Writing, Spirit week and Judy Blume! Oh my!

Have you have had a lesson that just kind of failed?

I love Amy Lemons and Hope Kings Write On unit about fairytales. It explains everything and gives you so many resources and ideas about teaching how to write a fairytale.

So when we started talking about how we have to have a beginning, middle and end to our story, I was pumped. My kids had just learned about personal narratives so naturally I thought this would be easy.

It wasn't.

It wasn't because they didn't understand the parts of a fairytale. It was because they couldn't think of an idea on their own. They wanted to copy the folktales that they had read or the fairytales they had seen with Disney. I had one little boy decide to completely copy the folktale the Lion and the Mouse.

Face. Palm.

So we paused and talked about what writing means and how we as authors are trying to creative something that is our own. We went back to the drawing board and talk about a list of ideas that we could use for our fairytales. After this little chat- we did a much better job although thinking of original ideas is harder than it looks! My kids totally rocked it and are still just as excited about writing that I am.  Today we will do Shared Writing which I have never done before. I am a researcher so I am excited to try out this new writing method. From what I have read, it is all about the students telling the teacher what to write. With 17 kiddos, I am a little nervous, but I have my principal and my grade level coming in and I am already thinking of more ideas to incorporate Shared Writing in my classroom.

Also how cute are these bookmarks from Hope King? I love them! I also spent way too much money on this amazing Astrobright paper. I love it and have been through probably half the pack already.

This week is spirit week and my class has been crazy but great! We aren't winning in getting spirit bucks but we are learning lessons in being good sports! We had shirts made for our class unity day and they turned out FANTASTIC! It is one that I know I will keep forever!

We are also doing more with Daily 5 and CAFE because my new school is going to be doing it next year. So I am trying to incorporate reading strategies, strategy groups and more into my reading lessons. We have taken a chapter book- which my goal at the beginning of the year was to have everyone reading chapter books by the end of the year and I am teaching strategies that we can use with a chapter book. It has been so helpful in my classroom! I can't wait to fully incorporate Daily 5 and CAFE in my classroom next year.
                                                           

We also started writing "Letters to 2nd grade". I may have started tearing up when I decided to bring back this journal. I did it a few years ago in 1st grade and I LOVED there thoughts on my class, myself and what they liked and didn't like. So far this year is no exception.

When I say my heart is in second, I really mean my heart is totally in love with 2nd grade! I have loved every minute of this year, even though this has been a challenging year!

With that, I am off to go hug my cray class a little more before we end the year in a few weeks!!

Love,

Stephanie

Welcome

I tried starting a a blog last summer.

That failed.

I think I was trying to hard.

I have been more reflective this year. Maybe it's because I am leaving my current school. Maybe it's because I have been with this class for 2 years.
Either way, I have been reflecting more. And with that comes eating a lot of Oreos.

I love my class. I teach 2nd grade at an international school in Dongguan. I LOVE 2nd grade. I wish someone would have said "You should try 2nd grade" many years ago. I love the material and how mastery is the goal. I love how they start getting more into chapter books, science, history and long for harder and more challenging things. I love how much they encourage each other to learn.

We have been doing Rooted in Reading By Katie King and Amy Lemons. My kids affectionally call them Ms. Amy and Ms. Katie even though they have never met them. WOW. Is this packet effective or what?? I have loved watching them piece all of the comprehension skills together and really use those skills in other books they are reading.

My class has always loved writing and this year they have begged for more and more time to do writing. We are starting our last writing unit which is the creative writing unit and I am both scared and excited to teach this unit!

I love these packets as they make lesson planning super easy!! I think my kids will like this packet too because of course it's by the fabulous Amy Lemons and Hope King! I can not wait to see what they come up with.

Over all, it's been a great year of learning and growing for me. I have loved implementing Daily 5 with strategy groups and more conferencing in writing this year.
I can't wait to go to my school but I know this year will always be special because it was my first year in 2nd. My students surprise me daily and I can't wait to go and teach this grade level again.

With that, I am going to go buy more Oreos.

Love,
Stephanie