Winter Language Arts Stations

I've spent the early part of my Winter Vacation creating language stations/centers for my 2nd grade classroom. I've been itching to create and/or blog but school has been so crazy! We found out in November that we were getting a 6th teacher and they needed to be hired by Christmas and ready to start in January. That meant we had to split our classes, so I'm going from 25 students to 21. While I'm sad to see them go, I'm ecstatic about the smaller class size.

I created 6 low prep stations that are aligned to the Virginia 2nd grade standards but most certainly can be used in Common Core classrooms as well. 

 

Simply print and laminate station directions and task cards,  cut task cards apart, run copies of the recording sheet and store together in a drawer cart or even large zipper bag. 

Click Here to download. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a restful vacation!

Moving Forward with Comprehension

After reflecting on my first year back in 2nd grade, I realized that my guided reading instruction needs improvement. This past school year I focused on guided math and I'm feeling pretty confident about that so now is the perfect time to take a look at reading. 

I'll be sharing my takeaways from the following chapters from Jan Richardson's Next Step Forward in Guided Reading:

Chapter 1: Guided Reading Essentials

Chapter 4: Early Readers Levels D-I (DRA Levels 6-16)

Chapter 5: Transitional Readers Level J-P (DRA Levels 18-38)

Chapter 7: Moving Forward with Comprehension Instruction 

This post will share my take aways from Chapter 7: Moving Forward with Comprehension.

This chapter focuses the comprehension aspect of reading instruction. The Top 12 Comprehension Strategies are shared along with 29 modules to address them. 

1. Comprehension Monitoring
2. Retelling
3. Developing Vocabulary
4. Asking and Answering Questions
5. Main Idea and Details
6. Analyzing Characters
7. Analyzing  Relationships
8. Inferring
9. Summarizing
10. Evaluating
11. Using Text Features
12. Understanding Text Structure

If you haven't visited http://www.janrichardsonguidedreading.com/resources-1, you should, she has many free resources to support her books. I also love the Reading Strategies Book from Jennifer Serravallo for comprehension instruction as well.   

I recently started reading groups and quickly realized that I didn't have enough time to do all the parts of Jan Richardson's lesson plan so I had to do some tweaking. Now I'm knee deep in running records to determine each child's instructional reading level. Once that's complete, I hope to jump back into reading groups. 

What resources do you use to teach reading comprehension?

Google Keep... the Gamechanger!

Screenshot of Google Keep on my Computer

When I was going through my Google Certification I remember doing a module on Google Keep. However, at the time, I didn't see the value in the application. 
Then I ran across a Tweet on Twitter where someone was sharing about it. I decided right then, I needed this Google Application in my life! Opening this new school has been an absolute whirlwind! When I tell you I was NOT READY... I was NOT READY! So this came a time when I desperately needed to "get my life togetha". 
A teammate commented that I seem "to be on top of things." I told her it was definitely an illusion cause I most certainly am not, but, I am much more organized with this app. 
I love the fact that I can have it on my phone and on my computer and it updates in real time. When ever I think of something I'm either near my computer or phone so it works out, I add it to a list and keep it moving. I review my lists daily to see what I can check off and what I need to check off. 
Now... I chose to purchase these cute little Google Keep Headers from "a small world called kindergarten" however she has a free set that you could use as well. With the paid set she gives a template to create your own and that's what I did with my Weekly Tasks. I have it "pinned" at the top and each week I check off my weekly tasks as I complete them and then over the weekend, I uncheck them and start all over. 

So if you're looking to get your life organized, I totally recommend this Google App. Do you need the cute little headers? No. But they make me happy when I see them so it was worth it for me!

Classroom Tour 19-20

Back to School Night

Name Bunting in the Hallway (lowkey mad I don't have a bulletin board or strips!)

At Open House I provided parents with the Parent Flipbook I make every year and I gave my students my favorite treats, Cheryl's Cookies! I also provided a communication folder for my students again this year. 

At Back to School Night I provided parents a handbook outlining the policies and procedures of our classroom as well as a learning handbook with study guides I created for all of our standards. 

View from the door. 

Just a few of our anchor charts from the beginning of the year. 

This Promethean Panel is the coolest, I went from having only a projector at my last school to this!

SWAG Tags (Brag Tags)

Small Group Area

View from Small Group Area

We read The Bad Seed and talked about Growth Mindset

Super Improver Wall and Swag Tag Necklaces

Books with a Common Theme

I love the fact that my class is 1:1

Picture Book Baskets, Word Wall

It's taken me a few weeks but I was finally able to take photos of my classroom. I totally underestimated the physical toll opening this new school would have on my body. I've learn to live and manage my chronic pain condition however I can say that every day for the last 19 days I've been in my school... have been filled with pain. Whether it's pain related to my condition or just my feet, legs, lower back pain. I feel like I never sit down and my new school is HUGE teachers are clocking 15,000-18,000 steps a day. I'm hoping things will begin to settle down soon until then, I'm hanging in there!

