The Important Book Inspiration

Have you ever read The Important Book? It is a lovely book by Margaret Wise Brown that I was introduced to last year. It's part poetry part word game, part opinion writing, and really, much more. I've discovered that primary students, including my end-of-the year 2nd graders, absolutely love it! This is amazing for a picture book published in 1949. 

After enjoying it together, I guided the students write their own "Important" poems using the book to provide a frame. We discussed repetition and description.  Then I got an idea...

Today I provided students with a frame to write an "Important Poem" about Family. We will send home family gifts and thank yous tomorrow, and I knew this would make a great addition. So, the students wrote, I typed, and they drew and watercolored a border. I imagine these might make it into some frames, or at least onto some refrigerators. :) 

Aren't they precious? They turned out great, and it was a really simple project!

May Pinterest Linky!

Click to visit Link Up

When I found out that our final MAP tests of the year were beginning on May 4th, I just knew I had to connect that to Star Wars. May the 4th Be With You. Each day when we get back from testing, I will serve them a little themed snack (made by a parent) and we will do a fun activity. This was a great pin to get my juices flowing! 

I was inspired by this pin for our Family Gifts this year. Each student will choose how to incorporate their handprints into a design for a reusable grocery bag. I bought some really beautiful blue ones on Amazon. 

I made this ice cream already, but I just had to share! My Kitchenaid mixer ice cream attachment had its maiden journey on this recipe. It was delicious! 

Our Movie Review Celebration

In writing, my students have been working on Movie Reviews. I posted a week ago about some good YouTube examples and a little bit of info about the Let's Go To The Movies unit I sell on TPT.

Today, we had a celebration! I meant for us to do this last week, but since everyone wanted to type their final drafts and we only have four computers, we had to postpone a bit.

It was a super simple celebration. Sometimes that's all it takes. Actually, I'd venture to say that MOST times, that's all it takes!

We did a "museum walk" to share. Then, students gave out a few "Movie Tickets" to compliment the writers. We had a little lesson before this to be sure that the compliment was related to the writer's craft, and not the reader's personal opinion of the movie.

So, for example:
I want to see your movie because you said it's full of action and I love action movies.
...is a way to give feedback to the reader, not:
I want to see this movie because I love this movie!

Finally, I passed out popcorn for students to enjoy as they read their compliments and pieces again (they love reading those beautifully typed-out pieces!).

It was so nice to begin our week with a little writing celebration!

Dig Deeply Series

Hi everyone! For the past few months, I have been creating, refining, and posting new units as a part of a series called Dig Deeply Into Math: Higher Order Thinking.

I've been taking it slowly, as I have been testing these products in my own classroom. Why do I think you would be interested? Well, keep reading:

Each product takes the Common Core standard and stretches it. Take a look at this example from the multiplication unit. Students aren't just solving problems, but they must move on to connecting them to a real life story, and then choosing the best strategy for solving it.

An Example from the Multiplication Unit

Each activity offers the opportunity for tiered work. Struggling students may not be ready to do each piece, and that's ok! Their work on any portion is valid as practice or assessment toward the standard.

And Finally.


My favorite part.


Each activity has a specific assessment checklist. 
Need I say more? In my classroom, students use these to self-assess, which is such a powerful way to make students leaders of their own learning.

An Example from the Addition and Subtraction unit. 

So check out this collection by grabbing a unit in my store! OR buy the growing bundle now!

Addition and Subtraction
Money
Time
Multiplication

My Growing Bundle!

Science Misconceptions as Claims

This year, nothing has held my kids back from learning Science more than the things they think they know. Or, their misconceptions.

What's more, as we begin reading and talking and learning, they tend to make more "claims" that sound good but haven't been proved by any reading or research.

So we are making this chart to keep track of our claims. Our topic for the next two weeks is the Sun. We will study what causes day and night and what causes the seasons. I hope that this chart helps my Scientists be more reflective and careful with their Science thinking and talking. See below for a little explanation.

Yes
Sound claims using Science vocabulary. For example, When the Earth rotates on its axis, the part that faces the sun is having day and the part facing away from the sun is having night.

Needs Work
These are claims that are close, but just need a little tweaking. For example, When the Earth spins, you have day and night. 

No
Claims that introduce a misconception. For example, When the Sun comes up it's day and when the Moon comes up it's night. 

Needs Research
Things that sound logical based on your reading or experience, but that your teacher doesn't really know or remember the answer to or can't be found in a classroom text. For example, When the Sun goes out it will explode. 

How do you address misconceptions in the classroom?

Oh, and here is an article that popped up on my Facebook newsfeed recently, called Why Teachers  Need To Know The Wrong Answers