Mr. Thompson's Second Grade Blog is now located at:
http://gcs.infostreamblogs.org/tthompson
Please visit as soon as you have chance! :-)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Wonderful Words
* I just found the most amazing web site! It's called: Wordle
You can type in a list of words and the site creates a "word splash" with all the words you entered.
Check out the word splash I made for our 2nd grade class...
* I read about it here
This is one of many wonderful blogs focused on using technology in the classroom at the Discovery Educator Network!
PS-- If you came looking for our first enrichment activity... Stay-tuned. I'm having some issues linking to the Student Center at Discovery education. I'm heading out on vacation this afternoon... When I return on Wednesday (6/25) I will hopefully be able to post an assignment for you! :-)
You can type in a list of words and the site creates a "word splash" with all the words you entered.
Check out the word splash I made for our 2nd grade class...
* I read about it here
This is one of many wonderful blogs focused on using technology in the classroom at the Discovery Educator Network!
PS-- If you came looking for our first enrichment activity... Stay-tuned. I'm having some issues linking to the Student Center at Discovery education. I'm heading out on vacation this afternoon... When I return on Wednesday (6/25) I will hopefully be able to post an assignment for you! :-)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The First Day of Summer Vacation!
* If you've had a chance to read the Welcome to Mr. Thompson's 2nd Grade pamphlet I sent home yesterday, you may be visiting this blog to take part in our summer enrichment program. The first excursion is in the works! I experienced some technical difficulties last night, my apologies.
I guess that's what I get for trying to work on my blog at midnight. After cleaning my classroom until 10:15PM! Mrs. Thompson and I then went out for a last day of school celebration dinner at Applebees until 11:30PM. Such is the life of a school teacher! :-)
This blog will be an interactive place with polls, videos, podcasts and more! Keep visiting to see the sights!
Welcome to Second Grade! :-)
Friday, April 11, 2008
New! Our Weekly Podcasts
Listen to these audio players to get a detailed update of our classroom learning...
Math Minute:
Reading Round-Up:
Writing Wrap-Around:
Math Minute:
Reading Round-Up:
Writing Wrap-Around:
Friday, March 28, 2008
Literacy Fast Break Wrap-Up for the week of March 24th
This week in reading we reviewed the "un-" prefix. Students read and sorted words with this prefix. We also learned about adding the "-ed" & "-ing" suffixes to one syllable words. Students were introduced to several new high frequency words as well.
We've been working our way through the theme entitled, "Family Time". Our main selection was the story, Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco. She is an amazing author! Polacco has written and illustrated scores of books for children. Click here to learn more about Patricia Polacco.
Have a great time playing a, Thunder Cake word scramble by clicking here.
Watch episodes of the Literacy Fast-Break Show by clicking below:
Episode 14
Episode 15
Episode 16
Episode 17
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Clouds in our Skies
We've been learning vast amounts about clouds. Students are learning the most common forms of clouds. They are also learning how clouds can give us a clue to what type of weather will be heading our way.
Students have learned about cumulus clouds...
These are the huge, puffy, white clouds that are usually out on warm and sunny days.
They are also learning about cirrus clouds...
These are white, wispy clouds usually found high up in the sky. It may be windy when these clouds are around.
Students have learned about stratus clouds too...
These clouds are like wide- gray blankets that hang low in the sky. They usually bring bad weather or mean that storms are on the way.
Students have read about clouds, written about clouds, and observed experiments involving clouds.
Do you have an observation to share about clouds? We'd love to hear it. Click on the, "comments" link to add your thoughts!
Students have learned about cumulus clouds...
These are the huge, puffy, white clouds that are usually out on warm and sunny days.
They are also learning about cirrus clouds...
These are white, wispy clouds usually found high up in the sky. It may be windy when these clouds are around.
Students have learned about stratus clouds too...
These clouds are like wide- gray blankets that hang low in the sky. They usually bring bad weather or mean that storms are on the way.
Students have read about clouds, written about clouds, and observed experiments involving clouds.
Do you have an observation to share about clouds? We'd love to hear it. Click on the, "comments" link to add your thoughts!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Literacy Fast Break Wrap Up 3-4 to 3-8
Click the following links to watch our 2nd week of Literacy Fast-Break shows...
