Sunday, December 27, 2009
Santa Wrote Us Back!
The kids in Room 24 have been practicing their letter-writing skills for quite a few weeks now. They've learned about date placement,as well as how to write the greeting, body, closing and signature of the friendly letter format. With all of this new-found knowledge they couldn't help but write letters to Santa Claus before going on our winter break. To our surprise, hand-written letters arrived from the North Pole on the last day before vacation! Santa's elf-helpers answered each and every question, drew pictures for the children and signed each letter with their official elf names! Although the elves' letters were a real treat, I was moreover impressed with the letters the children sent out. Each child's letter was written with beautiful handwriting and embellished with ornate drawings for Santa. And talk about thoughtful questions and unselfish attitudes...wow! The children definitely proved they are learning how to write an engaging friendly letter. No doubt Room 24 made the 'nice list' hall of fame this year!
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Cat, the Opossum and the Research Zone!
Over the past few weeks a second grader in my classroom has been talking and writing about her encounter with an evasive little critter. Her dramatic animal adventure is a good read! Here is part one of her first draft:
"It all began when Stupid draged a opossum in for my mom to surprise her...it was a gift. (Stupid is my mom's cat.We call him Stupid because he does some things that are stupid. For real!) My mom picked up the possum in a towel and set it in a bucket, and left it in the shed all day long. She put him in there so the cat couldn't get to him. When me and grama got home we checked on the opossum and he was still alive so we decided to take him to the Lindsey Museum. We headed there at comute time, so it took us a long time to get there. My grandma stoped in clayton to see if he was still breathing, and he was, so we kept going to Lindsey. Forty-five minutes later, we arived in the Lindsey parking lot and my grandma lifted the paper towel and the possum was gone! We searched the whole car and could not find him. Oh my goodness!!!" As Payton told her story, the children naturally asked for more information about this little creature. What does it look like? Where does it live? What does it eat?
The start of this dramatic animal adventure, so eloquently penned, became the catalyst that launched our second grade classroom into the Research Zone!!!
So, what exactly is 'research'?
It's a verb that means 'to study thoroughly.'
It's also a noun that means 'scholarly investigation; a close, careful study.'
In our case, each student has been asked to choose an animal they want 'to study thoroughly'.The ground rules for this in-class project are 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!
Now our library visits and computer lab lessons will become an opportunity to learn more about animals and the fundamentals of research and writing, propelled by this naturally motivating topic and second grade science standard. Of course, each student can take it a step further and write a dramatic animal adventure, whether it be real or make-believe! Now wouldn't THAT be interesting!
"It all began when Stupid draged a opossum in for my mom to surprise her...it was a gift. (Stupid is my mom's cat.We call him Stupid because he does some things that are stupid. For real!) My mom picked up the possum in a towel and set it in a bucket, and left it in the shed all day long. She put him in there so the cat couldn't get to him. When me and grama got home we checked on the opossum and he was still alive so we decided to take him to the Lindsey Museum. We headed there at comute time, so it took us a long time to get there. My grandma stoped in clayton to see if he was still breathing, and he was, so we kept going to Lindsey. Forty-five minutes later, we arived in the Lindsey parking lot and my grandma lifted the paper towel and the possum was gone! We searched the whole car and could not find him. Oh my goodness!!!" As Payton told her story, the children naturally asked for more information about this little creature. What does it look like? Where does it live? What does it eat?
The start of this dramatic animal adventure, so eloquently penned, became the catalyst that launched our second grade classroom into the Research Zone!!!
So, what exactly is 'research'?
It's a verb that means 'to study thoroughly.'
It's also a noun that means 'scholarly investigation; a close, careful study.'
In our case, each student has been asked to choose an animal they want 'to study thoroughly'.The ground rules for this in-class project are 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!
Now our library visits and computer lab lessons will become an opportunity to learn more about animals and the fundamentals of research and writing, propelled by this naturally motivating topic and second grade science standard. Of course, each student can take it a step further and write a dramatic animal adventure, whether it be real or make-believe! Now wouldn't THAT be interesting!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
It's a Brand New Year!
Last Tuesday was the first day of another school year! I'm getting to know 20 second graders and their loving families. It's always so refreshing to see the level of passionate care that parents have for their precious children. Attentive communication reigns as we discuss goals and expectations at Back to School Night. Many stay to visit a little longer than necessary. It's just so RIGHT to see families providing that level of respectful advocacy for the children's sake. It's a beautiful thing to observe and participate in as these families of second graders and I begin a year-long partnership.It's a brand new year filled with new opportunities ...And as we say every morning in Room 24,"What a great day to get up and get going!"
