Happy Fraturday, friends! We were a tiny bit late to the Five for Friday party but think about it this way... just when you think your blog stalking is over from the Friday link ups, we show up! Dadadaaaaaa RUNGS OF READING!
Check out what we've been up to in 2nd grade, the Reading Room and life in general and leave some comments so we can come check out your little section of the interwebs as well :)
My class this year is a chatty bunch of munchkins with a whole lot of energy. I've found that brain breaks are the best way to make it through our long days with maintained engagement. My class' favorite is from Ice Age 4-Continental Drift. The kids literally chant the words and have the whole dance memorized. I think we might even perform it sometime for the school... they're pretty good!
Side note: did anyone else notice the full moon and the insane energy that came into school with the children today? Just wondering... Miss McBride loves brain breaks! :)
As for an update on life... you know from reading this little ol blog of ours that I LOVE fall. I especially love New England fall. It's so beautiful and the colors keep me in constant awe and amazement. This past weekend, my sweet sister was home from college for Columbus Day and it was so nice to spend time with her. On Saturday we set out with a friend of ours to go pumpkin picking. Long story short, we didn't find a pumpkin patch... whooops! But we did find a beautiful spot next to a little pond for some pictures. And we did get to go apple picking the following day with our parents. I just love the colors in this picture. And I sure love my sister!! :)
Stacy, on the other hand... did find a pumpkin patch :)
My family got to take one of our favorite October day-trips to Wildwood Farms to go pumpkin picking. The farm sits on top of a mountain and has the most spectacular views of New England foliage. Although it was cloudy that day, we had so much fun in the quiet countryside, picking the perfect pumpkin, feeding carrots to the horses, and enjoying time as a family. We even convinced my step-sons to join us which made it even more special!
One of our favorite blogs to follow is Lyndsey's A Year of Many Firsts. A few weeks ago, I purchased her We Are Problem Detectives Problem/Solution packet. I FINALLY got a chance to use it in the Reading Room with my 2nd grade group! They ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! The lesson is super fun and super motivating! On Day 1, I introduced the secret envelope that I found in my mailbox that morning...they totally ate it up! Inside the secret envelope was a letter from the Problem Detective Club and Case Files that we needed to solve! We worked together to identify the problem in each case file and brainstormed solutions. I provided cues and support and wrote student responses on chart paper for us to reference.
On Day 2, I decided to pair up students to see if they could read a case file on their own and work together to identify the problem and solution. I told them that we would be mailing these off to the Problem Detective Club for their approval....you should have SEEN their faces! It was hysterical! I was so excited to see how engaged they were in the lesson as they were working. You could hear a PIN drop in the room...it was so quiet. While they were working, I provided support and cues to groups that needed it. Interestingly, they could easily identify the problem. It was the solution that some partnerships had difficulty with. Similar to my observation on Day 1, they often explained WHY the problem occurred rather than ways to fix it.
I can't WAIT for Monday when I reveal a second mystery envelope from the Problem Detective Club with their Certificates of Membership! Now that we are all members of the club, I will continue working on problem/solution during guided reading, moving more towards independent application.
And FINALLY, speaking of detectives, we can't WAIT for the Super Sleuths Blog Hop to begin next week!! 28 Reading Specialist/Literacy Coaches will share best practices in literacy, 28 FREE products, and a chance to win one of SIX TpT gift certificates! Mark your calendar and "like" our facebook page for more details and daily updates! Here is a sneak peek at who will be participating! I'll bet you recognize a few faces!
Have a wonderful week, friends!!!
I love the Problem Detectives resource. I will definitely have to check that out! That was definitely a good lead into our blog hop, and I can't wait til next weekend. I am so excited to see what everyone posts. Sorry about the first row of thumbnails being staggered like that. I still can't figure out why it does that. I guess the main thing is that the links work, right?? Have a great week guys!
ReplyDeleteCarla
Comprehension Connection