tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62724323109144561912024-03-05T01:43:47.655-08:00The Grade Two ZooLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-3232013828563657342011-08-05T09:47:00.000-07:002011-08-05T09:47:27.111-07:00Reading Tent!I found a cute idea on Pinterest for making a simple A-Frame Tent with a couple pieces of wood, a dowel, and a twin bed sheet. Of course I had to make it right away. I simplified things a little bit - made it cheaper and easier. It turned out awesome! I know my kids will love to cozy up in this little tent during the Daily 5. <br />
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Here's the link for the original tutorial I found: <a href="http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2011/05/free-pattern-month-day-11-cakies-a.html#delighted">A-Frame Tent</a><br />
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I didn't do ANY sewing just to make things easier. I cut the 48" dowel in half to make a shorter tent that will fit better in my classroom. I bought a twin flat sheet at Wal-Mart and folded it in half the hot dog way. Then I wrapped the edges around the legs and secured them with rubber bands. It folds up easily if I ever need to get it out of the way. Also, I can easily remove the sheet and throw it in the wash if needed. To save money - look for the right size of wood in the lumber section rather than the area with the mouldings. It looks just fine and is cheaper to purchase. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIZrquJfii5xb46yMis3f_66OrpPn2xKbvV48KjemDLYtES4-0VCvbyA4q8oJCs6rXjKX5XJ9Xa2NcX3Hz4ib3XqgEdKw4B4W1imXTZh2_xQ-vVoi3f-jyEjFYphoE5wI8aYdxMXfRSo/s1600/SAM_0728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIZrquJfii5xb46yMis3f_66OrpPn2xKbvV48KjemDLYtES4-0VCvbyA4q8oJCs6rXjKX5XJ9Xa2NcX3Hz4ib3XqgEdKw4B4W1imXTZh2_xQ-vVoi3f-jyEjFYphoE5wI8aYdxMXfRSo/s640/SAM_0728.JPG" t$="true" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">Next project: Coordinating pillows! I bought pillow cases that matched the sheet used for the tent. I plan to put vinyl covers over them (to keep the classroom ickys out!) and then the pillow cases. I'll put velcro on the opening to keep the pillow cases secure, but easy to remove when they need to be cleaned! Here's a quick picture of the supplies:</div><div align="left"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEEewTMPiAE4Oj5o_KcnydH9qwc8DXwJHMtLtm0BsXv38xm1DU_KIBXwDSXMz618a7-u0DjwXmifuqpNq67AES6Zlf1BGmAQwQbn5VWmdlInagRbF_4Bff-SU_M_Y53fd3zUtn1-3-Y4/s1600/SAM_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEEewTMPiAE4Oj5o_KcnydH9qwc8DXwJHMtLtm0BsXv38xm1DU_KIBXwDSXMz618a7-u0DjwXmifuqpNq67AES6Zlf1BGmAQwQbn5VWmdlInagRbF_4Bff-SU_M_Y53fd3zUtn1-3-Y4/s320/SAM_0727.JPG" t$="true" width="213" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Simple, cheap projects to add some comfy spaces for reading to your classroom!</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-55365995513394654742011-07-31T17:37:00.000-07:002011-07-31T17:39:53.653-07:00Daily 5: Word WorkI've been reflecting on the Daily 5 as the new school year approaches. After doing some thinking and reading up on the sisters' website I've decided to make some changes to the "word work" choice in my classroom. <br />
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I've decided to scale things down this year and remember the motto K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid!) when it comes to word work and work on writing. Too many choices caused confusion for my students and the addition of irresistable "center-like" games and activities to word work took away from practice time for high frequency and spelling patterns. <br />
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This year I will follow the recommendations of the two sisters (authors of The Daily 5) more closely.<br />
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I plan to have students practice their assigned words for 10 minutes only once stamina is built. They will take a timer with them and move into additional read-to-self time for the rest of the choice (10-15 minutes). When just focusing on making words that will be plenty of time for focused practice. I've also considered trying to combine some of our Words Their Way daily work (sorting, abc order, sentences, etc) into this time, but that would require all of my students to do word work each day and eliminate the element of choice. :(<br />
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Students who choose word work will have the following options for materials:<br />
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1. Whiteboards & CoLoReD Markers <br />
-This will be the only time they get to use the "fancy" markers, so they'll LOVE it!<br />
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2. Magnetic Letters & Cookie Sheets<br />
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3. Salt Box <br />
-I just discovered this idea online and I'm so excited about it - pour about 1/4" of salt in the bottom of a container. Students use their finger to spell the word in the salt, give it a little shake and it disappears! I'll also have fancy unsharpened pencils available to use to spell the words. Sometimes it's easier that way when the words are fairly long.<br />
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4. Alphabet Stamps<br />
-I bought "smelly" stamp pads last year that the kids love to use for this activity.<br />
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5. Stone Spell<br />
-The sisters suggest having students use tiny shells to form their words. They suggested dried beans as another option, which is what I was going to do...until I found these awesome "river rocks" at Family Dollar. I bought three bags at $1 each, which will be plenty for 2-3 students to do this activity at once. <br />
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This is what it looks like:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXFRbTxcPAslkA3Sk9HMurc4w1iczJ_lJTG2RxmRzrhE04ZalGpEgCOenoEEXxhLvn67grCGTaGWKXUVh8MVsLbfQ51iASVFqbn6USxiI9vB3DPdswYDCiH06JUi6MUE4OvZf2mQi8zA/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXFRbTxcPAslkA3Sk9HMurc4w1iczJ_lJTG2RxmRzrhE04ZalGpEgCOenoEEXxhLvn67grCGTaGWKXUVh8MVsLbfQ51iASVFqbn6USxiI9vB3DPdswYDCiH06JUi6MUE4OvZf2mQi8zA/s320/Capture.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
