Bear Says Thanks {Read Aloud Lesson}

Good morning! I wanted to share a post that I wrote over at Classroom Tested Resources, a collaborative blog that I'm part of! I was featured just yesterday with this post!

In case you haven't read it there yet, I wanted to share it here too! PLEASE be sure to head over to the CTR blog though to see tons of awesome ideas that a collaboration of teachers share DAILY! There are a variety of topics and grade levels covered...and some GREAT ideas!

I'm always looking for fun ways to teach (and review/practice!) nouns. I'm going to share how to use a simple read aloud and have your students help you find nouns in the story by recording them in their reading notebooks. Also, you could easily modify this by you (the teacher) creating an anchor chart as more of a shared lesson. It would depend on the age of the kids. My second graders can be kind of in between when it comes to the ability on this. Sometimes it's just easier for me to do a shared anchor chart together, rather than wait for each kid to "keep up" with us in their own notebooks. In doing this, I would have my own notebook under the document camera and I'd be working right along with the kids, so it would still be a "shared/guided" lesson.

First of all, I love The Bear Books by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. My girls at home love them and my students love them. They are adorable and fun stories! (They are pretty quick reads, too!) For this lesson, I used "Bear Says Thanks".

I started by doing a quick mini-lesson with my students about what nouns are: person, place, or thing. However, I did add in ANIMALS to my list, too.  This can be kind of a questionable subject I have found, some teachers think you should just put animals under THINGS, which I agree with since they are THINGS. However, for this particular story, it worked well for me to actually add the extra category of ANIMALS because this book is all about animals and there aren't any PEOPLE included in this story. So, in this case, I had to show them that you won't always find something for all of the noun categories in a story because sometimes people or animals aren't included. I did keep the PEOPLE category on the simple chart we made though. We have done other activities where they have practiced finding PEOPLE as nouns, so I felt comfortable doing it this way.

Next, I started the read aloud and told students to listen for nouns that they hear in the story. But, I reminded them that we will read it a second time, so they won't if they don't remember all of them! (I just wanted them to enjoy the story first!)

Next, I asked students to just verbally name some animals, places, and things that they remembered from the story. We are sitting on my carpet (where we always do read alouds) and they raise their hands and share with the class some nouns that they can recall from the story. They could name quite a few!

After that, we head back to our desks and take out our reading notebooks. In my own reading notebook, I model how to draw a quick, simple chart (nothing fancy!!) and they copy it into their notebooks too.

Then, we opened up the book (under the document camera) and I started rereading the story while the students followed along, and we searched for nouns. We stopped on each page and started filling them into our chart together. They helped me and I helped them. 

We all worked together and my students loved it! I found it to be a fun and easy way to "come up" with nouns instead of just trying to think of them on their own. Especially because authors of some of these awesome books use such GREAT vocabulary in their writing that students would most likely not think of on their own. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't think of them either!!

Obviously, this idea could be used with ANY book that you choose at any time of the year! I also think this has helped my students with not only knowing what nouns are, but giving them some ideas for better vocabulary when it comes to their own writing! 

I've created a freebie to go along with this story as a special gift for reading my blog post today! You could easily put it into a workstation after teaching this lesson, just to reinforce the skill. Also, if you notice some students just not quite grasping the concept, this would be a fun and easy activity to do afterwards in a small reading group or one-on-one. 

If you really enjoy this book Bear Says Thanks, please visit my store for a full literature companion pack that contains multiple centers and activities to go along with the book. It's coming soon!

Don't forget to check out the CTR blog for some awesome ideas from a great variety of bloggers! Click below to head over there now!

Need Fresh NEW Materials for the NEW School Year!? {Freebies included!}

I just thought I'd share some of my products with you today that I think would be great for BACK TO SCHOOL time! I've been back in school for a week, but I know some of you are just getting into that mode. Actually, I'm still getting into the mode too! :) I'll give a short explanation, then just click on the picture to find it in my store. Some are freebies, others you may want to add to your wishlist! :)

 A FREEBIE that I love. I had been creating this chart for quite a few years, but I finally put it into a digital format so others can use it too! Check it out! Essential for the beginning of the school year, so your students can get to know the difference between fiction and non-fiction right away. 

Another FREEBIE! I use these in workstations and to start small groups to get kids warmed up! This is a small FREE set, but I also have full sets of all 6 Fry's Phrase levels available in my store (later in this post!)

