Made My Week!

I know this blog should be about the current class and all the learning we do; but, I have to share what happened with a former student this past week.  I mean, after all, it's not like these kids ever stop being my students, even after they leave 2nd grade they will always be one of "mine" from here on out!

This week I was reminded of how it really is the little things you don't even realize you do that makes the largest impact on the students I teach.  I had just finished getting a haircut when I received a text message from a parent from a previous year.  She said her son was having a hard time finding a good book or series to read and it was making him not want to read again.  This mom had asked his current teacher for some help in selecting level appropriate books her son may enjoy.  The boy then told her mom that, "Mr. Price picks good books, can you ask him?"

I LOVE THAT!  It's an amazing feeling that what he remembers from me is the entertainment he received from the books I read aloud or pointed him to read.  It really is the little things that make the difference!  But, now I have a responsibility to live up to and hope I can direct him in the right direction ~ I have 3 for him to check out and hope at least 1 does the trick or my credibility may be ruined :)

2nd Trimester Awards Assembly

I am very proud of everyone's work this last trimester!  For the first time in a couple of years, I can say each and every student earned an award of some kind this trimester ~ that's incredible!  I am also very amazed at the fact that none of our current students received a single tag in class during the 2nd trimester.  That's an amazing accomplishment in itself!

My goal for the final trimester is to have every student reach their AR goal with the correct accuracy and have every student earn a citizenship award!  How amazing would it be if the entire class got to go on the final Wildcat trip together?

The AR goals are reachable if students read in their levels and quiz weekly in the computer lab.  Remember, students get their new books from the school library on Fridays and they have all week to read as we go to the computer lab on Thursdays.  Students should be able to quiz on a minimum of 5 books a week at that rate!

Great work in the 2nd trimester and I'm expecting even better in this final term of 2nd grade!

Promise to Get Better

At yesterday's staff meeting another teacher told me I had a parent complimenting me on Facebook for using a blog and how much they liked seeing what was going on but wish I'd update more often.  That made my day!!!!  Of course, it also made me feel so guilty for not updating it more often!  I know the parent posting completely understands time issues; but, really, the main reason I haven't updated more often is I never know if anyone is reading or if it is for my own amusement.  So, knowing I have at least 1 parent following our blog will motivate me to make a better effort at updating more often!

How Do These Conversations Start?

Today was a long day and by the afternoon we were a little restless and overworked.  It was time for some brain downtime; so, as students worked on an Abraham Lincoln word search and color page, I turned on the projector and played Ninjump on the iPad.  The character is in a Panda suit so this sparks a conversation among the kids about pandas.  Okay, reasonable enough; but, how did we go from pandas to Mexican food?  See if you can follow this rabbit trail. . .

Student 1:  Does anyone eat at Panda Express?
Several students reply with yes.
Student 2:  No, I don't like Mexican food.

Students gasp and I'm waiting for the every so nice <insert sarcasm> (have you ever heard kids correct each other, it's rarely ever nice!) explain that Panda Express is NOT Mexican food; but, nope.  The gasps were in response to a student not liking Mexican food!  So many asked how he could not like it and how it's the best food.  I actually had to rethink the idea myself and wondered, "Is Panda considered Mexican food?"

Oh, how I love the rabbit trails these kids can take!  This one will stay with me for a while.

Class Read Aloud ~ The BFG

Welcome back to the new year!  It's been a while since I've posted on here; but, today has already been an exceptional day and I am so impressed by this class!

We came back from vacation and I needed a new read aloud.  I chose a book I haven't read in many years ~ The BFG by Roald Dahl.  The book has been great to help students see how to check in and ask questions as they read.  We are also working on our visualizing skills and creating a picture/movie in our head as we read.  It takes quite a while to get through a chapter because we stop so much to create those pictures, make connections and check our vocabulary understanding.

As I was reading today's chapter there was no doubt these kids are paying attention to this book and creating their mental images!  I never know if they are truly understanding; but, today the book was talking about soda bubbles and how they should travel.  In Giant Country, the soda bubbles travel downward to keep from burping.  My students were quick to see where this was going!  If the bubble travel down instead of up, the air bubbles have to come out somewhere and they were already cracking up before I could even attempt to explain that one.

I am not one for "fart" humor; but, I love the way this book handles what the giant calls "whizzpopping."  The descriptive language had the students busting up laughing and truly enjoying a great book!  What amazes me the most is they got the point WITHOUT me having to spoon feed it.  That's what I've been waiting for as their teacher, they day they begin being active in their learning and make connections on their own.

Have I mentioned how much I love teaching this class?  They are an exceptional group of kids!

It's Been a While. . .

With the Thanksgiving holiday coming and going so quickly I realize it's been quite a while since anything has been posted ~ sorry for the lapse in updates :(

It was great talking to everyone during parent conferences!  I think this was the smoothest year of conferences I've every had.  We truly have a great bunch of students who work hard so they can play hard.  I hope I was able to answer all questions and concerns during conferences; but, remember, at any time you can e-mail me any questions and I can clear anything up.

I just sent home a notice about our Calico fundraiser and how well we did!  If you didn't receive that, please check your child's backpack to get that information as there are details on what I would like to do with the money if we can bring in a little more!  So far we have brought in $656 through the Silent Auction ~ way to go parents!

Another fundraising opportunity has fell in to our laps and I'm jumping on it!  Check out the attached flier below for more information; but, basically there's a parent bringing their store to the school cafeteria where you can shop for Christmas gifts and 30% of your sales will be donated to the class of your choice (of course I'm hoping you'll say Mr. Price in Room 14!)  This is an amazing opportunity to fund raise for the class with shopping you would do anyway ~ no pain fundraising :)  Be sure to print the flier out and post all over.  Share with family and friends and make sure they remember to say my name so our class gets the credit!

I hope everyone is doing well and keep your eyes open for Christmas party information coming home later this week!

Amazing Thinkers

I keep getting amazed at this class and what they are capable of accomplishing!  We were taking a math benchmark test and a word problem came up that I really wanted to scream over.  Here's the word problem:

Kate uses three pieces of wire for a project.

• The blue wire is 34 inches long.
• The red wire is 15 inches shorter than the blue wire.
• The green wire is 7 inches longer than the red wire.

How long is the green wire?

Okay, most of us can figure this out no problem; however, the kids are a bunch of 2nd graders barely learning to add and subtract in simple one step problems and here we have a multiple step process that kids have to analyze out.  I was ready to cry for them and as I read the question I saw the blank stares looking at me like I'd lost my mind!

But, the amazing thing, our of 22 students, 14 got the right answer!  I didn't expect but maybe 1 or 2 to figure it out; yet, over half the class was able to figure this complex thinking problem out.  Very impressed they broke the problem down and took the time to think it through.