hailey

 

 Davion

 

Emma

 

 Jonathan

 

Madison

 

Raul

 

Robbie

 

Addi

 

Rotayja

 

Kylie

 

Trace

 

My Class of 2013....I will miss you!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Habitats and Life Cycles

Over the past month we have been working on life cycles and habitats. The students have conducted research, read a variety of books, and performed many hands-on activities. Here are just a few...

Habitats and Animal Classifications:
Students began by looking up different types of animals and the habitats that they live in. We also discussed living things and their basic needs. The class recorded facts telling why animals live in particular places. The students sorted picture cards into their classification groups and then brainstormed other animals that they knew about.  They used their background knowledge about the animals to justify which classification each belonged to. For example, "I know that a dog has fur and gives birth to live young so I believe it would fit into the mammal category."  Once students had a firm understanding of animal types, they began researching to complete a report on a habitat of their choice. 

Life Cycles:
Students learned about both plant and animal life cycles. According to our standards, the focus for second grade is the life cycle of a bean and the life cycle of a butterfly. Through our research we identified many others as well.  Students completed the following sheets by drawing the stages in a particular plant or animal's life. They then explained each step in writing.  In addition, students used window greenhouses to germinate bean seeds. Unfortunately, I think we got some old seeds because only about a third of them actually started to grow :( This did give us the perfect opportunity to discuss variables in science experiments and the importance of performing a procedure more than once to see if the results are accurate or not. :)

After our flop with the bean seeds we started a "butterfly farm" with a caterpillar that the class kindly named Fatso. (The name actually came after we had had it for a while.  He was HUGE!!!) Every day the kids would come in and watch him. After what seemed like forever he finally made his chrysalis. It was very hard for the class to be patient as the days passed. Our research told us that it usually takes approximately 2 weeks for the adult butterfly to emerge. At 2 1/2 weeks we had all but given up on our sweet Fatso.  FINALLY.....today he emerged!!!! He was a beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail. The kids got to watch as his wings dried and he began trying to fly for the first time. After we knew he ready we went outside and waved farewell to our classroom friend as he flew off. The kids loved it!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timeline Projects

The students have been working very hard on their home timeline projects. This assignment was a culminating project that was due at the end of our historical events unit. Up until this point, we have been working on reading biographies, sequencing important events, creating timelines, and analyzing how influential people have changed our society.  To sum it all up the students were asked to pick five important events from their own life. They created posters and wrote paragraphs to tell why their events were important to them. We shared today. The kids were so proud of their work... and so was I!!!!! Check them out!

 

 

Important Dates...

We are getting close to the end of the school year and have a lot of important dates coming up. Please check here frequently for changes/updates!

• May 20- No School for Students (PD Day)
• May 27- No School (Memorial Day)
• May 30- School Play (12:15 and 6:30 performances)
• May 31- Walking Field Trip to WES
• June 3- Early Release (Graduation @ 10:00 in the school library)
• June 4- Early Release (Field Day)
• June 5- Early Release (Last Day of School)

What's New!

Since returning from Spring Break we have started ALL NEW units in math, science, writing, and reading! In addition, we have started pulling students for their FAIR test. Check out what's new in our class!


READING
RI2.3- Connections Between Historical Events

       In this unit, students will be reading biographies about important people in history. We began the lesson by reading about Thomas Edison. As a class, we discussed the words sequencing and timeline and proceeded to fill in the class graphic organizers together. I shut the lights off and sent the class back to their seats to complete a graphic organizer with their partner. They looked at me like I was CRAZY :) This was the perfect start to a conversation on why Thomas Edison was an important person  and how our lives would be different if he never existed (he contributed to our society in many ways, one of which was inventing the light bulb.)
     Throughout the rest of the first week, students read a new biography each day. They sequenced the important events in that person's life and then recorded their findings on a T-chart and timeline.  They read about, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Henry Ford, and Susan B. Anthony.
     Next week, students will be revisiting each person and identifying why they were an important person in history. They will identify their contributions to our society and analyze how life would be different if they had never existed. 



 

 

MATH:
2.MD.C.8- Solving real world math problems using dollars and coins correctly

      This week we started working on money.  Because the students have little background knowledge on this topic (it is not taught until second grade) we have spent quite a bit of time working on identifying the coins and their values.  We started out by observing each coin and making a bubble map of facts for each. The students made their own  bubble maps and kept it in a money book that they can use to refer to throughout the unit. 

