Second Grade Super Heroes: Revised Literacy Centers

Here is a second installation of updated centers/stations for second grade. The following download covers literacy stations.  They are sprinkled with rigor and superheroes. You'll find elements of the Daily 5 and a couple of bonus classroom and hallway expectations anchor charts.

Revised Literacy Centers

Revised LiteracyCenter Activities

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Revised Math Centers

It's hard to believe that we've been in school almost an entire month!  Second grade is still going strong with our super hero theme. I have slowly been introducing and updating many of the anchor charts and stations around our classroom. Some include superheroes (I just couldn't help myself ), while others simply got a face lift.

As I approach each area, skill and/or topic, I have been giving serious thought as to how each reinforces common core standards and adds rigor.  After careful scrutiny, several fell under the category of busy work. Those were scrapped.  While some of the tried and true made it through.

Also, you'll notice that many of the maps and guide pages have been reduced to half size. This was done in an effort to cut back on paper & ink. With out further a do... here are a few of my updated math centers.

Revised Math Centers

Super Second Grade Heroes!

Wow! it was an incredibly busy summer with lots of Common Core Training here in TN and STEM classes at ETSU.  There were lots of opportunities to network and share among colleagues!

Then down side was I felt exhausted mentally and physically by the end of July.   It was official, I had the back to school blues.  I was more than a bit reluctant to take on the task of creating a new "theme" for this year.  As you all know, it's a big investment.  The argument I made (to myself) was that it wasn't curriculum. My monkey and jungle theme were still "okay," if a bit tired.  I had used the same theme for 3 years. But upon further thought (and a nudge from my co-teachers, thank you Kathy & Merri), I decided that a face lift was just what my classroom needed!  I am so glad that I went for it.  The results are engaging.

I took my inspiration from a lunch box. It has always been a personal goal of mine to be Wonder Woman when I grow up!  ;)

Second Grade Super Heros!

A quick google search lead me to some amazing resources.  I downloaded lots of accents, & literacy items from Teacher's Pet (displays site).  These were all free. 

My next stop of course was Pinterest.  Here I found inspiration for a city scape backdrop for Hero Headquarters and a cute super sucker for meet the teacher night. 

A special thank you to my daughter/sidekick. 

I rounded off the theme with a couple of capes and a shield.  The smaller cape is for one lucky student that gets to be the "Hero of the Day".  This student is in charge of leading our Morning Meeting.  I wear the larger cape as a signal to students during small group and partner time that the teacher is busy  and questions should be referred to the parking lot.  

This cute superhero border and a variety of posters  were purchased at a local discount store.

The theme is steadily being incorporating. This was our first week back and my second graders are fully engaged. They love the idea being Super Second Graders.  They are helping me rename many our classroom work stations.  Thus far we have: Wonderful Word Words & Anchor Text Headquarters.  I can't wait to share these stations.

Measuring Penny a Second Grade Lesson

Measuring Penny by Loreen Leedy provides an amazing backdrop for teaching second grade common core math standards.  Below you'll find a lesson plan that does just that!  I had a great time creating this lesson. I created this on the tail wind of a STEM class.  The focus of this class was inquiry based learning and student ownership. This lesson  dives into those concepts by encouraging student ownership of story problems, aka learning tasks.  The powerpoint for this lesson can be accessed via Author Stream or my wiki page.

Author Stream Version:

Measuring Penny

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Unit Lesson Plan

Measuring Penny

Second Grade, Common Core Learning Task

Standard: 

2.MD.A.1  Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.

2.MD.A.2  Measure the length of an object twice using length units of different lengths for the two measurements: describe how the two measurements relate to the size of the unit chosen.

2.MD.A.4  Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, express the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.

2.MD.B.5 Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve word problems involving lengths that are given in the same units, e.g. by using drawings (such as drawings of rulers) and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Student Objective Statement:

I can measure using standard units (inches/centimeters).

I can choose appropriate tools.

I can create story problems using addition and subtraction strategies.

I can solve story problems using words, pictures, and equations.

I can record data on a table.

Essential questions:

When is measurement used at school? At home? The larger world?

Related questions:

How do I use tools to measure and compare objects?

How do I use addition and subtraction when measuring?

Activities & Sequencing:

Hook/Engage (5 mins):

http://www.brainpopjr.com/math/measurement/inchesandfeet/

Whole group, small group, & Independent work:

1.Set the purpose by introducing the Book Measuring Penny & having students complete a quick review to access prior knowledge through the following sites using iPods, iPads or computers.http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/length_strength3/  http://www.rickyspears.com/rulergame/

2.Whole group, read Measuring Penny (5-10 mins).

3.Whole group, complete chart on slide 3. Identify measuring tools and what was measured from the story (5 mins).

4.Measuring Activity #1, slides 5-6: Introduce step #1, Review expectations for cooperative learning time, partner assignments and mathematical practices.  Students break into groups to measure 5 different classroom items using a non standard unit, aka dog biscuits (10-15mins).