Next Step in Guided Reading: Transitional Readers

After reflecting on my first year back in 2nd grade, I realized that my guided reading instruction needs improvement. This past school year I focused on guided math and I'm feeling pretty confident about that so now is the perfect time to take a look at reading. 

I'll be sharing my takeaways from the following chapters from Jan Richardson's Next Step Forward in Guided Reading:

Chapter 1: Guided Reading Essentials

Chapter 4: Early Readers Levels D-I (DRA Levels 6-16)

Chapter 5: Transitional Readers Level J-P (DRA Levels 18-38)

Chapter 7: Moving Forward with Comprehension Instruction 

This post will share my take aways from Chapter 5: The Transitional Readers (Levels J-P, DRA Levels 18-38).  

• As with early readers, complete a word knowledge inventory and a reading conference with each child.
• You want no more than four to five guided reading groups so you can meet with them three to five times a week. 
• Guided Reading Materials (pg. 171)
• leveled books
• dry erase boards, markers, erasers
• 6-8 sets of magnetic letters on individual trays or sorted in a box
• analogy chart
• guided writing journals
• personal word wall for guided writing
• timer
• 3 Day Lesson Plan, 20 minutes (pg. 172)
• Day 1- introduce new book, read book with prompting, discuss and teach
• Day 2- read book with prompting, discuss and teach, word study activity
• Day 3- guided writing
• Guided writing is coached, it is not independent or assigned writing. Students complete the response at the table with your support. 
• One question that was answered in this section was "Should I sometimes use nonfiction text with my transitional readers?" JR suggests that when you choose a nonfiction book, choose one that is at least one level below the groups current reading level due to advanced vocabulary. 

Next up, Moving Forward with Comprehension!

Next Step in Guided Reading: Early Readers

After reflecting on my first year back in 2nd grade, I realized that my guided reading instruction needs improvement. This past school year I focused on guided math and I'm feeling pretty confident about that so now is the perfect time to take a look at reading. 

I'll be sharing my takeaways from the following chapters from Jan Richardson's Next Step Forward in Guided Reading:

Chapter 1: Guided Reading Essentials

Chapter 4: Early Readers Levels D-I (DRA Levels 6-16)

Chapter 5: Transitional Readers Level J-P (DRA Levels 18-38)

Chapter 7: Moving Forward with Comprehension Instruction 

This post will share my take aways from Chapter 4: The Early Readers (Levels D-I, DRA Levels 6-16). 

• There are 2 essential assessments for teaching early readers: a reading conference and a spelling assessment (pg. 107-109). My last school administered the DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) and the DSA (Developmental Spelling Assessment). We analyzed data from these assessments to form reading groups and word study groups. JR says that the number of errors is not as important as determining why the student made those errors and deciding what strategic actions will accelerate the child. All errors aren't equal. You should be asking yourself "what kid of action does the child take at difficulty? did the student monitor using visual information? is there a pattern in the child's errors?"
• Consider a "range" of instructional levels (pg. 110). Choose a lower level if you want to focus on oral reading fluency and a higher level if you want to practice decoding strategies. 
• Once you've analyzed the assessment results, form groups (pg. 115). JR suggests 5 groups max with 4 kids max per group. I can understand the logic of having smaller groups while students are at this level however I know it may not be feasible with 22-28 students in our classrooms. 
• For "early readers" it is wise to delay teaching comprehension strategies until students are independent word solvers (pg. 115) While this makes perfect sense, this may be unrealistic due to district standards. Our 2nd graders start the 3rd week with taking cold read assessments, and then take them every 3 weeks. My DRA ranges last year were from level 4-28 at the beginning of the year. JR says, "when choosing a strategy focus for this level, always consider self monitoring for meaning, work on monitoring for visual information word solving strategies and fluency. Once those are strong, choose retelling as a focus." 
• Guided Reading Materials (pg. 116)
• dry erase boards, markers, erasers
• 6-8 sets of magnetic letters on individual trays or sorted in a box
• sight word chart
• pictures for sorting sounds
• sound box and analogy chart templates in plastic sheet protectors
• guided writing journals
• leveled books
• timer
• 2 Day Lesson Plan, 20 minutes (pg. 117)
• Day 1- sight word review, introduce new book, read book with prompting, discuss and teach, teach a new sight word, word study activity
• Day 2- sight word review, read book with prompting, discuss and teach, reteach sight word, guided writing

Now that it's the last week of summer school I hope to jump into Chapter 5!

Cactus Themed Brag Tags

So I'm a self proclaimed "Clip Art Addict!" I could easily have 1,000 sets of clip art on my computer right now. As I was making brag tags for my second grade classroom next year I ran across these cute cactus graphics I own from Creative Clips. I knew immediately that I wanted to use these! 

If you're looking to add some to your collection, they are available for download @ the Teaching Oasis!