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Volcanoes in Hawai`i
Check out the powerpoint called "Volcanoes, The Earth at Work":
http://www.nps.gov/havo/forteachers/index.htm
Visit the Lyman Museum:"Telling the story of Hawai`i, its islands and its people":
http://www.lymanmuseum.org/
It was a thrill for me to visit the active Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawai`i last Monday! I was there because my husband and I and our two sons ventured over to Hilo, Hawai`i in celebration of our 30th anniversary. We visited the Hamakua Coast where my husband's grandmother and father were born and did some family research while we were there, thanks to the Lyman Museum. We also got a firsthand glimpse of an active volcano at Volcano National Park. If I was teaching in Hilo, this is where I would take my class on a yearly field trip! What an awesome display of the 'Earth's Materials', as it's called in our current second grade science unit. I witnessed the scorched, steaming earth inside the crater, marveled at plant life returning against all odds, and walked inside a lava tube! One evening at sunset I walked a mile on Pahoehoe (a dried lava flow that looks like poured out pancake batter) to see the current eruption flowing into the sea. When the 2000 degree lava hits the water it creates a plume of white steam with an orange glow that is awe-inspiring.I walked back to my car with a flashlight in silence and in total darkness. It was so cool! I wish I could have brought the kids in Room 24 with me... Next week I'll see their happy faces again and share my volcano adventure!
http://www.nps.gov/havo/forteachers/index.htm
Visit the Lyman Museum:"Telling the story of Hawai`i, its islands and its people":
http://www.lymanmuseum.org/
It was a thrill for me to visit the active Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawai`i last Monday! I was there because my husband and I and our two sons ventured over to Hilo, Hawai`i in celebration of our 30th anniversary. We visited the Hamakua Coast where my husband's grandmother and father were born and did some family research while we were there, thanks to the Lyman Museum. We also got a firsthand glimpse of an active volcano at Volcano National Park. If I was teaching in Hilo, this is where I would take my class on a yearly field trip! What an awesome display of the 'Earth's Materials', as it's called in our current second grade science unit. I witnessed the scorched, steaming earth inside the crater, marveled at plant life returning against all odds, and walked inside a lava tube! One evening at sunset I walked a mile on Pahoehoe (a dried lava flow that looks like poured out pancake batter) to see the current eruption flowing into the sea. When the 2000 degree lava hits the water it creates a plume of white steam with an orange glow that is awe-inspiring.I walked back to my car with a flashlight in silence and in total darkness. It was so cool! I wish I could have brought the kids in Room 24 with me... Next week I'll see their happy faces again and share my volcano adventure!
Monday, February 16, 2009
IF I WERE PRESIDENT.....
On this President's Day, 2009, I'd like to share my second graders' unprompted and unedited thoughts on the presidency as well as quotes from their letters to President Obama.
The letter to the president was a homework assignment, which usually includes the input of a loving parent.(I truly believe that the parent is the child's best teacher.)
"If I Were President" was a 10 minute 'quiet write'. I assisted spelling help to those who asked for it. With regard to ideas, I asked them to, "Put on your thinking caps and give it a go!" Those second graders are awesome people, eh?
Dear President Obama:
*I am so happy that you are the president of the you nited Stats of Amarica. Your doters are so cute. So is your wife.
*I hope you will help the poor. Also i hope every one will be kind to others.
*I hope you will end the war. Also I would like you to help people who have lost their jobs get new jobs.
*I hope you will be the bestest president. I hope you will enjoy living in the white house. I hope you will make great laws. Ok, thank you. (Pleas send a picture of the Whitehouse.)
*I'm very glad you won! I voted for you! I like you as a president!
*I hope that the economy gets better for this country. I hope that you will be a good president and help the people of the world.
*I think you deserve that puppy. You did a good speech. I think you are a good president.
*I hope ther no more killing and I wish the wold was clean. I hope you have a great life.
*I want you to stop the war and I want you to help the poor people.
*I want you to help people with more new places to work so they don't lose there house...and pay more money to all teachers. Thank you President Obama.
*I hope that you make new ruls to help people in need.
*I would like you to keep the bad people in jail longer.
*I hope you will help families to keep their homes and their jobs...keep our country safe.
* You are a nice president. I hope that you can do right things. I hope you can help more kids to have more opportunities to have medical insurance.
*I hope you will do your promis like it sead.
Sent to the White House in February of 2009
from the graduating 'class of 2019'... presently my second grade students in Room 24 at Brentwood School.
IF I WERE PRESIDENT....
...If I were president I woud not want to be president because it is to much work.(Honesty Award here!)
...IF I were president I would be a good president to America.
...I woud help persons so they can be happy.
...I would be a grat president. I would help pepl.
...if I was prezidunt i wood be a good prezidint and not yell at my pipoll
...I would make the world a better plase.
...If I was president I wold get a warriors stadeum. (Another Honesty Award deserved here!)
...if i were president i would be a good president to all the people and my friends.
...i would help clean the eath.
...I would make good laws and give away money to people who don't have money.
...If i were presesident i would help the society and be a nice presedint.
... i would chande laws, make all cars fuel efficient cars, go green, save the planet, make healthier foods, and make a better place. WE ARE ALL AMERICANS!!!!!!!!!!!
Quotes from the Awesome Kids in Room 24.
The letter to the president was a homework assignment, which usually includes the input of a loving parent.(I truly believe that the parent is the child's best teacher.)
"If I Were President" was a 10 minute 'quiet write'. I assisted spelling help to those who asked for it. With regard to ideas, I asked them to, "Put on your thinking caps and give it a go!" Those second graders are awesome people, eh?