    We also worked on making equivalent amounts, counting groups of similar coins (all nickels, dimes, etc.) and counting mixed coins.  I introduced several games to practice these concepts. 

 

SCIENCE:
Earth Day/Habitats/Life Cycles

     During the month of April we have a lot that we are going to be covering! We started out with our Earth Day fundraiser and then moved into habitats.  We discussed the difference between land and water habitats and identified animals and plants that live in them. Students sorted animal cards into large Venn Diagram circles and then made their own graphic organizers using the information. 
      We used our textbook to read about where plants and animals live, what they need to survive, and how they depend on each other.  We are going to finish our unit next week. A study guide will be sent home on Monday to practice with!



WRITING:
Personal Narrative

     This week students have started identifying the parts of a personal narrative.  Our school has a program called Writers In Control.  With this, we begin by organizing their papers to have characters, setting, problem, two attempts to solve, and a solution.  I introduced our example paper and had students work in groups to complete a "scavenger hunt" looking for the different parts.  Throughout the week, I read them several stories that are set up in a similar way to how they will be writing. Some of the books that follow this format are:

We used the following graphic organizer to pick out the important parts of the story. (This is the same GO that the class will be using to write their own personal narratives from.)

Finally, we started brainstorming problems that could happen at a specific setting.  I showed the students a picture of the beach.  We then played the beach ball game by tossing a beach ball to different students in the class. Whoever caught the ball had to tell a problem that could happen at that particular place. The catch was that you couldn't repeat a problem once it had been said. It got pretty tough but the kids did great! This showed them how to creatively think about problems and proved that there are actually many things they can write about (hopefully avoiding the famous "I don't know what to write!" line that often comes up! :))

 

Earth Day Fundraiser

Well I hope that everyone had a wonderful Spring Break...I know I did!!! We started off our first week back with a kick off to Earth Day. Because ED is in April I decided to make a friendly competition/fundraiser with some of the other second grade teachers at my school. We spent some time discussing what Earth Day is and why we celebrate it.  The students watched a short video on the history of the holiday and completed a graphic organizer telling what they learned (available on my TPT store). I explained that in honor of the holiday we would be conducting a month-long fundraiser/challenge with the other classes. Each class is responsible for collecting as many aluminum cans as possible. We are tallying the cans each week and keeping a graph of them in our classroom. I will also be posting the weekly totals here for you to keep up with. At the end of the month, the class that collects the most cans will win a pizza party and all the money collected (from recycling the cans) will go directly to the classroom for books, supplies, etc. It's a win/win/win situation for the environment, students, and teacher!!

So here's how we've done so far....

Week 1 (April 1-5): 372 cans (woo hoo!!! way to go class!!!!!)
Week 2 (April 8-12) 293!! Keep it up :)
Week 3 (April 15-19) 335 (we made it to 1,000!!)
Week 4 (April 22-26) 233

GRAND TOTAL: 1,233!!!!

 Our class has had a lot of fun collecting and keeping track of our cans this month. Even though we did not win I am very proud of my kiddos and want to thank everyone who participated. We want to congratulate Mrs. Martin's class for winning the first prize pizza party with a total of 2,009 cans collected!

Want A Classroom Makeover for FREE??

This is for all the teachers out there who want to update the look of their classroom without spending a ton of money...here's how I'm doing it. I signed up to become a Thirty-One consultant. My kit cost me $99 up front (plus shipping and tax).  I had three parties in the first 30 days...one home party (thanks Rita!), one catalog party (thanks Jennifer!) and one work party (thanks Linda!). In all my parties totaled $1,200...and all I had to do was get the word out! Because I made over $1,000 in my first 30 days my kit was FREE (they refunded me the $99 I had originally paid). I also made $300 in commission for the month. Now, I am taking that $300 and placing my own party order. I am going to buy all of the things I want to decorate/organize my classroom. I will get over $300 worth of products (by the time I use my hostess credit and incentives) and I will make another $75 in commission off  my own party!!! Here's the breakdown....

-Spent $99 for consultant kit

-Earned $99 rebate for selling $1,000 in my first thirty days

-Earned $300 in commission

-Spent $300 on classroom decoration/organization

-Earned $75 in commission

 

If you want to do the same thing send me a message and I can give you more details. It is worth it for anyone but DEFINITELY teachers!!! Hurry though...the kit rebate offer is only good if you sign up before April 1st!

 

This is what you get in your kit for only $99!!!

These are some of the products I plan on purchasing with my $300....