These are my VERY POPULAR fluency phrase games. I have multiple sets of these. All of them have the same Fry's phrases, but in different format/clip art. My students like to see things changed up, even if it is just different clipart. This first one is a Super Reader (Superhero Alligator) themed set. I also have a "Back to School" themed set with school supplies as the clipart. There are 6 games that can be played as a workstation/center or in a small group. My favorite way to do this is to teach them in the small group and play on and off for a few weeks, then later put it out in an independent center/workstation for them to play on their own. I'm sure they might even have fun playing these games for indoor recess and would they even know they are practicing reading? Maybe, maybe not. :)

 

This a Back-to-School set that I JUST finished putting together! It's geared more toward third graders, but if you feel like some of your 2nd graders need a challenge, check it out! I actually created a unit of centers to go along w/ the first unit of 3rd grade Treasures. These centers are the ones that I pulled out of that unit that I felt ANYONE could use! (Not just limited to the Treasures teachers!) I just HAD to do this because some of the centers turned out SOOOO cute that I didn't want to only limit it to the Treasures teachers! One of my favorite sets! There are SIXTEEN centers included here. You just print, laminate, cut out some pieces and GO! Hopefully they will last you a few years if your students are nice to them! :)

This is my 2nd grade Back to School Mega Pack set. Similarly, I pulled these out of the 2nd grade Treasures sets. I didn't want those centers to just be limited to the Treasures teachers. So these centers can be used by anyone at the beginning of the year. Print, Laminate, Cut, Go! :) 30 centers are included! Huge set! 

This is another of my BRAND new products and I just used it in my classroom this past week! If you have the book Wemberly Worried, this is a MUST HAVE companion pack. There are graphic organizers, activities, and printable hands-on centers included in this pack!

Similar to Wemberly Worried, here is a pack to go with an all-time favorite, Chrysanthemum! We did this last week too, the kids loved it and stayed very engaged!

I also have a companion pack for First Day Jitters. Graphic organizes and hands-on centers included! Check it out by clicking on the picture below!

I love using these math problem solving tasks for my 2nd graders. I have a set for every month of the school year. We do one each day to get warmed up and ready at the beginning of our math block. These could also be used for morning work or homework! I have created them three to a page so they are more printer friendly! If you like them, I have the whole year bundled in my store! Also, if you use Envisions Common Core, you will really like these because I pretty much followed the skills being taught in that series each month when I made these.

My mClass print and go packets are very popular! MCLASS is an assessment that we use here in the state of Indiana (and I'm sure others use it too!) But, these sheets can be used by anyone and I know a lot of people have commented that they have no idea what MCLASS is, but they love these! Ha! It's true, they are good practice for morning work, homework, and extra seat work. You can print them and copy them for your kids or you can put them in a sheet protector with a dry erase marker and have them used in a center. These are also available as a full year set if you fall in love with the September set! :) 

Here is another set of fluency phrases, but this time it's in a roll and read format, not the cards like the previous ones. I print these, put them in sheet protectors, then into a three-ring binder. I pull out a sheet per child for them to practice with during small groups to get warmed up. I also have a "Snow Princess" (Frozen!) version!

Fluency posters that I hang up behind my small group table to help each my students how to be fluent readers. We focus on part of fluency each week! 

I just finished this FREE bulletin board set and added it to my store! They are iPad templates that I added a picture of each child reading a book on, plus they wrote "I like reading because..." on the bottom of each iPad. Pretty quick and easy bulletin board for the beginning of the year! 

Last, but certainly not least, I also use WONDERS in my classroom and I have created resource sets to go with all of the 2nd and 3rd grade units. They are broken down by the week, but you can purchase a full unit at a time too. If you have looked in my store before, you will see that I have Unit 1, Week 1 available for both 2nd and 3rd grade for FREE! This is a huge value because even though it's a sample, it's a FULL sample of one week and you will quickly see how much is included in these full sets! Check it out if you use the Wonders reading series! You won't be sorry! I'm going to link the pictures below to the FREEBIES, but please note that you can click on "Wonders" over on the left hand side in my store and see ALL of my Wonders resources! They are very popular and as you can see by the reviews, they are used by many and LOVED by many. I love using them in my own classroom and after print and laminating them, this will be my third year using them in my room. They are still in good shape! 

I hope this blog post wasn't taken as me bombarding you with products to purchase from my store. I really just wanted to take some time to explain some of my favorites that I think are essential for back to school time. My 2nd grade classroom pretty much RUNS on many of the products mentioned here I authentically USE all of them in my room (even parts of the 3rd grade Wonders sets, I have printed and laminated them for extra stations and for my more advanced readers!) Again, not just trying to bombard you with BUY THIS BUY THIS BUY THIS. I have included many freebies that I hope you will find helpful as well. Good luck in your new school year and please continue to follow me here on my blog, Facebook, and my TPT store. I'm always creating things and throwing freebies up that I have created for my own room! 