That's it! Nice and simple. I'm hoping this will help my students be less worried about the materials and more focused on making the words. There will be a natural limit to how many students are at word work at once with only 2 of each option set up to grab off the word work shelf. I plan to stick with these five options for the entire school year. I fear they will get bored, but I'm going to take the sisters word for it and trust they won't! I will introduce and model each activity at the beginning of the year - waiting till they show independence with one before starting another. Just thought I'd share my plan. <br />
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How do YOU manage word work during the Daily 5?Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-45090742770133546612011-07-28T19:52:00.000-07:002011-07-28T19:52:34.063-07:00Creating Cozy SpacesReflecting on last school year, one thing I noticed is there wasn't enough "comfy" spaces in my classroom for students to sit and read/write during the Daily 5. I'm trying to think of some easy ways to give my classroom a boost with some alternative seating.<br />
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I do have a set of colorful cushions I bought with bonus points from Scholastic. The kids seemed to like using those, but I want to have more options. Our "meeting" rug has space for 2-3 kids sprawled out and I have four of those ever-popular "crate seats" I made last summer.<br />
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What does everyone else do to create cozy spaces for reading and writing in their classroom?<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I just ordered these chairs... as my "I really don't need this but am going to buy it for my classroom anyway" purchase for the school year. I love them already!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ifurn.com/pics/8/guidecraft-usa/blue-kids-table-and-chairs.G6406.2.800.jpg" rel="sexylightbox[prod_images]" title="Blue Kids Table and Chairs A kids table and chair set with colorful blue fabric."><img alt="Blue Kids Table and Chairs" src="http://www.ifurn.com/pics/8/guidecraft-usa/blue-kids-table-and-chairs.G6406.2.300.jpg" title="Blue Kids Table and Chairs" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;">I'd love to get this leaf canopy from Ikea, but you can't buy online and we don't have a store nearby. :(</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/lova-bed-canopy__19281_PE104510_S4.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;">I've also seen a few ideas on Pinterest that I want to try....</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://littleg.tumblr.com/post/6934976630/craftjunkie-pillow-case-bed-inspiration-sew">Pillow Case Bed</a> </div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><img height="276" id="il_fi" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lna6jvllvj1qhbczco1_400.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="281" /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mycakies.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-frame-tent.html">DIY A-Frame Tent</a></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/94552249@N00/5697877601/" title="the A-frame tent tutorial by rubyellen, on Flickr"><img alt="the A-frame tent tutorial" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5063/5697877601_6db2dfc37e_b.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;">Any other great ideas out there??</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-4189732241968473512011-07-21T07:05:00.000-07:002011-07-21T07:05:11.889-07:00Intervention BlockHi all! I know I haven't blogged in FOREVER. The end of the school year got crazy...everyone warned me it would, but I didn't realize how busy things would get. Next year I'll know better! The good news is I made it successfully through my first year as a teacher and I've been enjoying a wonderful summer off. I love it. Although I haven't been *just* relaxing as I signed up to be on a couple of teams for some summer planning to improve our school. They have been motivating and it's nice to stay in touch with everyone from school over the break. <br />
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We are working on changing our schedule to allow time for Professional Learning Communities (PLC's) and also an Intervention Block for each grade level. I'm hoping everyone embraces the changes, because this could be very good for the students. I'm excited that we will finally have a consistent schedule for specials, which will allow our second grade team to meet and plan together daily. <br />
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We haven't had an intervention block before, so I'm hoping to get some ideas to take full advantage of that time...share what you do at your school in the comments: Do you have an intervention block at your school? How do you run it? How long is it? Daily? Do you provide enrichment opportunities for students who do not need intervention - how do you handle that? Do you share students amongst your grade-level to make groups? Give me all the details!!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-33126945621847507772011-04-14T21:03:00.000-07:002011-04-14T21:03:50.286-07:00Fun Fraction BookWe are up to our knees with fractions in Room 19 this week! I ordered this awesome book <em>Whole-y Cow! Fractions Are Fun</em> by Taryn Souders from Scholastic awhile back. Ever since then, I've been waiting and waiting for our fraction unit to arrive so I could read it with my class. It is very silly and I know they are going to just eat.it.up! <br />
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On each set of pages there is a situation with the cow that incorporates some sort of fraction (of a set or of a whole - halves, thirds, fourths, tenths). Then it asks questions to which there is a fractional answer. Since we are working hard on learning which number "goes on the top" and which number "goes on the bottom" I thought it would be nice to have a recording sheet for my kids to write down the fractions as we went along. We may work through it orally as a whole class first and then have the activity sheet in a center later where 3/18 of them can work on it at a time while getting a closer look at the illustrations. ; ) I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do yet, but I do know that I love bringing <u>fun</u> read-alouds into our math block. <br />
