Themes from Lyrics

#onlytwokiddaysthisweek #icanmakeit

Every year, I make a class playlist.  Each student tells me their favorite song and I add them to a playlist.  I love it!  There are songs I hear now and I think, "oh that is _______'s song."  Many songs, I know and don't worry about content/lyrics.  This year I had a handful of girls chose Ariana Grande songs.  I read through the lyrics...no bad words and then I started thinking about the message some of the songs were sending and decided to let the class decide.  I put the lyrics on the projector and we read them...not sang them and immediately the kids were not fans of having the songs on our playlist.  It was an interesting thing to notice that when you take the tune away...you are really able to focus on what the song is saying.

The lightbulb....we are beginning our study into themes in literature...and there was clearly a message in the songs we were looking up.  SO this week we are studying the themes in some popular songs before we dive into literature.

The kids loved it.  We did are starting our study with Frozen's Let It Go. We read the lyrics and watched the sing-along video version.  Then I printed the lyrics out for everyone.

Finally we talked about needing proof for our thinking.  I gave them a sentence frame to help them get started.

Next up is The Lego Movie's Everything is Awesome.

Happy Monday,

Mixed Media Art Awesomeness

We finished up a mixed media art project today.  It turned out better than I expected and I always love that!  Last Friday we traced and designed our hands using lines and shape zentangles.

We did some Color Factory ala Annie Painter.  I am always amazed at how all the papers look so different with just three colors!

Then we played "musical friend adjectives"  When the music played, move around the room.  When the music stops find a friends card and write an adjective that describes them.

After finishing our "game" we chose the three words we liked best and wrote them on black pieces of paper; and finally put it all together into our masterpieces!

Happy Monday

Wordless Wednesday

It is Wednesday #wishitwerealreadyfriday Check other people's Wednesdays at Second Grade Sugar and Spice.

Field Trip to the Local Library

 

The Return of Television

What shows are filling up your dvr this week?

Thinking blue everyone!!!! #itfdb

Happy Wednesday,

Story Sunday

One of my favorite stories to read aloud is Martina, the Beautiful Cockroach.  It is a Cuban folktale about a cockroach on her 21st day has to choose to give her leg  in marriage:-)  Martina's grandmother tells her to use the coffee test on any potential suitor to see their true colors.

After we finished reading it, we started to think about how we choose who our closest friends are.  I had students come up with a test that they could use to see how people would react to them.

This one is about asking someone to play. 

This test involves, "accidentally" forgetting to give one person candy when passing it out.

This boy is going to "accidentally" step on someones foot and see how they react.

Many are still working on creating their test.  Interesting conversations came up about what would be requirements for a friend.  Some students wanted to make a test that was about whether or not someone else was just like them.  So we talked about how maybe our friends don't have to be just like us or like the exact same things.

Anyway my class loved it and my Spanish speakers were so glad to help me read the Spanish words interspersed into the story.  If possible, find a copy that comes with a CD audio version...also fun to listen to.

Happy Sunday,

Classroom Organization With Tables

This is my 12th year of teaching.  I made it through about 3 months before the mess of desks drove me crazy.   In my district class size just goes up and up; tables have saved some of my sanity with the 30+ kids.  Shinguards would be required for moving around.  So I thought I would share some of how I organize all the stuff my chickadees use on a daily basis.

Drawers-
This is where students store projects and papers they are not finished with.  They also have mile marker cards (a track walking/running recess thing) and other personal items.  Many of my glasses wearing students keep their cases in this space.

Cubbies-
Bookbags and Reader's Studio items are kept here.   That is all.

Supplies-
All supplies, besides pencils, are stored on the counter.  Students grab what they need and take it back to their table.  I also have three tubs of extras if they can't find the color they need or if someone else in the group is already using it.

Binders, Folders, and Spirals-
This summer my roommate was getting rid of the two binder holding shelves....and I think they have found a perfect new home.  Each student has a binder with dividers for each subject.  (This is a new thing for me this year....I will let you know how I feel about it at the end of the year.)  They also keep their folders for math work on these shelves and spirals for their writing journals.  One side has the girls' stuff and the others has the boys'.

Happy Saturday,

Five for Friday..Reading, Writing, and Math

Welcome to 3rd grade this happy #stillhoteventhoughitisseptember Friday!

We did my favorite lesson about three types of readers....pretender, dutiful, or engaged.  You can read more about it here, here, and here.  The kids LOVE and ask to "practice" again.  I tell them they get to "practice" everyday!

We started some math workshop this week.  We have "math around the room."  It is ridiculous how much kids love this!

 Build-an-array

 Math Reading

We practiced making and then drawing our mental images.

We have been looking at authors who can help us be better writers.  Obviously we need and anchor chart to keep track of all the great ideas we can refer to.

We read one of my all time favorite books, Martina the Beautiful Cockroach.  It's a folktale about a cockroach who has suitors and she has to choose the right one.  Such a fun read!  

Happy Friday,