K-2 Linky and Charlotte's Web All Together Now

Here is what I woke up!  Hello March??  It snowed today and we got a two hour late start....which means school started at 9:35 and everyone is happier with two more hours of sleep! 

If you are looking for a ton of amazing K-2 blogs, search no longer.  Jeannie @ Kindergarten Lifestyle is having a linky party for K-2 blogs to join in!  I have found so many new friends!

We are reading Charlotte's Web during our Reading Round-Up time.  I am not one who loves having the whole class read the same thing, at the same time.  Because they are always all over the place with reading speed.   But I am doing it, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Charlotte's Web we will finish reading by April 24th, when the new edition comes out.

Here is what I am doing to help organize kiddos who may need a little help to keep from falling behind.  I have planned for them to read a chapter a day.  I put the days and the chapters on the chart.  The final box in the row, is for when they start working on the questions that go along with the chapters.  Each student has initials on a sticky flag and as they work through the book, they keep track for themselves, and for me, of where they are.  Hopefully this will keep us working together, so we all finish in time for "Charlotte and Wilbur" Day.  How do you help students stay on track with assigned reading?


Happy Wednesday,

 

Day 3: Read My Shirt and Reading Help

The Girls

Read Across America Day 3:  Read My Shirt Day.  25 of 27 students were able to find a clever shirt to wear...and no inappropriate ones to cover up! 

The Boys

 Here is yesterday's strange conversation about getting ready for Read My Shirt Day:
Student 1:  "Do you have a shirt with words?"
Stuentt 2:  "No, I am going to Wal-Mart tonight."
Student 1: "I like to go to Wal-Mart on Thursday nights"

Stumped me!  Any thoughts on special events at Wal-Mart, on Thursdays?

 

Can You Help?  I need some ideas from my blogging family.  During Reading Round-Up, my group of readers is reading Charlotte's Web.  There are about 30 readers, all fluent and good readers.  There still is quite a bit of variety in the speed with which the read.  We meet for 30 minutes, four days a week and I assign a set amount of pages for them to read.  What do I do with the kids who get there first.  Right now I have them reread, so the text stays with them.  Thoughts, ideas, suggestions...what do you all do?





We read Oh the Thinks You Can Think, another of my favorite Dr. Seuss books and Abby @ The Inspired Apple has the cutest little unit using the books.  So we made our own "Thinks" and had some clever things to think.

Think of going down a slide into a T-Rex

Each student traced and cut out the pieces for their think.  They wrote their think on paper, with Sharpie, and then drew their mental image for what they think.
They turned out pretty cute.  Thanks Abby for the fun idea.

Happy Wednesday!
Laurie
PS  Some of our Potato Characters are making it to class and I just can't wait to show you what some kiddos have come up with:

Hagrid

Fancy Nancy

Fly Guy

Splat the Cat

Stripes, Spiders, and Science, Oh My!

Read Across America Day 2:  Stripes Day!  We read Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books.  Then we drew silly teachers and silly subjects they teach.  Mrs. Saoud at Primary Graffiti has an adorable Diffendoofer freebie.  Some of my creative kiddos had some interesting ideas for things they would like to learn.

Mrs. Upside who teaches about polka-dot and striped animals

Mr. Carder teaches card tricks.

Mr. Cocy teaches us to take care of goats, and chickens, and cows, and dogs, and baby dogs, and to take care of lions.

Mr. Beef teaches meat and Mr. Wire teaches electricity.

Jobs at a farm, objects at a farm, purpose of a farm, and who lives at a farm.

During reading round-up, where all our 2nd graders switch for reading instruction, we are beginning to read Charlotte's Web.  (The 60th Anniversary is April 24th)  We built a little schema about farms and Charlotte's Web.

3 students who have not experienced the magic of Charlotte's Web!

Also, as a whole class, we (again) went through each step of the Scientific Method.
Question:  How many drops of water will the top of a penny hold.
Hypothesis:  Answers may vary, depending on student.
Materials:  penny, water, water dropper
Plan:  Place penny on flat surface, add drops of water one at a time, until water goes over edge.

Our Scientific Method Chart

Results:  The penny held 14 drops of water.

 Scientific Process Page

Happy Tuesday,
Laurie