Happy Halloween!

 The 2nd graders could not wait to get their costumes on and celebrate Halloween!  They all looked fantastic!  I hope everyone is having a fun and safe Halloween evening!

  

Electronic Day

 On Thursday the students were so excited to celebrate our first banana bingo with Electronic Day.  Throughout a school day, the class earns points by transitioning quickly and quietly back to our seats.  When we've earned 5 points, we get to add a banana to our banana bingo board.  Once we get a bingo, we brainstorm special ways to celebrate.  The class votes, and once an idea is used, it can't be repeated.  This is a fun way for us to move efficiently in our classroom!

The students enjoyed playing games with friends, listening to music, and taking pictures around the classroom on Electronic Day!

What Turns You into a Crankenstein?

This week we read the funny book "Crankenstein" by Samantha Berger.  This story takes you through many examples of  what makes the main character very cranky.  At the end, the reader is surprised to find out the main character is just a normal little boy!  We shared stories and examples of what makes us cranky.  The class shared examples of snow that comes too early, doing chores, and waking up in the morning.  We used our ideas to put together a class book.  Each student came up with a main idea and three details to support that idea.  We're still finishing up our writing, but we finished making our Crankensteins on Friday.  They turned out great!

Writing Workshop

 Right before we went to 2 weeks of distance learning, we worked on creating our writing binders.  The students brought in pictures to make their writing binders into a special place to hold all of their 2nd grade writing.  I love this process so much.  They enjoy seeing each other's pictures and talking about their family, friends, and pets.  The pictures also help them think of new topics if they get stuck in their writing ideas.

Since we've been back in the classroom, we've been learning about spelling tools to help us if we get stuck on how to spell words.  The students have been putting to practice using the word wall, their individual dictionaries, and stretching out words and underlining if they are still unsure so we can conference about it.  We've also been learning about adding details to our writing.  I've been enjoying reading all of their stories during our writing block each day.  This class really enjoys writing, and many of them choose it as a Daily 5 choice as well!

You're Finally Here! Books

 The students recently finished writing their first book of 2nd grade.  On the first day of school we read the book "You're Finally Here!"  by Melanie Watt.  After we finished reading, the students recorded on a sticky note about 1 event they did over the summer that kept them away from 2nd grade for so long!

                                                                  

                                               

The next step in the process was to use a bubble map to record 2 more ideas about where they had been all summer.  They also wrote down an idea about what they are looking forward to in this school year.  We then took our ideas and wrote them into complete sentences focusing on beginning with a capital letter, ending with an end mark, and making sure that the sentence makes sense.  After conferencing their sentences with me, the students wrote their sentences in their booklets and illustrated each page.  They turned out so cute, and the students love reading each other's books down on the rug. 

5 Bee Promise

 The 2nd graders learned about our 5 Bee Promise in the first weeks of school.

"Bee" a Good Listener
"Bee" a Hard Worker
"Bee" Responsible
"Bee"lieve in Yourself
"Bee" Kind

 The 5 Bees represent how we work, play, and treat each other.  A specific book was read aloud to go with with each "Bee."  We then took time to discuss why each "Bee" is important at both home and school and what it looks like in our classroom.

Once the entire Bee Promise was introduced, the students received their bee punch tickets.  Each day I recognize one student at the end of the day for being a hard worker, good listener, being kind, being responsible, or believing in him or herself.  I explain to the class what I noticed in this student throughout the day that ties into our 5 Bee Promise.   That student gets a punch on his or her ticket.  Each day there are so many students I could recognize.  This class is very kind and hard working!

Once a student has earned all 8 punches, he or she can look through our Best "Bee"havior Catalog.  They will also have a chance to earn a punch every Friday by bringing back their homework.

2nd Grade Sunny Students Art Project

 We have finished up our Sunny Student art project!  I love how bright and colorful their suns turned out.  Whenever we do an art project we generally start with a model, but I love how they all turn out so unique and individual to the student!