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!"

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!

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.

'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:

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!"

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