Reading Journals

We will use reading journals to document our thoughts as we read independently and as a class. Our first entry was after we read Beekle by Dan Santat. 

The students drew an imaginary friend of their own and wrote about adventures they would share.

Can you build a ramp and a vehicle that rolls?

Today's challenge was two-part. First the teams were told to build a ramp. We discussed what a ramp is and gave a few examples. We did not say how big it needed to be or what they would be using on the ramp. 

Some teams completed this part rather quickly while others debated what materials to use for the ramp. This was the first time they were not given specific materials for a challenge. 

After each team had constructed a ramp they were told the next part of the challenge was to build a vehicle that rolls down the ramp. We discussed the difference between sliding and rolling. The kiddos had several examples of what a vehicle might be: dirt bike, Jeep, electric scooter, car....

To build the vehicles they were given lifesavers, index cards, coffee stirrers, thin wooden sticks, popscicle sticks, two different size straws, tape, and scissors. They tested their vehicles as they built. 

In the end we had a variety of vehicles that successfully rolled down the ramps. 

We used one large ramp to test each group's vehicle as a class. 

Finally, we raced the vehicles to see which made it down first. 

The most challenging part was agreed by all- getting the wheels to stay on yet also roll. 

The best part was watching the vehicle successfully roll down the ramp and was also agreed by all. 

I asked what they learned and I heard- 

Never give up

Listen to your teammates

Learn from mistakes

Can you build a slide with two tracks?

Last week's problem solving challenge was to build a slide. We added several new challenges as we went. First they were told to simply build a slide with a few sheets of paper, tape, and scissors. 

Next, they were told to extend their slides longer. 

Third, they were told to build two tracks so the pompoms would fall down either side. 

Short slide

Longer slide!

This group worked through several challenges such as the pompom falling out of the tunnel before it went down the final track. They persevered and were successful! Notice the flap added under the first tunnel to ensure the pompom stayed in the track! 

This group went with an open slide and I wasn't sure if the pompom would stay on the slide or how they would build a second track...but they knew what to do! Never underestimate an invested learner!

Look at this intricate design! They worked hard the entire time and their final slide was amazing.

This team attempted several variations and decided this was their favorite!

This group had a plan the entire time and knew exactly what they wanted it to look like in the end. They made several adjustments and the pompom went through the slides without getting stuck!

When asked what the most challenging part was, several said: "making sure the pompom went down either side of the track". 

We love remembering what we learned from Rosie Revere Engineer, a first flop failure leads to success! 

Book Wish List

The students truly enjoyed walking around the room looking at books and making a list of favorite authors and books to read. 

Math Games

We have been learning several different games to practice our math facts. I think the favorite was Domino Flower because the kids could write on their tables!! Domino Flower

Add both sides of the domino and add a circle to the table with the sum in the middle. As you find more dominoes add them to the circles with the matching sum or start another "flower".

Dice War

We have a bucket full of different dice ranging from 1-90 on each side. The partners take turns rolling two, adding the sums, writing the equations, and determining who has the larger sum. 

Take 10

Flip over 12 cards numbered 0-10. Player one uses the cards to make 10. This can be done with as many cards as the player wants to use (3&7 or 1,2,4,&3). Once there are no more possible combinations left, refill the cards from the deck so there are 12 again and player 2 takes a turn. At the end count to see who has the most cards. 

The kids will play math games while I meet with small groups each day to strengthen our math skills!

Math Strategies

Using carefully created story problems is an effective way for me to see what strategies the children use independently in their thinking and problem solving. We also use "number talks" in which the children solve problems in their heads and verbalize their strategies. In kindergarten and first they used strategies such as count all and count up. In first grade they expanded their bank of strategies to partners of 10 (explained in an earlier post), doubles, doubles plus 1, and a few more. In second grade we put an emphasis on efficiently and accurately using strategies and known facts to solve new facts. We will continue doubles (6+6), doubles plus 1 (knowing that 6+6=12 so 6+7= 13), making 10 ( 7+5 is 7+3+2 and 7+3 are partners of 10 so add the left over 2 to get 12). In our journals we draw a picture, a written equation, and words to explain our strategies. This will lead to new strategies such as knowing that numbers can transfer as 31+29 is the same as 30+30 and by the end of the year we will be doing much of this as mental math! 

Check out the journal work below!

Room Design Complete!

Minus a few odds and ends, cushions and pegboard for our building area, our design challenge is complete to think about how we can best use our space. We now have art, writing, building, and technology spaces and an improved reading area in our room. The students designed it themselves and are incredibly proud. Come check it out next week during curriculum night. 

We are Stamina Builders!

Wow! These kiddos sure do love to read! Kudos to their parents, previous teachers, and other reading role models who have instilled this love of reading in their hearts! I honestly cannot find enough time in the day to quench their desires to read. 

Today we really focused on what behaviors we see in readers with stamina. My favorite two responses were "they get lost in their books" and "they don't hear when the teacher calls for clean up time". Check out all their responses. 

Redesigning the Classroom

This might be the most exciting thing going on right now in our class! 

I read one of my favorite books, A Quiet Place, by Douglas Wood. 

We talked about where and how to find a quiet place, inside of you! We also talked about why it is important to have spaces in the room where we can focus and get our best work done. 

I asked the kids to think of ONE thing they wanted to do in our classroom this year. They brainstormed with each other and then each wrote one thing down. 

We shared with each other and organized our thoughts on the board. Our class is incredibly invested in reading so I told them that would be a given and they needed to choose something else! 

As you can see, we have a lot of budding artists in our class! The next step was for each child to think about what their space would need and how it should look. They spent some time sketching and listing materials and furniture they would like to use.

Next week we will begin the REdesigning of our classroom to include an art area, a building station, a technology stand, a writing corner, and a large open area to be used for projects and Just Dance breaks! Stay tuned!

Internet Safety

I know your kiddos have been using iPads and the Internet for quite some time now. It is never too early to talk about Internet safety. We watched a short little presentation that compared being safe in the big city to being safe on the Internet. Below are the main points we talked about after the video. Ask your child at home to tell you what they remember. 

This link is a very helpful tool for parents and children to be knowledgable and safe on the Internet.  

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/ 

We are GOOD readers

Good readers think the entire time as they read. We have learned many of the great strategies that good readers do in kindergarten and first grade and we will continue that work in second grade. Here are some of the strategies we have already discussed together.

We read by ourselves and used "thinking notes", a post it, to mark a spot in our books where we were really thinking. We then met in small groups to share our thinking. We will do a lot of talking and writing about our reading this year. 

More Math Work...

The children are doing so well with our math routine of solving a math problem in our journals using a picture, equation, and now using words to explain their strategy. 

Above: I have three tens frames and the sum is 22. What do I have? 

Below: I have three cards and the sum is 15. What might I be holding? 

They are using their "math talk" to discuss how they solved their problems! 

We are still adding to our math talk poster but a few examples are...

What strategy did you use?

Can you explain how you...?

I used the same strategy!

Trick Words

We have practiced ALL the kindergarten and first grade trick words that your child previously learned. The kids wrote the words on their tables and thought this was crazy!! 

We may have to do this more often, their excitement was contagious! 

We Are Mathematicians!

We discussed what makes a mathematician and how to be great at math! Check out their ideas.

Next we worked in our journals and shared our work.

This was intended to see who remembered their partners of 10 from first grade. Practice this at home so your kiddos can recall the facts with automaticity. 

1+9

9+1

2+8

8+2

3+7

7+3

4+6

6+4

5+5

The following 2 equations didn't match the question but are partners of 10.

0+10

10+0