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Before I made this document I "googled" to see if there was already one floating out there in cyber-space. While I didn't find what I was looking for exactly...I did find a whole packet of activities the author created to accompany the book - there's some good stuff in there. Here's the link: <a href="http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/TeachersGuides/FractionsAreFun.pdf">Fractions Are Fun</a><br />
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Click on the link below to download my recording sheet: <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5N2IyZjdmZjktMjFkNC00MjI5LTgxNmYtOGEzZmEyYWQwNzM4&hl=en&authkey=CJ6ttegG">Whole-y Cow! Fractions Are Fun</a></span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-26690259393274450052011-04-12T16:49:00.000-07:002011-04-12T16:49:50.107-07:00Coin SongJust a quick post about a poster I made to accompany a fun song about coins and their values! I'm loving the fun learning songs on the CD (Brainy Beats) from <a href="http://www.teachertipster.com/">http://www.teachertipster.com/</a>. You can also buy it on iTunes and he has some videos of the songs on his website. <br />
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My class just adores the "Honey Bunny" track, so I made this little poster to go with it. I also glued a real coin next to each line, so they would get a visual reminder of what each coin looks like as they sang the name and value. One student puts on the bunny ears (Target Dollar Spot!!) and is our leader. They point to each line as we sing it and we ALL boogie down during the "Hey honey bunny, I know my money money!" parts. It's so much fun. The song is great without this visual, but I'm hoping it will help my students who are still confusing nickels and dimes to connect the value and name to what the coin looks like. :) Honey Bunny is now a Morning Meeting FAVE in Room 19. :)<br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5NjQwZDE3OGEtZmViOS00MDczLWI2MWMtODJkOTJmZjY1ZmQw&hl=en&authkey=CNDXgLgG">Honey Bunny Mini-Poster</a></em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-64353895697446019662011-04-04T20:06:00.000-07:002011-04-05T15:04:00.449-07:00Number Sense Card Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My class has fallen in LOVE with "I Have, Who Has" and I'm not one to argue with excitement! Expect to see more and more of these decks in my posts. They can't get enough. :) I thought this would be a great deck for reinforcing mental addition and subtraction using place value. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What I love about this game is that it is quick enough to do for a fun activity during morning meeting or if there are a few spare minutes at the end of math or at dismissal time.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click on the link below to download:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5YjdmM2IzNTUtZGQ4OC00ZWE5LWJjMWItYmM3NjIwNzc5OGU2&hl=en&authkey=CLvYu_sH"><img border="0" height="21" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6FWpQgyp44JYkdcqCQKhjsIxFNvuLM1Kx4BWO4WRBi4hdlGTtwewJrQAlgSymM91J6Jx9jydEpHtqX-xCK_Sy8TNVdqwT-grjORTuzMQhCPDu0_waaihludrwrVmoZ8kdcHiTUwa32Q/s400/IHaveWhoHasNumb_Kindergarten.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-48743630116113188592011-04-04T16:42:00.000-07:002011-04-04T16:49:36.498-07:00Book Giveaway Winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCvVhjKj8Ifg0AVnol8UMya53nQJP2XMuf9ILEGJpj1Gafux7ii80wYf795WWF_eit6lOXXPmu_fzInd3XI-xTiZqPo1oPucsBhkzA9H0BWFBS1obGkii9nMy36UI_NX7kFpp44gL62Y/s1600/Ban15_BannerDay.png" imageanchor="1" style="height: 438px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 618px;"><img border="0" height="390" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCvVhjKj8Ifg0AVnol8UMya53nQJP2XMuf9ILEGJpj1Gafux7ii80wYf795WWF_eit6lOXXPmu_fzInd3XI-xTiZqPo1oPucsBhkzA9H0BWFBS1obGkii9nMy36UI_NX7kFpp44gL62Y/s400/Ban15_BannerDay.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please e-mail me (<a href="mailto:thegradetwozoo@gmail.com">thegradetwozoo@gmail.com</a>) to claim your prize! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Congratulations on winning & enjoy your fun new books. :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you all for entering! </span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-33004643846747972562011-04-03T15:55:00.000-07:002011-04-03T20:27:34.953-07:00Place Value Card GameI made up this quick deck of "I Have, Who Has?" cards for reinforcing place value. This will be pretty easy for most of my class, but some still could use the skill-building. <br />
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Of course, when I was about 95% done making these I thought I would google and see if there were any available...and I found a great page on MathWire with lots of different decks. I'm going to be printing the coin set ASAP! :) Check it out: <a href="http://www.mathwire.com/whohas/whohas.html">http://www.mathwire.com/whohas/whohas.html</a> <br />
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Click on the link below to grab my deck:<br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5YjYyZjZlNGUtMzNiMy00ZDg5LWJlN2UtMmUzYTk2NDUzZDA4&hl=en&authkey=CMGXzcIG"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I Have, Who Has? Base-Ten</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Remember to enter my book giveaway if you haven't yet! You can enter for a chance to win until midnight - I will post the winner tomorrow. :)</span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-74801259393226069022011-03-31T12:38:00.000-07:002011-03-31T12:38:03.628-07:00Book Giveaway!<div style="text-align: left;">I'm so excited to have reached<b> 100</b> followers on my blog. It's time to do some celebrating! :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am sincerely surprised that one-hundred people are actually interested in what I have to say and share. Thank you so much for following my blog and also for sharing all of YOUR wonderful ideas with me through your own blogs or through your comments. I am a better teacher because of it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
