Second Graders Learn to Research

Research:
v. 'to study thoroughly.'
n. ' scholarly investigation; close, careful study.'

Over the last few weeks my second graders have been learning what it means to 'research', thanks to the help of dedicated parent involvement and high-interest topics.It all started with a visit from a father of one of my students who is a park ranger. He brought in animal pelts and other hands-on learning tools to spark the interest of my students.'Ranger Pat' did an awesome job of sharing valuable information with a fun, interactive presentation that catapulted us into the research zone!

After that, each student chose an animal they wanted to study.The ground rules for this in-class project were simple...

1. Read everything you can find about your chosen animal.

2.Name and classify your animal; whether it be a vertebrate or invertebrate, warm-blooded or cold, along with other defining characteristics.

3. Make a poster that shares at least four facts you've learned as you've researched, with either a photo or drawing of your animal.

4.Finally, share what you've learned with the class!

Suddenly every library visit and computer lab lesson became another opportunity to learn more about animals. Even 'Friday Freetime' transformed into 'animal research study hall'! The kids were actually begging for more time to work!

When the class returns from winter break next Monday they will pick up where they left off and continue this project through the month of January. propelled by a natural, high-interest motivational topic: THE STUDY OF ANIMALS!

Second Graders ROCK when it comes to Geography!

I'm amazed at the geographical learning curve I've seen in my second graders over these last two and a half months! We've just finished a unit called "Families Now and Long Ago". Through the study of our family histories and the various countries from which our families descended, we studied world geography and an appreciation for each culture represented. Every student completed a poster report based on a country from which their ancestors immigrated and shared their report in front of the class.
Korea,Philippines,Russia,England,Scotland,Ireland,Italy,Portugal,Spain and Mexico...what a wealth of heritage resides amongst us! As we concluded the unit, many of these kids voluntarily shared what they've learned about their family heritage in front of 40-plus adults at our annual family feast. With public speaking being hailed as a #1 fear for so many, I was amazed at the grace and ease with which these second graders communicated! Congratulations and thank you for sharing your new excitement about world geography. May this be one important building block in the development of your communication skills and love of learning!

LIFE CYCLES

We just wrapped our unit on Plant Life Cycles. We learned that a plant's life cycle describes how long a plant lives or how long it takes to grow, flower, and set seed. While plant life cycles are continuous, the study of a plant life cycle begins with the seed. (Though we introduced the seed as a plant part that can grow into a new plant, it is important that children understand that plants can also grow from cuttings, bulbs, tuber pieces, or runners.) Some seeds have an outer layer called a seed coat, which provides protection and nourishment for the baby plant inside. When a seed germinates, a small root begins to grow downward and a shoot grows upward. When the shoot breaks the surface, the plant is called a sprout. The sprout uses water and nutrients from the soil along with sunlight and air to grow and change into a seedling. It's been a joy to watch your children learn about plants. I was amazed by their excitement when we planted the lima bean seeds and watched them sprout! How wonderful to find joy in the simple yet profound gifts of nature. May we always be amazed!

Second Grade GEOGRAPHY Lessons:

Your second grader is beginning to learn about the fascinating study of geography!We're starting off by learning a little bit about each of the seven continents and the oceans surrounding them.

A continent is defined as a large unbroken land mass completely surrounded by water, although in some cases continents are (or were in part) connected by land bridges. The seven continents are North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.

Our first stop is North America...Yes, we are talking about our homeland, The United States, as well as Canada and Mexico, right?? A lesser known fact is that the Caribbean Islands, Central America, and Greenland are also considered part of North America.

I hope you have an opportunity soon to open an atlas with your child and explore together. This is a wonderful way to build and extend vocabulary in a natural setting.

If you are like me, you'll learn something new along with the kids!

Lessons from Thomas Edison

One of the amazing people we will learn about in second grade is Thomas Edison, considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,093 U.S. patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

Here are a few quotes that illustrate the dynamic thought process of a person who used his talents for the benefit of others.


* Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. Accordingly, a ‘genius’ is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.
*Time is really the only capital that any human being has and the thing that he can least afford to waste or lose.
* If parents pass enthusiasm along to their children, they will leave them an estate of incalculable value.
* If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.
* The first requisite for success is to develop the ability to focus and apply your mental and physical energies to the problem at hand - without growing weary. Because such thinking is often difficult, there seems to be no limit to which some people will go to avoid the effort and labor that is associated with it.
* There is no substitute for hard work!

Paired Reading

Most second graders have moved through the beginning stages of
reading and are now working on reading smoothly and focusing on
meaning. I'd like to recommend 'paired reading' as a powerful
motivator to boost your child's literacy growth.

"Paired Reading" is a practice strategy that helps children improve
their reading skills. It combines two powerful techniques:
*the tutor and the child read aloud together
*the tutor lets the child read independently while providing
encouragement and supportive coaching.

1.) Start out by agreeing on a set time each day to read
together for about 10 to 15 minutes.

2.)Begin each session by reading an 'old favorite' followed by a new read.
(A trip to the local library will help you to stock up on
early reader chapter books that your child helps select.)

3.)Use a starting signal(i.e.-shoulder tap)
for"together reading",where you both read the text aloud.
You will have to adjust your speed while modeling natural flow.

4.) If your child hesitates or misses a word just give
the correct pronunciation and the definition,instead of sounding out.

5.) Your child may 'shoulder tap' you at anytime to signal the desire to read independently. A second tap would signal adding your voice in choral reading once again.As the tutor,your job is that of a cheerleader,making positive comments and offering support as needed.

6.) When finished,have a simple, relaxed conversation
about what has been read.Then add the newly enjoyed book to your
child's collection of old favorites.

If this type of program is used in your home everyday
for the next 6 weeks I think you will see awesome results!

Welcome!

I am finally up on the times and have a blog!

I will be posting info from the classroom, special events, and my insights on a monthly basis.

Thanks so much for reading and I look forward to hearing your responses also!

-Janie Potter