Dear President Obama:
*I am so happy that you are the president of the you nited Stats of Amarica. Your doters are so cute. So is your wife.
*I hope you will help the poor. Also i hope every one will be kind to others.
*I hope you will end the war. Also I would like you to help people who have lost their jobs get new jobs.
*I hope you will be the bestest president. I hope you will enjoy living in the white house. I hope you will make great laws. Ok, thank you. (Pleas send a picture of the Whitehouse.)
*I'm very glad you won! I voted for you! I like you as a president!
*I hope that the economy gets better for this country. I hope that you will be a good president and help the people of the world.
*I think you deserve that puppy. You did a good speech. I think you are a good president.
*I hope ther no more killing and I wish the wold was clean. I hope you have a great life.
*I want you to stop the war and I want you to help the poor people.
*I want you to help people with more new places to work so they don't lose there house...and pay more money to all teachers. Thank you President Obama.
*I hope that you make new ruls to help people in need.
*I would like you to keep the bad people in jail longer.
*I hope you will help families to keep their homes and their jobs...keep our country safe.
* You are a nice president. I hope that you can do right things. I hope you can help more kids to have more opportunities to have medical insurance.
*I hope you will do your promis like it sead.
Sent to the White House in February of 2009
from the graduating 'class of 2019'... presently my second grade students in Room 24 at Brentwood School.
IF I WERE PRESIDENT....
...If I were president I woud not want to be president because it is to much work.(Honesty Award here!)
...IF I were president I would be a good president to America.
...I woud help persons so they can be happy.
...I would be a grat president. I would help pepl.
...if I was prezidunt i wood be a good prezidint and not yell at my pipoll
...I would make the world a better plase.
...If I was president I wold get a warriors stadeum. (Another Honesty Award deserved here!)
...if i were president i would be a good president to all the people and my friends.
...i would help clean the eath.
...I would make good laws and give away money to people who don't have money.
...If i were presesident i would help the society and be a nice presedint.
... i would chande laws, make all cars fuel efficient cars, go green, save the planet, make healthier foods, and make a better place. WE ARE ALL AMERICANS!!!!!!!!!!!
Quotes from the Awesome Kids in Room 24.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
'People Who Make a Difference'
All second graders in California explore the lives of actual people who make a difference in the lives of others. The purpose of this unit is to understand the importance of personal integrity. As we learn the stories of extraordinary people we see how our lives are affected by the actions of these heroes now and long ago. In turn, we ponder how our own actions can positively affect those around us. The social studies standard is stated in this way:
To kick off this inspiring unit we learned about the great American Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Following the lesson, the children did a five minute 'free-write'. Here are some of the unedited, and very precious, journal entries of my students:
"Ther were unpher lawrs. Today we are equel. He had a dream. Dr. King was good ."
"There were unfair laws. Martin had a dream. There were 2 water fountains one for black people and one for white people. Then he was born the one who changed our lives. Martin Luther King Jr. Not everyone liked his plan. Some people burned down his house just becuase of his plan and then a few years later he said I don't want my children to be judged by the color of their skin! I want them to be judged by their own caricter! Right! everyone cheered. Then it became true. Restraunts let all people in. libarys, schools, and everything!"
"They codnot shar water fountains."
"When Dr. king was around white people sat in the front of the bus. today people can sit wherever they want on buses and trains."
"...that spich that was a vary gud spich...doctr loothr king was a gud gud gud prsun...dont get mad at pipl that has difrint culrd skin....evry budy dusint have black skin and wigt skin. im happy are you happy cuz i am."
"Back then some schools were only for white children. Other schools were olny for African American children. this way children were segregated from each other."
"It's against the law to keep people apart..."
"today: people can sit wherever they want. you might make a new friend the next time you are on a bus or a train!"
2.5 Students understand the importance of individual action
and character and explain how heroes from long ago and the
recent past have made a difference in others' lives.
To kick off this inspiring unit we learned about the great American Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Following the lesson, the children did a five minute 'free-write'. Here are some of the unedited, and very precious, journal entries of my students:
"Ther were unpher lawrs. Today we are equel. He had a dream. Dr. King was good ."
"There were unfair laws. Martin had a dream. There were 2 water fountains one for black people and one for white people. Then he was born the one who changed our lives. Martin Luther King Jr. Not everyone liked his plan. Some people burned down his house just becuase of his plan and then a few years later he said I don't want my children to be judged by the color of their skin! I want them to be judged by their own caricter! Right! everyone cheered. Then it became true. Restraunts let all people in. libarys, schools, and everything!"
"They codnot shar water fountains."
"When Dr. king was around white people sat in the front of the bus. today people can sit wherever they want on buses and trains."
"...that spich that was a vary gud spich...doctr loothr king was a gud gud gud prsun...dont get mad at pipl that has difrint culrd skin....evry budy dusint have black skin and wigt skin. im happy are you happy cuz i am."
"Back then some schools were only for white children. Other schools were olny for African American children. this way children were segregated from each other."
"It's against the law to keep people apart..."
"today: people can sit wherever they want. you might make a new friend the next time you are on a bus or a train!"
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