In honor of this "bloggy" milestone I've decided to host a fun little giveaway..."zoo-style". One lucky winner will get their very own hardcover copies of <u>Put Me in the Zoo</u> and <u>If I Ran the Zoo</u>, which celebrate differences and imagination - two things I am <i>all about</i> with my little learners.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="http://i43.tower.com/images/mm107326311/put-me-in-zoo-lopshire-robert-paperback-cover-art.jpg" width="142" /> <img height="200" src="http://covers.openlibrary.org/b/id/11875-L.jpg" width="144" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Here's how to enter:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can have up to <b>two</b> chances to win. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Simply follow the steps below and leave a comment about each entry.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. Become a follower of my blog: <a href="http://thegradetwozoo.blogspot.com/">The Grade Two Zoo</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2. Spread the word about my blog and the giveaway!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Just include a quick note about this giveaway with a link to my blog in one of your posts. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Feel free to use my brand-spankin-new blog button to create the link.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrwAem3ihrZ0Bns5V0hkcpfF-eQnNNbfEPZQgVgjz3HXn06ZHe5nAd5pZfJm_4PCW2bkHlqmbmk6hDI1uJ5etuZgJHJuCWlAeN_FoMrLVbyJAGosVaYrzt8Fq2FREJMpgDDDSk8qTY3E/s1600/bloggrabbutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrwAem3ihrZ0Bns5V0hkcpfF-eQnNNbfEPZQgVgjz3HXn06ZHe5nAd5pZfJm_4PCW2bkHlqmbmk6hDI1uJ5etuZgJHJuCWlAeN_FoMrLVbyJAGosVaYrzt8Fq2FREJMpgDDDSk8qTY3E/s1600/bloggrabbutton.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The giveaway will end on <b>Sunday, April 3rd.</b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The winner will be posted here on <b>Monday, April 4th.</b></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-79023027096022663952011-03-29T18:15:00.000-07:002011-03-29T18:15:34.439-07:00Monster ExchangeMy class is getting ready to participate in a fun writing project...the MoNsTeR eXcHaNgE!! <br />
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We will draw our very own monsters and write a descriptive paragraph about them. Then, we will send a digital copy of only our description to another second grade class. We will recieve their descriptions and create a drawing that "matches" the writing. Then, we'll all get to take a look at the original illustrations and see how close they match! :)<br />
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I'm SUPER excited to try this with my kiddos!<br />
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I'll post more about the process once we get underway. I heard about this project from another teacher and we plan to share through our school websites, but there is also a "Monster Exchange" website which will walk you through the process. Click on the picture below to check it out! (Don't you just<em> love </em>the cute clipart Kristen from <a href="http://first-grade-teachers.blogspot.com/">First Grade Teaching</a> created - stinkin' adorable!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.monsterexchange.org/"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUM27h1zYOYuc4X7o0EQ3JVFbqAfWd3jz8AqszZp4clCBj6iLhiOgMA1TGkPXcmf-r6s6yE6MKFBU0RedeVZZEP0LeaC6GhajC3f8DruAV9zpyKdTjmOlx_V1QoG1xVEj5G3jxOK1E0M/s320/monster2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(clipart by </span><a href="http://first-grade-teachers.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">first-grade-teachers.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-78560916531237355862011-03-29T16:36:00.000-07:002011-03-29T16:36:29.178-07:00Blog Button<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made a button for my blog! :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now to work on adding everyone else's buttons to my sidebar - I'll get there eventually!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thegradetwozoo.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrwAem3ihrZ0Bns5V0hkcpfF-eQnNNbfEPZQgVgjz3HXn06ZHe5nAd5pZfJm_4PCW2bkHlqmbmk6hDI1uJ5etuZgJHJuCWlAeN_FoMrLVbyJAGosVaYrzt8Fq2FREJMpgDDDSk8qTY3E/s1600/bloggrabbutton.jpg" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-469344022878821042011-03-29T16:03:00.000-07:002011-03-29T16:03:50.255-07:00Blog Design Giveaway!<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I've never posted about a giveaway on my blog, but I really really really want to win this one!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ladybug is giving away a SUPER cute Dr. Seuss blog design and I would LOVE to use it to make a classroom blog if I win. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ladybugsteacherfiles.blogspot.com/2011/03/dr-seuss-blog-design-giveaway.html?showComment=1301439552180#c4985237242721000138"><img alt="Ladybug's Teacher Files" src="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/ladybugteacher/ladybugsteacherfilesbutton.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Click on the above graphic to check out Ladybug's blog and "follow" if you don't already! She has some AWESOME resources and ideas. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-37781626855698899532011-03-27T18:12:00.000-07:002011-03-27T18:23:37.175-07:00Classroom Library OrganizationI'm STILL working on my classroom library. It's beginning to feel like a never-ending project. I've stickered most of my fiction and everybody fiction books with level and a sticker to tell the first letter of the authors last name. Those stickers also note which category of fiction the book falls in. I haven't even touched my non-fiction besides leveling them.<br />
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This weekend I got to thinking about how to re-shelve my hoards of books, so they'd be accessible without taking over ALL of my shelf space. I don't like the bins I'm currently using for my chapter books, so I came up with an idea. Why not build shelves just the way I want them? <br />
