Wordless Wednesday! We made Snow! Ok, except for those words!

A Reading Extravaganza

A Reading Extravaganza

What is a Reading Extravaganza?

         The first ingredient is a group of second graders. OK, any grade can have a Reading Extravaganza. It takes a group of students, pajamas, blankets, some stuffed animals and in our case, some guest readers. 

     My guest readers were some of the finest teachers to ever walk the halls of  my school. They are retired now and were generous enough to come and allow us to enjoy their reading. Each  one said "anytime" when they were thanked. I hope they really meant it because they will be invited back!

        It was a day of reading. Our first guest reader read Santa Cows , and The Grinch That Stole Christmas. Afterwards, we did a Grinchy craft. We used a green, red and a small piece of yellow construction paper, glue, and a few cotton balls. First we folded the green construction paper in half and tore the shape of a half heart on the unfolded side. Then we tore a triangle out of the red piece. Next, we turned the green heart upside down and put the triangle on top to make it look like a hat and glued the two pieces together. We then lined the hat with cotton and gave it a cotton ball tip. We tore the yellow to make eyes and glued them under the hat. We added pupils and eyelashes and a smile. We had some of the best looking Grinches in the history of Grinchness.

     Then our next guest reader read two Jan Brett books, The Gingerbread Baby and Gingerbread Friends. Afterwards we did a beginning middle and end activity and the students were able to choose the story they wanted to retell. I love activities that allow the students to create and free draw.

     We had another guest read The Gingerbread Girl and There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell. Our time ran straight into our final guest reader that read Jan Brett's Home For Christmas. 

     After that we spent some time reading silently and independently.

      In my book it was the best day ever! My students did remarkably well with all of the guests we had and our grade level is considering starting a trend. A Reading Extravaganza for every holiday and even Dr. Suess' birthday. I even had a chance to have the students start making their parent's Christmas presents. I encourage everyone to have a Reading Extravaganza!

Turning Non-Fiction Into a Play

 

Sun, Earth and Moon Play

Writing Science and Loving It!

Once upon a time there was a lovely second grade class! It was time to begin Earth Science and learn about the Sun, Earth and Moon. the students were so excited, but alas the science book only had a few pages about the topic. They wanted more, they demanded more! so their teacher decided that they should do the research for the information they wanted. 

All of the students were given an index card and told, "go forth and seek out the knowledge! Find five fun new facts about the Earth, Sun and Moon and we shall call them "Fun Facts" and they shall be FUN!!"

The students went and searched through text, internet articles, and videos and then gathered again to discuss their findings.
The class made a chart and organized these facts.Some of their facts were the same and some were different. They weeded through the facts and turned them into a play. They rehearsed in class and practiced at home. The teacher was excited because of their fluency and increased science vocabulary, but was astounded at what happened in the end. The students practiced and practiced, some practiced so much they didn't need their scripts! Some practiced so much even though they used their scripts they were confident in their reading! The teacher made a small stage at the front of the room and dressed the children up in quick paper costumes and many stars were born!

Earth, Moon and Sun Play
It was a great day to be a second grader in
Ms. Hagan's class!

 

Sun, Moon and Earth Play

 

Sun, Moon and Earth Play

 

Sun, Moon and Earth Play

Have you Tellagami-ed?

I should have named this blog "My New Favorite Thing"! 

 

 

Tellagami is an app you can download for your Ipad, Iphone or android. You may choose an avatar and dress it up, choose hair and skin color and even the size of it's head! 

How is this educational?

I will let my student's work speak for itself!

 

 Callie's Tellagami

Kaden's Fun Shark Facts

 

 

 

 

 Madon's fun Facts

For More Tellagami Fun

visit my YouTube channel!

 

Smart Board and More YouTube Educational Videos 

Buggy Bash

My dear friend Robin Rooks wrote an adorable book titled Buggy Bash. It is one of the funnest books you will ever read your students. It has big beautiful pictures and words that read like lyrics. It is all about a group of bugs that get together and dance the night away. Mrs. Rooks describes the entrance of each bug and each bug has its own dance. Below is a choice board that she created to offer a center option.

If you would like to purchase this book, you may contact Robin Rooks at

rooksrobin@yahoo.com. Each book is $8.00 and shipping and handling is $3.50.

You will not regret it!

Expanding Ideas

I have blogged before about my dear friend at work(Kathy Faletto) that always expands on good ideas. Well, her and I worked together on Another Take On A Pinterest Idea. Last Spring we asked our exiting second graders to write messages to the incoming second graders. They made construction paper self portraits and we put their messages on QR codes and hung them in the hallway for our Meet and Greet. My idea was to have them write messages about their favorite things in second grade. But Kathy expanded on that and had her students write about specific parts of her classroom. 

Well, this year my wonderful friend  came up with a new and exciting twist. She has made paper slide videos and placed them on You Tube in their prospective folders. She took pictures of her students, had them make construction paper bodies and added a QR code for the folders of their work. She can leave these up and simply continue to compile their work in the existing folders without ever having to change their QR codes.

Here is her hallway display:

I can't wait to steal this idea!

Super kudos Kathy Faletto!

 

Desperately Seeking Technology!

Today in my classroom, three of my dear computers sputtered their last. What is a tech loving girl to do? Try to get more. Anyway possible. My students need access to all of our websites, all of the time.
I have set up a page on Go Fund Me. Here is the link:

Desperately Seeking Technology


I will also be thrilled to accept hand me down devices. Old Smart phones, tablets and IPads are welcome. those items can be sent directly to my school, in care of Pamela Hagan. The address here is:
2500 Hwy 127
Kathleen, GA   31047


If you can't donate, please help me spread the word!


Thank you so much!