Fun with Technology

We have been doing some exciting activities involving technology! First, we were able to Skype with a real published author, Nancy Krulik. She has written many books including the series Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo and George Brown, Class Clown.The children enjoyed hearing about what it's like to be a published author, and even got to ask some questions about her work.

We got to listen to her read a section of her latest George Brown book!

Last week we were able to join Mrs. Madden's and Mrs. Dunn's class in the library for a special Dr. Seuss activity with the iPads. We had to hunt for and scan QR codes scattered around the library, and then record our answers on paper.  In case you don't know, QR codes are those weird black and white squares you see everywhere now. You just scan them with your iPad or iPhone and it links you to information. They look like this:

Example of a QR code.

It was a lot of fun working with children from other classes and grades, all while learning more about Dr. Seuss!

Great teamwork to answer all the questions!

Our Fables and Folk Tales Project is Complete!

It's finally here! Each child studied one particular fable or folk tale and completed an extensive book report on it. Then they chose a character from the story and took on the role of that character to tell you about their story. They did a fantastic job! We hope you enjoy! **Second graders - be sure to leave a comment below with your thoughts about our awesome movie.**  Mrs Mack's Fables and Folk Tales from Jennifer Mack on Vimeo.
RL2.2 Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

We had a blast today celebrating the great Dr. Seuss during our kick-off to the Seussical month of March. We joined with thousands of schools around the country this morning for NEA's Read Across America. After listening to the inspiring read aloud Oh The Places You'll Go, we had a great time listening to different music from around the world and working together to figure out from which continent the music had originated. Thanks again to our special reader for making today so memorable!

Mrs. B reads Oh The Places You'll Go

Studying the map to figure out where the mystery music came from!

We also have decorated our door after one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books - The Sneetches. Each student decorated a star to be as unique as they are. Special thanks to Ms. Rogers for helping us put it together!

Fables and Folk Tales from around the globe

During our extensive study of fables and folk tales from around the world, the children spent a lot of time analyzing the characteristics of each (Common Core Standard RL2.2), as well as comparing and contrasting many of the stories (Common Core Standard RL2.9). To conclude the unit of study, they each chose one fable or folk tale to study in depth. By completing a book report on one story, they were able to use their higher order thinking skills to analyze the book, as well as relate how the moral applies to their lives. Here we are hard at work putting together a special slide show for you.

Stay tuned!!

Upcoming Happenings in Room 210

Hello again! I apologize for the lapse in postings - hopefully all of the following information will help get everyone back up to speed. Please also check out our updated wish list tab above, as there are several things that we need for the classroom. Thanks in advance! Here is an overview of the exciting things to come in second grade... Reading - We are coming to the conclusion of our study of fables and folktales. The children have learned so much and are working on demonstrating that knowledge through a final book report on a chosen fable or folktale. They can't wait for you to see their beautiful finished work! (Common Core RL.2.2 Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.)  Next month we will switch our focus to non-fiction texts. The children will learn about the organization and special features that help readers gain the most information out of a text. (Common Core RI.2.5 Know and use various text features (e.g., captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently.) Math - We have just begun our unit on metric measurement and continue building our knowledge of basic math facts. Before the February break, they will take the Math in Focus Mid-Year Exam which covers all concepts they have learned since September. This is a lengthy exam that will be broken up over three days.  Writing - Our creative writing stories almost finished! Next we will be moving on to researching and writing our polar animal reports. Stay tuned for more details! (Common Core W.2.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations.)) Science - After learning about the Arctic and the Antarctic, we will soon move on to learning about penguins, along with other polar animals. 'The Penguin Lady' is scheduled to visit us on February 10th! 

Dr. Seuss fun!

We joined wih Mrs. Rec's third graders yesterday to learn more about Dr. Seuss. We had a blast!

What's the moral of this story?

Second graders have been working hard on the genre of Fables and Folktales. We have read many different stories and learned all about the particular features of these types of stories. After completing a book report on a favorite fable or folk tale, we put together a slide show of the children sharing the moral of their particular story. We hope you enjoy it!

Please leave us a comment telling us which fable is your favorite!