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Thankfully, Brian is good with measuring, building, etc. so he agreed to make them. Picture four shoeboxes the perfect width to fit a chapter book, glued together side-by-side... he's going to make something very similar (but much nicer looking!) out of wood for me. I think I will probably need 4 or 5 to fit all of my chapter books. Some letters will be combined if they don't have as many books. They will sit on top of my back counter. The kids will be able to leaf through each row easily without removing each book to look at it, so it should stay very neat. I'm SUPER excited about it. Just thought I'd share, since it wasn't something I considered right away! I was "stuck" on using bins of some sort, but I think this will work much better for me and my class.<br />
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Here's what I came up with for how I'd like him to build it:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aPWo063loQM_q8NblLC95c9gNPublETMt2WDBB4RBa2D5s3XFandr4rKGTeSXDDkB86FVmGowLabF0AWL3IMlekN9QB4e4bBV535gevZUghqCaMmRMbp-vblX1ZLdC3C-PZ6FZvLFc4/s1600/shelves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aPWo063loQM_q8NblLC95c9gNPublETMt2WDBB4RBa2D5s3XFandr4rKGTeSXDDkB86FVmGowLabF0AWL3IMlekN9QB4e4bBV535gevZUghqCaMmRMbp-vblX1ZLdC3C-PZ6FZvLFc4/s400/shelves.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Comment and share YOUR best ideas for organizing your classroom library! I'd love to hear what is working for everyone else. <br />
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Organization of my picture books is up next...the book bins I am using just aren't making the cut there either! They are the magazine-style holders that many use for kid's book bins, but I've found for browsing they are very "tippy" and hard to look through without taking them off the shelf...suggestions??Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-8130611711556473572011-03-23T13:36:00.000-07:002011-03-23T14:47:18.300-07:00Measurement ActivityWe had a SNOW DAY today in Wisconsin. Yucky and gross weather for March, but it did give me some time to catch up on things. I had a little time to make a quick measurement activity to help reinforce measuring with inches as the unit and comparing measurements. Our math program uses the metric system almost exclusively, so I try to supplement by using inches/feet measuring within my centers. I'll have my students use rulers to measure the line segments, record their measurements in the data table, and use the information to answer the questions. <br />
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I'm also working on some math problem solving pages involving measurement, which I'll post soon!<br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5ODZlN2ZjMDQtM2JlNi00Y2UzLWEyNmYtODFhMWJkMzM1NTM0&hl=en&authkey=CMj4oaEN">Measurement Data Table & Questions</a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5NDAzMDNlYjAtODAzMi00Y2UxLThmMGYtZGQ3ZWNkZWNlMzBk&hl=en">Line Segments</a></span></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-64116163438916681312011-03-19T11:22:00.000-07:002011-03-19T11:22:32.200-07:00Classroom Library: Where's My Favorite Book?I'm working on re-organizing my classroom library. I've leveled all my books with a small sticker inside the front cover. Now I am in the process of sorting the books into piles....fiction, everybody fiction, and non-fiction. After they are sorted I plan on making separate color-coded A-Z bins for fiction and everybody fiction. For the non-fiction I will use a third color of bin and sort them loosely by the dewey decimal system. <br />
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I think this organization will help my students understand how to find books in the public library and our school library. I made these posters to help my students find their favorite books in the fiction and everybody fiction sections by reminding them of the authors. I underlined the first letter of the author's last name to remind them where to look. I'll hang these next to each section. These just happen to be the books my kids go for and that I have available, but it would be easy to recreate something similar. <br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5OWQxMGYyNDEtNTJjYy00MTkwLWE3ODQtZjdiYzM3MzNjNjhl&hl=en&authkey=CI7lrOgB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Everybody Fiction</span></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div align="center"><br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5YzMzMmFkYTktZTE1My00YjYzLTljYTQtZDM4NGRkZjcwOWMx&hl=en&authkey=CJe7uIQB">Fiction</a></div><div align="center"></div></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-31782083250710999172011-03-06T09:39:00.000-08:002011-03-06T09:59:41.612-08:00Grammar Center<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sentence-Mix-Up-Grammar-Center"><img border="0" height="248" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHS-GRAXmrVmaPb7WoxreDT-lAvXQypl6iFUEB3pXDlFyszoRl1NJ1j5LMWzXVLtNhfOyepYRL1oJMV7fw9gObOXaXMDaxd9Ot72vVwSRn77iWfM6ec8pndxYPXj59cZ7ymbqqXB5qc8/s400/Capture54.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click the image above to check out this fun little grammar center practicing word order in my TpT store! : )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4eO4A1m18PtcyyPyCRbRDu1X6U07rpFbzbuHu4byPmMjQsskh63Nzi903DiJ8jnRthyw2R8RcHDn7UhRNJctyLMy8WEz18mV49jFwN8RWepBugmP6FXmhv_M3hQMKzOZGUR6a_SNXls/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4eO4A1m18PtcyyPyCRbRDu1X6U07rpFbzbuHu4byPmMjQsskh63Nzi903DiJ8jnRthyw2R8RcHDn7UhRNJctyLMy8WEz18mV49jFwN8RWepBugmP6FXmhv_M3hQMKzOZGUR6a_SNXls/s320/Capture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCfTR1nvjnujIAme46pDkxa1r5CfwTKmOSTEjPN7VPsdsOKCgzQecch3LzyiW1YNbl1yzDtnyThD4OI9saAcuBRUdXu1RR6VMLawrRTBCZfPP2FQs8NTX4w54eqlLHc_Catd1yhBX1rM/s1600/Capture1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCfTR1nvjnujIAme46pDkxa1r5CfwTKmOSTEjPN7VPsdsOKCgzQecch3LzyiW1YNbl1yzDtnyThD4OI9saAcuBRUdXu1RR6VMLawrRTBCZfPP2FQs8NTX4w54eqlLHc_Catd1yhBX1rM/s320/Capture1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIDWkdEE1AT2d9FOQ8CoAKcJ_uW6AyF7HWo-3MY59wzFXmjXMeS31Gz7p5OBulCxxECvJISL-nYB7YTpOmxNJcRpaoBfm30iFIMeWZdvH-AWHRBryFhIBeRZYsFk5bZOTL696bRR4UuU/s1600/Capture2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIDWkdEE1AT2d9FOQ8CoAKcJ_uW6AyF7HWo-3MY59wzFXmjXMeS31Gz7p5OBulCxxECvJISL-nYB7YTpOmxNJcRpaoBfm30iFIMeWZdvH-AWHRBryFhIBeRZYsFk5bZOTL696bRR4UuU/s320/Capture2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-46179466765601071612011-03-06T00:27:00.000-08:002011-03-06T09:54:48.600-08:00Math Center<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Down-by-the-Bay-with-Rectangular-Arrays"><img border="0" height="250" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYmg3aHmBdxG9mtyXk0SBVlTVZfDFi491WwQvQfEYjs9KMMTZRn4bNOuUp5wJaN4QCDma-vyDdHcwpW8W492JsxdQlDi7_XvsNNn5IiAgIkwmQdXR-OuEkpPyuprRG-LpFtj7dZD-JzU/s400/downbythebay.