Back to School Book Favorites {Freebie Linky}

I did a post earlier about my favorite back to school books, but I wanted to tell you more about A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue! {Plus there are some other blogging buddies linking up to this that will tell you about their favorite back to school books too!}

I just discovered this book this past school year when I asked for recommendations on my Facebook page and a few teachers recommended it. I ordered it right away on Amazon and ended up loving it! It's a book that you might want to revisit a few times through the school year, or just revisit the topic and remind the kids of "tattle tongues." They will remember what you are talking about! I even find myself saying it at home, then realizing that I haven't read it to my own kids yet! LOL

The book goes over rules of when you should and should not tattle. For example, if someone is in danger, you should tell someone immediately. But, if someone is not in danger and what they are doing has nothing to do with you, you shouldn't tattle. It's fun to give the kids examples after reading the book and see if they can transfer what they learned in the book into "real life" (even though it's on paper!) Then as the year goes on, you will find out if they can transfer the rules to real life too. If they start to have trouble, read it again!! 

This year, I'd like to give my students this quick "check for understanding" after reading and discussing the book. If you'd like your own copy for free, click on the picture below. Don't forget to leave feedback and then click on the others in this linky below for more ideas for back to school books to read!

An InLinkz Link-up

CTR Guest Post: Fluency Fun & Freebie

I can't believe that May is here! Only 25 more days left of school for me! This year has flown by!

Head over to the Classroom Tested Resources blog today where I'm guest posting! I've written a post about how I practice fluency in my classroom and I've also left a freebie!




Also, just in case you didn't see on my Facebook page, I have posted my popular mClass Print and Go Practice packet for May, along with my May Math Problem Solving Tasks!

          

Butterfly Life Cycle 2015

Did you see my post over at Classroom Tested Resources? 

Today, I'd like to share with you how I plan ahead for the Butterfly Life Cycle Unit that I do in my 2nd grade classroom every year.  

The Importance of Planning Ahead

I think we all know the importance of planning ahead. However, when caterpillars are involved, you really have to plan ahead and make sure you are ready for their arrival. Our district studies the Butterfly Life Cycle in every 2^nd grade classroom. The day that the “box” arrives is always an exciting one…more so for the students than the teacher. The box with the big red letters LIVE on it can only mean one thing. Drop everything you had planned for that day and it’s caterpillar time! It’s important to have a PLAN! 

A few weeks before the anticipated arrival of the crawly little caterpillars, I start front-loading my students on the butterfly life cycle. We start talking about what they already know, what they want to learn, what they think will happen, etc. Usually many students know Eric Carle’s story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  However, we need to plan ahead to know that all of those things that caterpillar eats will not be part of our real caterpillars’ diets. 

Starting with a KWL

I use these to help me understand what the kids already know and what they want to know. I also make my own to remind myself of what I want them to know when we are finished with the unit. You can click the KWL organizer below to get a FREE COPY for yourself from my TPT Store!

Planning Ahead Through Reading

 My other favorite way to plan ahead and front-load my students is to completely immerse them in caterpillars and butterflies in the classroom through books. 

I put these books in our seasonal book basket for literacy center rotations. We also read some of these books in our small groups and for read aloud time. I let the students choose these books for their independent reading time. All of this planning ahead will pay off because we will be ready when the caterpillars arrive. Plus…it builds excitement!

Caterpillar Arrival Day

This year, I am planning head for this arrival day. I have created an anchor chart to remind the students of all of the steps we must take when the caterpillars arrive. Plus, I have added some rules for handling the caterpillars.  We also work together ahead of time to make sure we have all of the materials needed for the caterpillars’ arrival.  

Daily Observation & Recording

Here is where we record our observations daily (Or almost daily!) Sometimes it can be a hard task to get everyone’s caterpillar cups out to observe, but our goal is to observe every day! We use the magnifying glasses, then draw a “life-sized” picture of the caterpillar, along with a description, especially if it has changed since the day before.

During these daily observations, we are still reading all of the books that we have to learn even more about our caterpillars while we anticipate the next steps of the life cycle. 

Chrysalis Transfer

Soon, the students start to observe the caterpillar transforming into its chrysalis. At this point, it’s important to have a plan to transfer the chrysalis into the classroom butterfly net “home.” This is mainly done by the teacher, as each chrysalis can be very fragile.  