Smiley Themed Brag Tags

Yesterday was my "blogaversary", I've had this blog for 8 whole years now! It also happened to be my mother's birthday so my husband and I spent the day with her... shopping and eating at her favorite restaurant. I even bought a new dress, did you know that Loft gives a 15% discount to teachers with your badge? I never knew! 
I snagged some new graphics from Creative Clips and decided so make some new brag tags. I've been implementing them in my classroom for 3 years and I'm looking forward to using them next school year as well. Be on the lookout for new brag tag designs this summer, I've got an entire to do list!
If you're looking to add some to your collection, they are available for download @ the Teaching Oasis!

Next Step Forward in Guided Reading: Essentials

After reflecting on my first year back in 2nd grade, I realized that my guided reading instruction needs improvement. This past school year I focused on guided math and I'm feeling pretty confident about that so now is the perfect time to take a look at reading. 
I'll be sharing my takeaways from the following chapters from Jan Richardson's Next Step Forward in Guided Reading: Chapter 1: Guided Reading Essentials Chapter 4: Early Readers Levels D-I (DRA Levels 6-16) Chapter 5: Transitional Readers Level J-P (DRA Levels 18-38) Chapter 7: Moving Forward with Comprehension Instruction 
This post will focus on Chapter 1: Guided Reading Essentials.   **Shared Reading is the whole class mini lesson, JR suggests limiting this time to 10-15 minutes. Traditionally our shared reading block is usually 30 minutes long. Until I can see my master schedule, I'm not sure how I will structure this time yet.   
**She has a timeline for teaching routines and procedures for reading workshop that spans 6 weeks.  Week 1- students work in small groups for 10 minutes a day on easy independent "tub activities." These can include books, puzzles, journals, Legos, coloring books. These tubs will eventually be replaced by literacy activities as you teach students to be independent learners.   Week 2- introduce a literacy activity to each of the groups, while other groups are in tubs  Week 3- introduce a 2nd literacy activity to each of the groups, lengthen time to 15 minutes Week 4- introduce a 3rd literacy activity to each group, lengthen time to 20 minutes Week 5- introduce a 4th literacy activity to each group, students should be able to work 30-45 minutes without direct supervision Week 6- all students should be working independently with purposeful literacy experiences, tubs should no longer be required At my former school, teachers were required to be in guided reading groups by the second week of school and my biggest complaint has been that students could not work independently and I spent more time correcting behavior than instructing. While I'm not sure I'll take 6 entire weeks, I will be taking several weeks to build stamina. I usually have a list of Daily Literacy Tasks on the board for students to complete while I met with guided reading groups, on Fridays the students completed READ (Read to Self, Engage, At Seat, Daily Writing) Rotations while I pulled reading skill groups. Engage consisted of reading puzzles and games, At Seat consisted of literacy menus. 
**Book Boxes/Bags (as a literacy activity), JR recommends students have a personal box or bag that contains a variety of books for independent reading. She says to include books students have read during guided reading and other easy books they can read without support. This allows them to develop fluency and practice strategies on easy, familiar texts. This past year we sent the previous weeks' guided reading book home with the students, with the expectation that they were reading it at home... they weren't and I stopped sending home books the 4th quarter. I like this idea much better, that way I know students are rereading the books. 
**Other Literacy Activity Suggestions: buddy reading, writing, readers theater, poems and songs, word study and spelling, word wall, listening to recorded stories, oral retelling, computer, research. I'll probably do something similar to what I did last year. Using the READS acronym, Read to Self, Engage, At Seat, Daily Writing, Skill Practice and embed some of these options into those stations. 
What literacy activities do your students complete while you're working with guided reading groups?

Plum Paper and Erin Condren Products

So I'm Plum Paper's newest fan! I purchased my teacher planner from them and then decided to order a Notebook too. I loved the idea of a Parent Teacher Conference book, so I ordered a 7x9 (8.5x11 is available too) personalized notebook. Instead of lined pages, I clicked on the Lifestyle format and chose Meeting Notebook. 

This book has 49 pages (f/b) of meeting pages. You could easily use this for team meetings, PLC meetings or any other meeting you might have. I'm choosing to use it strictly for parent conferences. With that many meeting pages, it could last 2-3 school years.

I also snagged a few things from Erin Condren as well. I told you in my last post that the EC interchangeable covers also fit my PP planner, I saw this one and knew I had to have it too!

I purchased these colorful circles to mark important dates on my yearly spread.  

I purchased these to snap into my planner on the current week. 

I purchased a set of personalized stationary. I chose to get the Happy Birthday set. It came with 20 folded (flat is also an option) cards with my name already inside them. I could have personalized a message in all of them but chose not to. I got to pick the color envelopes I wanted and it also came with envelope seals. I thought these would be perfect to give to my colleagues during the school year.

What are your favorite Plum Paper and Erin Condren products?