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I spent WAY too long making this, but it was fun & I can't wait to use it with my class. I uploaded this file to my brand-new <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Grade-Two-Zoo/Products">Teachers Pay Teachers Store</a> as a $1 download. Click the image above to go and get it! Please follow me on TpT if you like this center. I will be uploading more things there as I create them for my class.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPtHVcqwbBUfFjDiGLx0ynCfCThyphenhyphenl8E88Dp_J_ngk8c8GG5LgyqGza74ymIfkpFJxMEk1ioiKqwp30ctFrYTSL95JD5gTGhT98QDiE9O8i3_pjfSHyCQw0VudbSCNOgUZ0Ng63wPW7LE/s1600/Capture3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPtHVcqwbBUfFjDiGLx0ynCfCThyphenhyphenl8E88Dp_J_ngk8c8GG5LgyqGza74ymIfkpFJxMEk1ioiKqwp30ctFrYTSL95JD5gTGhT98QDiE9O8i3_pjfSHyCQw0VudbSCNOgUZ0Ng63wPW7LE/s320/Capture3.JPG" width="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInKB9nuNPouYlK-cKz_2_DzuFsivhCUvoZ0hjYFzc-dJQQ_mNWa8UxieWz9g3IVEsv72wqDL5xBo8HirzMBSgHB353Y8BMhYgjPU3yN5bXfRbwITpy9_gP5MdwMt3J43bJkTG95fWEjs/s1600/Capture4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInKB9nuNPouYlK-cKz_2_DzuFsivhCUvoZ0hjYFzc-dJQQ_mNWa8UxieWz9g3IVEsv72wqDL5xBo8HirzMBSgHB353Y8BMhYgjPU3yN5bXfRbwITpy9_gP5MdwMt3J43bJkTG95fWEjs/s320/Capture4.JPG" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1C__tVAJ-Am-ZnTfeguufV9Nx4fwmcsTZ3yd6yP5V8-55SGKT7oL9a3coKIDAiXnGwiHRyIOD5eK0hxbwumZF5GatJzjBAZBcqksht4VgcdNON7ATwkIsyLpOS52KYnDBO8GO_RyR-8/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1C__tVAJ-Am-ZnTfeguufV9Nx4fwmcsTZ3yd6yP5V8-55SGKT7oL9a3coKIDAiXnGwiHRyIOD5eK0hxbwumZF5GatJzjBAZBcqksht4VgcdNON7ATwkIsyLpOS52KYnDBO8GO_RyR-8/s320/Capture.JPG" width="251" /></a></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kzR3SmaPh80hXPwuF21_7b86UtZvt5CuUxJ9Ws-SOxQBp9yP9yIJj5lyvWOYEIpwf_iMsE9WxuWcmmQvrKfRApS_VLDGRhZk8EHPh0rCcj2a5hnOF-dGZkEjytqyhGIjVUQLbX7EGrA/s1600/Capture1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="89" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kzR3SmaPh80hXPwuF21_7b86UtZvt5CuUxJ9Ws-SOxQBp9yP9yIJj5lyvWOYEIpwf_iMsE9WxuWcmmQvrKfRApS_VLDGRhZk8EHPh0rCcj2a5hnOF-dGZkEjytqyhGIjVUQLbX7EGrA/s320/Capture1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-63389092374031892772011-02-26T11:05:00.000-08:002011-02-26T11:05:04.391-08:00Management PostersJust thought I would quickly share a couple of little posters I have up in my room for classroom management. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5ODY3ZDBjNmEtOGYyMC00YzliLTlkY2MtYWJlN2JiN2FlMWNj&hl=en&authkey=CO6HtKcN"><em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Give Me Five</span></em></a></div><br />
I taught my class "give me 5" at the beginning of the year and this poster has been hanging on my whiteboard ever since as a reminder of what it really means when I say "give me 5". We review it <em>often</em>! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5NTc2MTBhYzktYzg0Yi00NmNkLWFjMDgtMjdmMGUyYzdjYzFh&hl=en&authkey=CPLyw9IL"><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hallway Song</span></em></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">This is is a little poster I made with the lyrics to a quick song reviewing hallway behavior expectations. My kids love singing it just before we head out the door and it does seem to help them remember how to act in the hallway. I think they just secretly LOVE to listen to me mess up the lyrics...I can't seem to stop messing it up - my version always ends up with me belting out "eyes are closed...oh whoops!" and the kids erupting into laughter and pretending to walk with their eyes closed. : ) It is sung to the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel". I found the song lyrics and idea somewhere online (I think it was ProTeacher?) and then just typed it up with a "cutesy" font and graphics!</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-90165061829475525232011-02-25T17:54:00.000-08:002011-02-25T18:20:57.523-08:00Fluency Idea<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5NTcxYzZhMWUtMmY5OS00ZWQ5LWIxZmUtM2RlMTAwNmNlNTc1&hl=en&authkey=COWmzZwO"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yxWH0JTON3Y2xpVGepVCTHMdV74UWcvoxdV5MjOb3W1qsm0hIrGgv9hkqqh49cvJn52n3_JxdkgaviwbsKmINXFfN1Sahg3vrz2xSte_5taZbXIbVaq1v23NQyAVNLlBnm1R0p7PvSE/s1600/poetryracelink.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>This week in Room 19 we began a new take-home activity, "The Great Poetry Race", to improve our reading fluency. The kiddos<strong> love</strong> it. This is not my original idea, but rather an idea that was in the April 2009 issue of <em>Reading Teacher</em>. I found out about it from a post on "<a href="http://secondgradeclub.ning.com/">The Second Grade Teacher's Club</a>" and adapted the materials to meet my needs. Thank you Jennifer L. and everyone else who posted about this great activity!<br />
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So here's how it works: I began by reading a fun poem to my class at the beginning of the week and explaining the concept. I read them some of the parent letter too - my class loves knowing what parent letters say before their parents do! The goal is for students to read the poem to as many adults as possible throughout the week. <br />