Butterfly Arrival Planning

Soon, the kids will start notice a lot of wiggling going on inside the net. When this happens, you know that some of the butterflies will start emerging soon, so you need to have "food" available. You'll want to have food available before they come out, but not too soon, or it will dry up.  We use small dishes of sugar water. It is possible to have a straw coming out of the net so you can continue to add water to "wet" the food in case it dries out too soon.  Your students can also help plan for the butterfly arrival by bringing in sticks and flowers for the butterflies. But, once all of the butterflies emerge (depending on how many you have) there isn't much extra room in there! 

Butterfly Flight Day

It's important to plan ahead and be honest with your students from the beginning of the project by telling them that you WILL be letting the butterflies go soon after they all emerge inside the net. This will be upsetting for some of the students (it is every year...), but you can assure them that if they stay in the net they won't be getting the right food and they will not live. It's more important to let them go so that they can find the correct food that they need. Make a party out of it and a big deal! You can even write letters to the butterflies once you come back inside! I have had a lot of students have "sightings" of their butterflies in the weeks following flight day.  

Butterfly Life Cycle Kit

Everyone has their own way of completing the butterfly life cycle with students, but if you are looking for a full set of already prepared activities to get you through the life cycle, here is my full kit in my TPT store. Also, in case you missed it, click on the KWL picture above to get that for FREE from my store. My entire kit is listed below. I hope all of this will help you plan for butterflies in your classroom, whether it's a requirement of your district (like mine) or it's something you've always wanted to do, but didn't quite know how to prepare for it! 

Thankful for All of You {TPT Milestone}

As I started this amazing adventure with TPT near the end of 2012, I never dreamed that I would be hitting one of the milestones that I had read about other sellers reaching. In January 2014, I hit the first milestone and I was overjoyed and so thankful. One year later, I have reached the second milestone and I can't even begin to explain how fortunate and thankful I am.

This journey has been amazing and I have to tell you that I have learned so much from all of my followers on Facebook, my blog, Instagram, and those that buy my products. I read every single piece of feedback and every single comment. I have learned many things that have actually made me a better teacher. I have become more precise and professional in many ways.

Although I create things to use in my own classroom, then share them with others on TPT, I also purchase MANY things from other TPT sellers and teachers around the country! I can hardly stand to look back at my teaching before I started utilizing TPT! The resources that I have collected from all of the amazing sellers around the country are amazing and have TRULY changed me as an educator! 

My family and I THANK each and every one of you that read my blog, follow my Facebook page, follow me on Instagram and follow me on TPT. All of your support is noticed every single day. This "second job" of mine is truly a passion. I am completely in love with creating products and sometimes I wonder if it's addicting!


To celebrate this milestone, TPT has mentioned my STUCKEY IN SECOND store in their weekly newsletter/blog post. Also, I have marked a product to FREE for the entire week. This is a limited time freebie, so scoop it up while you can! I love using QR codes in the classroom, but this can be used even if you don't have devices with QR code readers in your classroom. You can simply use it as an AROUND THE ROOM activity!!!

Again, this is free the week of February 8th, 2015. If you are visiting my blog post after that date, thank you! This item will still be available, but not for free after that limited time. Please check out my store for plenty of other freebies!

This honestly has been a difficult post to write because I don't know how to truly explain how thankful and grateful my family and I are. Not only have I hit another milestone in sales, I have actually hit a milestone in my life and career. I have developed a passion for creating materials, I've discovered my own creativity, and I've truly accomplished something that I had no idea I could ever do. If you asked me about all of this ten years ago, when I started teaching second grade, I would have had no idea what a blog even was!

THANK YOU!

Super Bowl Sunday Freebies

Good news! Some friends and I have come up with some football freebies for you! I want to thank you for following my blog and also celebrate how many times I have blogged so far in 2015!

Thank you!

Whether or not you are watching the big game today, and no matter who  you are cheering for, your students will love these FOOTBALL THEMED FREEBIES!

Please just do me a huge favor.

I know that you follow my Teachers Pay Teachers store (at least I hope you do, so you don't miss any of my goodies!) I also have a feeling that you might follow Abbie's Tales From the First Grade's TPT page since I mention her work a lot! 

Please be sure to FOLLOW everyone who has left freebies for you on my post today. They are all my personal friends and have just started out posting their amazing work on TPT. Please help them out by following their TPT stores and watching for all of the future products! After you download their freebies, just click FOLLOW on TPT. :) Thank you so much!

From Stuckey in Second:

From Tales From the First Grade by Abbie Jinnings:

From Fables from the Kitchen Table:

From Michelle Meyer:

From Hostler's Third Grade Thinkers: