Work on Writing

I think (I hope!) we're done with this comment: "I don't know what to write about!"

We spent a good chunk of time this month doing a lot of brainstorming about what we can write about during our writing time.

First, we made an ABC list with ideas that start with each letter of the alphabet. Once we started, the ideas started coming fast and furious! One idea would remind us of something else...

We also made a "Heart Map". A Heart Map is a visual reminder of all that we love and care about. Both of these resources help us when we're stuck.

Our first writing unit has been on personal narratives. All of the things we thought of, and put on our list, were usually about *us*. When we're the main character of the story, and it is about something that happened to us, it's called a "personal narrative". I've been reading some wonderful stories. =)

Now we just need to work on our writing stamina. We need to be able to write for longer amounts of time before announcing, "I'm done!" =)

Read to Self

We've been working so hard on getting our routines down. One of the things we're practicing is our "Read to Self" time. First, we had a lesson on choosing "Good Fit Books" for our book boxes. We compared a good book to a shoe... it has to fit! And, it has to be for the right purpose. We can't wear our soccer shoes to a fancy dinner! :) This is the poster we made to remind ourselves how to choose a book:

Then we talked about what it should look and sound like during our quiet reading time. This is the poster we brainstormed:

Every day we read a little bit longer before we had to stop. We're up to 20 minutes of quiet reading time!

We Made it Through!

Whew! We have hit the ground running! I don't know about the kids, but I could've slept all weekend long! Being in 2nd grade is a lot of work! :) We've been busy, busy, busy... learning procedures and routines, and just remembering what it is like to sit in a classroom all day long... and it's been HOT in our room, too! The kids have been troopers through all of the warm weather. We've got 3 fans blowing at all times! I'm hopeful that the weather will begin to cool off... (fingers crossed!)

I'm so impressed with the group of second graders that I'm teaching this year. We've already earned 2 Classroom Cub ("Caught You Being Super") Awards! (When we get to 10, we'll get a special treat!) Also, many kids have already started collecting jewels for the clip by reaching outstanding on our behavior chart. It's wonderful seeing all of the good choices during the day. :)