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At the end of the week, the student with the most signatures is the winner of the race. Every student with 20 or more signatures is a "top finisher" and recieves a sticker for their sticker chart. When the chart is full they will get a small prize (I ordered matchbox cars, racing sillybandz, and racing pencils from Oriental Trading), but my favorite prize is a coupon to read their weekly poem to me, the secretary, or the principal for a signature. The first place finisher each week will get a prize right away as well as a chance to read the poem for the class and record it for a listening center.<br />
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My class is EATING THIS UP! I had many read the poem to 20 adults this week and my top finisher had 25 signatures! That is with a snow day on Monday, so they didn't get started until Tuesday night. Any improvement in their fluency is a bonus at this point, because they are truly enjoying reading and sharing their poem with anyone who will listen. It's wonderful! <br />
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Check out the link below to download the materials I adapted and created to get started (parent letter, recording sheet, sticker chart, coupon, and leaderboard). Just a couple of hints: I plan on laminating the leaderboard and using a Vis-a-Vis marker to change out the names each week. Also, it works great to print the recording sheet back-to-back with the weekly poem. <br />
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<em><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5NTcxYzZhMWUtMmY5OS00ZWQ5LWIxZmUtM2RlMTAwNmNlNTc1&hl=en&authkey=COWmzZwO"><span style="font-size: large;">The Great Poetry Race Packet</span></a></em><br />
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Let me know if you try "The Great Poetry Race" in your classroom. I want to know if you have any ideas to make it even better! Just google if you want to find out more or are looking for poems to use - there is a wealth of information about this idea on the internet. : )Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-25712446385839619512011-02-06T19:18:00.000-08:002011-04-10T08:43:14.928-07:00Another Math Printable<div align="center"><em><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5NmI4ZmFjNTUtMjlhZi00NmNiLTg4YzYtMDI5MTU3ZjJjYWNi&hl=en&authkey=CNLUy6YI"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Power Towers Label</span></span></a></em><br />
(click to download file in google docs)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66o2p4uE7kvA3HYd0vsFphTgcYeifQSOYH22foduI0b7PP8KI2E9FDF0k3yX_gqmFUVOtlBk-9XgutaZ3guX1eZ9gMh7HGWbM-PD-s6ex46cxf8wUve4BN6GFnnObY-wHARjM_Hdd3-s/s1600/SAM_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66o2p4uE7kvA3HYd0vsFphTgcYeifQSOYH22foduI0b7PP8KI2E9FDF0k3yX_gqmFUVOtlBk-9XgutaZ3guX1eZ9gMh7HGWbM-PD-s6ex46cxf8wUve4BN6GFnnObY-wHARjM_Hdd3-s/s320/SAM_0584.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here's a little label to jazz up the containers you use to store the cups for your "power towers" center. What are "power towers"? Head on over to <a href="http://www.teachertipster.com/"><em>www.teachertipster.com</em></a><em> </em>and check out the video about them. I started using this idea for a math center last week and it has quickly become a class favorite for practicing math facts. They seriously L-O-V-E it. One of my toughest little kiddos even begged me to have this activity be his "daily reward" for good behavior -- usually it's 5 free minutes on the computer at the end of the day. <br />
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On the video he suggests using pringles cans, but I had an empty container (from sugar-free kool-aid) laying around that worked out perfectly. The small size dixie cups fit great and it takes up less space. One other modification I made was to write the answer to the problem inside the top rim of each cup, so they can check their answer before adding the cup to the stack. If they get one wrong they have to put it back on the bottom of the stack.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-70037636738421321722011-02-06T16:58:00.000-08:002011-02-06T17:19:26.588-08:00Math Center Printable<div jquery1297039036631="117" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6XKid0tobz5OWNmOGExNWYtNDcyNi00NzQ2LWIxMzUtOTZhNjA1NDM0NzE3&hl=en&authkey=CPys14gG"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>Kool-8's Addition</em></span></a></div><div jquery1297039036631="117" style="text-align: center;">(click to download activity on google docs)</div><div jquery1297039036631="117"><br />
</div><div jquery1297039036631="117">I adapted an idea I saw on <em>www.teachertipster.com</em> to make a math activity where the kids find all the possible addition sentences that make 8 using ice cube trays and manipulatives. Check out his video on making tens to see his original idea. Actually check out all his videos while you are there, he's got some FUN tips. My kiddos have loved everything I've implemented from his videos so far!</div><div jquery1297039036631="117"><br />
All the instructions for my version of the activity can be found at the link above. Let me know if you have any questions about how to use it.</div><div jquery1297039036631="117">Honestly, I can't wait to find a cute ice cube tray with ten spots so I can use the same concept for the combinations for 10, which are <em>so</em> important for kids to know.</div><br />
I think this will be great center activity especially for my struggling math students who are still working on building their number sense.<br />
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Here's what the ice cube trays I am using look like: <br />