Watch Episode 4
Watch Episode 5
Watch Episode 6
Watch Episode 4
Watch Episode 5
Watch Episode 6
Friday, March 7, 2008
Facing Fractions
I'm sure we all have different reactions to the math term... fractions. The world of math is full of many challenges and potential pitfalls. Fractions may have been fun or fearful for you. Let me say today... Fractions can be your friend! Just embrace them and don't be afraid! :-)
In Unit 8 of Everyday Mathematics we're working with fractions. Students are learning that fractions are equal parts of one (or a whole.) Students are learning to recognize and name shaded fractional parts of a shape. They are also learning to color fractional parts of shape.
Our first activity in the fraction unit involved folding squares into equal parts. We used fraction terms to discuss what the parts of the squares represented.
For example... Students folded a paper into two equal parts. Students then told me that the two parts of the square equaled halves of the square. We then reviewed how to write the numerical representation of the fraction one half: 1/2.
We're learning to have fun with fractions!
What are your impressions of fractions?
In Unit 8 of Everyday Mathematics we're working with fractions. Students are learning that fractions are equal parts of one (or a whole.) Students are learning to recognize and name shaded fractional parts of a shape. They are also learning to color fractional parts of shape.
Our first activity in the fraction unit involved folding squares into equal parts. We used fraction terms to discuss what the parts of the squares represented.
For example... Students folded a paper into two equal parts. Students then told me that the two parts of the square equaled halves of the square. We then reviewed how to write the numerical representation of the fraction one half: 1/2.
We're learning to have fun with fractions!
What are your impressions of fractions?
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Too Err is Human... To Learn About "-er" is Divine!
We are working on the sound chunk "-er" as one of our target skills in reading. Students have been reading messages and books looking for this sound chunk in class.
Below is an embedded video. We have begun using the Literacy Fast- Break Show to learn new skills and practice some old ones as well. Students have loved watching the videos and completing the hands-on activities that go with them.
In this video clip students read a morning message with many "-er" words within it. They then highlighted all the "-er" words on their own paper copy of the message. After that they learned about two different forms of "-er" words.
Do enjoy the video!
Below is an embedded video. We have begun using the Literacy Fast- Break Show to learn new skills and practice some old ones as well. Students have loved watching the videos and completing the hands-on activities that go with them.
In this video clip students read a morning message with many "-er" words within it. They then highlighted all the "-er" words on their own paper copy of the message. After that they learned about two different forms of "-er" words.
Do enjoy the video!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Getting Our Hands Dirty With "Hands-On" Science
I've always been a fan of "hands-on" learning. And science is a tremendous avenue to get this kind of learning happening in the elementary classroom.
Our recent unit in science has been focused on the earth. We've been discussing the earth's surface, plant-life, and fossils. Recently we've been learning how plants help us in our daily lives. Students have learned how we use plants for food, building material, medicine, and even clothing!
Students really enjoyed a short informational book entitled, From Tree to Paper . We were really surprised by all the steps that go into making trees into paper. This great book inspired us to try to make paper of our own!
We are currently in the midst of a paper-making experiment. We tore up sheets of newspaper and soaked them in buckets of water overnight. (Actually it ended up being two days, after another snow day!) When we got back to class we took the pulpy mixture from the buckets and pressed it out onto a screen. Each student got to handle and form their own bit of homemade paper pulp.
At this time we're waiting for the pulp to dry and will be comparing our homemade paper to real paper with a Venn Diagram.
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What are your thoughts on our experiment? Do you have any experiences making paper you'd like to share? What do you remember most about science from your school experience?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Science Video Review -- Matter
Watch these videos to get ready for the science assessment...
What in the World is Matter?
Properties of Matter
Forms of Matter
Fast Facts About Liquids
Morning Work Show 9-- Fast Facts About Gases
Morning Work Show 5-- Measuring Matter
What in the World is Matter?
Properties of Matter
Forms of Matter
Fast Facts About Liquids
Morning Work Show 9-- Fast Facts About Gases
Morning Work Show 5-- Measuring Matter
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