5.Whole group, introduce step 2 of Activity #1. Think, Pair, & Share with partners to complete step #2 (10-15 mins).

6.Measuring activity 2 (centimeters), slides 7-8.  This may be completed at a separate time or day (10-15 mins).

7.Measuring activity 3 (inches), slides 9-10.  This may be completed at a separate time or day (10-15 mins).

8.Reread Measuring Penny.  Using a stuffed animal brought from home, students will complete the learning task on slides 11-12. The actual student created problems can be treated as an exit slip or cumulative project depending on the assessment purpose, formative or summative (20-30 mins)

Oh My! What's the Matter... a STEM Lesson

Last week, I embarked on a two week journey through STEM thanks to a wonderful grant through ETSU.

And... Oh My! I have a STEM unit plan on the states of matter to share.  This is a second grade unit plan using math & reading common core and TN state science standards.  

The format is NOT the TEAM model.  Instead it follows a more philosophical model designed by ETSU.  However, with just a little tweaking and shuffling it can be relabeled to match the TEAM model.  

This resource consists of one word document and two power points. All three can be accessed though my wiki. 

Oh My! What's the Matter? STEM Lesson

Moving Into Math Stations

I am officially committed to implementing Math Stations in a new way.  I have bought 10 clear tubs and cleaned a shelf.  In teacher terms that means I am in whole hog, because I spent $10.  There's no turning back.  Math Stations are going to have their own designated time and space in my classroom.

June 3rd and 6th, I worked with some fabulous SCDE teachers to completed a book study PD using Debbie Diller's "Moving Into Math Stations."  It was a fabulous opportunity to connect & collaborate with colleagues.  There were some enlightening discussions that really set a fire and desire to implement Math Stations. 

While the idea of Math Stations isn't new, I have generally just Incorporated a couple of stations during Daily 5 / Literacy Stations.  In the up coming year, each math station will have a specific skill focus with 3-5 activity choices. Check out the resources below for more details.

A second big idea that has affected my personal pedagogy is the use a workshop format lessons.  I am looking forward to expanding on this idea using common core this year. 

Resources used for Moving Into Math Stations PD, Summer 2013:

Prezi discussion guides

Moving Into Math Stations: Implementing

Moving Into Math Stations: Make & Take

In addition to Debbie's DVD, we watched videos from The Teaching Channel website.
Classroom Management During Centers
We accessed several useful sites for templates and activities to actually make and take centers.
Tennessee Trending Teacher Wiki
Inside Mathematics, standards & tasks
Common Core Live Binder
K-5 Math Teaching Resources
Station Templates
We hit on the 8 all important mathematical practices as well.
8 Mathematical Practices Posters
Finally, we explored some amazing teacher blogs.
Station(center) lesson pans for first grade - Mrs. Schnuck's site
Launching stations overview - Mrs Parker's Learning Blog
Just a great resource - The Math Penguin

 SCDE Summer PD 2012

Common Core Excitement!

This school year is flying by at top speed. There are officially 18 school days left.  I am already thinking ahead to the up coming year & summer PD.  There are so many Good Changes heading our way!  Yes, I said it "Good Changes," a.k.a... Common Core. 

Where did this burning desire to explore common core come from?  Amazon of course.  It doesn't take much to make a nerdy teacher happy!  

I received a box of fan-tabulous math related picture books today.  Each book addresses a specific second grade math concept.  It's my summer goal to create common core lessons for each of the books.  Each lesson will address specific standards, provide cross curriculum resources, hands on options, and performance based assessments (formative & summative).   Wooohooo! Summertime here I come.

The first three choices for this common core adventure relate math to students' everyday world by using some realistic examples and some wild imaginary scenarios .

What would you do if you woke up on different days and faced a variety mathematical dilemmas?

The little boy in these stories wakes up each day to a new mathematical adventure.

On "One Odd Day," his shirt has three arms.  There are only odd numbers on his clock.

Everything on "My Even Day" turns out even.

When the little boy wakes up on "My Half Day," half of his hair is missing, along with 1/2 of many other things!  

Twelve Snails and One Lizard is a fantasy tale of "Mischief and Measurement." Two silly friends must discover different ways to measure inches, feet, and yards.  The essential question here is, "What is the most efficient way to measure?"  

Measuring Penny is a realistic fiction book that helps children apply measurement in a very relatable context.   A little girl measures her dog Penny in variety of creative ways.  

"How Big is a Foot?" is a short fairy tale about a king that wants to build a bed before beds and standard measurement were invented.   

Finally, I'd like to share one more great resource that I stumbled upon today.  It's a downloadable, printable common core resource book.  There is a free sample & the price is $39.99 for the complete download per grade level.  I am considering using this resource to create literacy work stations. As we have just adopted a new reading series, I am redoing everything.  This would give me a head start on the process.    www.commoncorestandards.com