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(I've had these for awhile and I can't remember where I got them, but I can guarantee it was either in the Target dollar spot or a dollar store of some kind. :) I knew I'd use them for something eventually!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmGqR8yAjhqNALGI1S3v8b2l55tuvH6bs3-6NJpagER253eDfLDaQy4VeDJdYhzQxdHKzqPJePrKqm26Q9Anvf_yqWuzDKqtLatnzjzaSninvgHKwfClReSPip3VdRmNr7Jm1Ul07ouA/s1600/SAM_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmGqR8yAjhqNALGI1S3v8b2l55tuvH6bs3-6NJpagER253eDfLDaQy4VeDJdYhzQxdHKzqPJePrKqm26Q9Anvf_yqWuzDKqtLatnzjzaSninvgHKwfClReSPip3VdRmNr7Jm1Ul07ouA/s320/SAM_0579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6272432310914456191.post-33540172951074003712011-02-05T14:46:00.000-08:002011-02-05T15:39:45.874-08:00Meet the Teacher<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to The Grade Two Zoo! I've been following some great teachers' blogs for awhile now and decided it was time to start my own. I can't wait to share ideas and continue to follow all the awesome teachers hanging out in "blog land". When I read about the "Meet the Teacher" linky party being hosted by Mrs. Carroll at <a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/">The First Grade Parade</a> (only my most favorite teaching blog!), I figured I should join. I mean what's a better way to kick-off a new blog than with some introductions?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So...here’s a little bit about me:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is my first year of teaching. I teach second grade and absolutely love my job. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUv0Ze1pBkqWyTokTQffZRh0UjOqSynweQXAsfJ2n3I0Uc50zA_P2LiRXh6tZdLe1VBeBIuO_v9gw8IE79ePd6-EaEqXpvBzaxRRMlKuo-3AL9Osd9-GheEa37xGyNk8LcHN8zAWDDi4/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUv0Ze1pBkqWyTokTQffZRh0UjOqSynweQXAsfJ2n3I0Uc50zA_P2LiRXh6tZdLe1VBeBIuO_v9gw8IE79ePd6-EaEqXpvBzaxRRMlKuo-3AL9Osd9-GheEa37xGyNk8LcHN8zAWDDi4/s320/untitled.bmp" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That's me and my love! We've been together for a little over three years now and have two cute and mischievous dogs that keep us busy. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuZiV-tSg1QuY1rKvg3E4e1g0G2FM9y8s7c30RbR848TLEITDI7e1KqsFbYuspnvDtwbfM_mScemtIQDWk3wU9ALpXJ7v7x6gQSWSj76MiPAaZyXfc7sxnlUlHgRaGwjT4SDWAATqq-0/s1600/Capture3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuZiV-tSg1QuY1rKvg3E4e1g0G2FM9y8s7c30RbR848TLEITDI7e1KqsFbYuspnvDtwbfM_mScemtIQDWk3wU9ALpXJ7v7x6gQSWSj76MiPAaZyXfc7sxnlUlHgRaGwjT4SDWAATqq-0/s320/Capture3.JPG" width="236" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Tucker (with his most favorite toy EVER!) </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMznovQDbxeBt1Idz1oQCgWemBno9SuJbmnVTpckYZRviMaAo2CLdzOnn8q4a3Qf9x32jwjPIK-hGgz9iiktwFKo47QDr5b4-aTSGFfmESavctwjQBhiNIzR2mxlvmSjrgbamtBXjl_d4/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMznovQDbxeBt1Idz1oQCgWemBno9SuJbmnVTpckYZRviMaAo2CLdzOnn8q4a3Qf9x32jwjPIK-hGgz9iiktwFKo47QDr5b4-aTSGFfmESavctwjQBhiNIzR2mxlvmSjrgbamtBXjl_d4/s320/Capture.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> Ellie (she's MUCH bigger now!) </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There's Tucker, the shih-tzu and the newest addition to our little family, Ellie, the border collie. Despite being quite the odd couple, they get along amazingly well and LOVE to play together. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Brian and I moved into our house this past May (good-bye renting!) and are still busy renovating, remodeling, and decorating. We had to demo everything and start over, new siding and drywall, tearing down walls, the whole bit. It's been a long process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The year 2010 was fun, busy, and fulfilling for me - I graduated from college, taught preschool for about six months, moved to a new house in a new town, and got my dream job! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been quite the adventure - I'm hoping 2011 will be just as fun and maybe a little <em>less</em> eventful!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Q & A</span></div> <br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher? <br />
A: Probably something "crafty", teaching channels all my creativity into something productive. I'd need an outlet!<br />
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Q: What are your hobbies? <br />
A: Spending time with my friends and family, cooking, finding new ideas for my classroom, sewing/quilting, playing with my puppies, hunting and fishing with Brian, and anything else that sounds fun! <br />
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Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? <br />
A: A teacher...surprise surprise!</span><br />
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Q: What are your guilty pleasures? <br />
A: Surfing the internet for teaching ideas for HOURS, watching lame reality shows on TLC, and eating too much chocolate!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: What is your biggest fear?! <br />
A: I'm terrified of birds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go? <br />
A: Depends on what kind of vacation -- sometimes I like to just relax, sometimes I like to try new things and be adventurous!</span><br />
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Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? <br />
A: Don't sweat the small stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: What do you value most in others? <br />
A: Honesty.<br />
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Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be? <br />
A: Diligence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world...living or dead...who would it be? <br />
A: My grandparents. I never knew them when I was old enough to remember what they were like, so that would be neat. </span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now tell us one random thing about yourself: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't like winter weather, but continue living in the frozen tundra (aka Wisconsin). GO PACK GO!</span><br />
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</span>Join the "Meet the Teacher" linky party at: </div></div><br />
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<center><a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e62/caralesley/firstgradeparade-1.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuZiV-tSg1QuY1rKvg3E4e1g0G2FM9y8s7c30RbR848TLEITDI7e1KqsFbYuspnvDtwbfM_mScemtIQDWk3wU9ALpXJ7v7x6gQSWSj76MiPAaZyXfc7sxnlUlHgRaGwjT4SDWAATqq-0/s320/Capture3.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 493px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 966px; visibility: hidden;" width="71" />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04931833662172926466noreply@blogger.com3