More info...

I was browsing around, trying to find some websites about second grade and I came across this website that has many blogs or websites for second grade. Within each of the websites that are linked to the site, there are creative ideas, tips, and ways that parents can get on and see what is happening or will happen in the year. I think that having a website for the classroom is neat because it gives parents a better way to comunicate with the teacher.

Recess!

Recently when I was observing Mrs.Thompson's class, they had recess while I was there. With this time I got to see a whole different side of the students. I saw who were friends within the class, who played with who and what they did when they were playing together. This gave me a whole differnt outlook because it allowed me to see more of what kind of a person they were, rather than just sitting in a desk. I found that a very interesting activty to observe in, but I learned so much from that.

Standards

With doing some research I came across a website that has the standards on them that must be taught in the classroom. This is a very neat websiter because there are standrads in there for all grades from pre-k to sixth grade. Also along with teh standards are ideas and ways to teach them.
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/skills_2nd.htm

Teachers Club

Today I was looking around on the internet for some ideas on second grade and I came acoss this website that is the second grade teachers club. In this website it has ideas, pictures, links, and questions. You can talk to too different teachers about questions or ideas that you have in the classroom and also help those who do have questions in the classroom. The website for this link is:

http://secondgradeteachers.multiply.com/

Reading

Today as I was thinking of some of the more important parts of school, I thought of reading. reading is the one subject that is hard for most students to understand or to be able to grasp. I googled different ways to see what would be ways to get students to want to do more reading and I came across some ideas:
1.Let the students have rewards when they are finished reading the book. This way they have ways to pucth themselves.
2.Set goals for the students, so once again they have to push themselves to the limit to get the reading done.
3.Have the different days set as something special.exaples: Monday's are munchie Mondays where they can bring in food to eat while reading, Wednesday's are "Winter Wednesday's" which mean that the students can bring in a stuffed animal or blanket to read with. I got these off of Mrs. Thompson and I believe that they work great in getting students to read!

Stars!

Today I went to Mrs. Thompson's class. In today's class it was a normal day. When I first arrived there today, Mrs. Thompson was having a meeting with anotehr second grade teacher. When it was time for the class to come back to the room she had me go down and get them to lead them back.This gave me a chance to go and do it on my own. It was very smoothly because they know who I am. When we got back they went to the reading corner and finshed their book. After this it was time for them to swith classes. Mrs. Cutnaw's class came to Mrs. Thompson's today and they learned about stars and constellations. This took them the whole thirty mintues because it was Mrs. Tompson's first day with them. After they switched back the class went right into T.A.B.. Then it was the end of the day.

Second Grader Thinks?

When doing research on how second graders think, I found a very interesting website on the way that students think and why they do. Below are some of the key things or ways that a "typical" second grader will think:

A second grader can understand and manipulate symbols related to concrete objects. They can understand, for example, that a plus sign means addition and can use them when appropriate.
Second graders are becoming logical. Although there are still moments when they jump to conclusions, you'll be able to understand even their wackiest thoughts.
Reverse thinking should no longer be an issue. Although a child may have a tough time retracing his mental steps, he should be able to remember how he came to his conclusion.
Second graders are still a little egocentric, but much less so than they were previously. They believe everyone sees the world as they see it, but they can finally understand other people's points of view.
Second graders are able to tell if there is a difference in number, length and volume when comparing two objects. Older second graders should also understand substance. For example, if they are shown clay and then watch someone break it up into little pieces and then put the pieces back together, a second grader will know that it's still the same amount of clay.

What to expect in secnd grade?

I was doing research on second graders and second grade minds and I came across this website. On this website I found out things taht parents should expect when they send thier second graders to school:
Reading: Second graders continue from wherever first grade left off, and teachers expect a wide variety of levels. But as reading becomes easier and more natural, the focus will shift from sounding words out to reading long stories. Keep reading aloud at home—but also encourage your child to read to you. Before reading, try making predictions; and afterward, talk over the story together. What does it all mean? These conversations are usually fun for both kids and parents; they’re also great for second grade learning.

Writing: Having finished first grade, your child can write at least one sentence. Now, in second grade, it’s time for a whole lot more. Expect your teacher to focus on “early production”—writing lots and lots—but also to introduce early editing skills like correct spelling and punctuation. Does Cousin Fred like getting letters? Now is a great time to encourage a pen pal.

Math: This is a big year for young mathematicians, not because there’s so much new stuff but because it’s so important that the basics are solid. Expect lots of work with place value, adding, subtracting, measurement, money, and time. These are lifetime skills, and there’s no such thing as too much practice, in school or out. You can provide steady, easygoing support when you invite help with counting grocery bills, keeping time schedules, or “racing the clock” to remember addition and subtraction facts.

Science/Social Studies. Second graders expand the map skills of first grade to reach out into geography and to explore historical timelines. Specific topics vary by region in the United States, but by the end of second grade, your child should recognize the continents; this will be added with the common science curriculum on water, marine life, weather, and geology. Your child should also understand the concept of country (and of different cultures), and be familiar with timelines that start before his or her birth. Do Grandma and Grandpa like to talk about where they’re from? Now’s a great time to schedule another visit.

Whatever the ups and downs in September, most second graders have settled quite a bit by the end of the year. You’ll notice longer attention spans, more reflective thinking; and often newly solid friendships as well. If, by the end of second grade, your child still does not appear to understand reading, or seems to crumple at the sight of a math book, make sure you consult your teacher. Now’s the time to fill in gaps and get set: third grade is just around the corner.
school.

I found this at http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Second_Grade_Settling/

Second Grade Blogs

Mr.Gallwitz has sent me some sites that are also in the second grade blogs. With looking at these I have found that there is something out there for everyone. After I read these,I know that when I do actually become a teacher I know that I can return back to certain things to find more and new answers..

http://teacherlingo.com/blogs/whosonsecond/default.aspx

First Lesson=Completed!

So, today I taught my first lesson of the year! It went pretty well, I guess that I am more critical on myself because I feel as if I could have done better. It went without any disruptions, but I just thjnk that I could have done something a little different to grasp the student's attentions.(This was also a class I have never seen before, so that might have had an impact on it.)I had a good time readingt the book with the class because I felt like I got to interact with them as I read. After I did that, I showed constellations on the board and they had to guess what they were, based from the paper that they had. When I finished with that, I gave them an example of one and they then got to make their own constellations due to their own creativity. That took us to the end of the class period. I am very happy that I got to teach and I can't wait to do it again!

Planning

With planning this lesson, it takes a lot of thinking time. For this certain lesson it is going to be easier because Mrs. Thompson gave me all of the material I need to use. I am just basing my lesson off of the one she would have used. I will be teaching a lesson over stars. I do know that in the beginning I will be reading a book to the class about stars. This book gives a basic overview of what stars are and just some basic/brief information on stars.When I am finished with that, I am going to give them a worksheet with constellations on them. Then I will project them on the front board and they will have to try and guess what each is. When I am finished with that I will have each make a constellation, either make believe or real. I am a little nervous for the lesson, but I do know that I have everything I need for it.Look forward to a post tomorrow!

Lesson!

Right now I am working on planning my first lesson!I'll have more to follow later!

Reading with the Class!

In my previous time at Mrs. Thompson's class, it was my first time to actually get ti interact ith the class just me with them. When I first got into the classroom, it was just Mrs. Thompson and myself because the class was in specails, which was library. We talked about what was going to go on for the day and I showed her what book I would be reading to the class. I explained to her what I planned to do as I read the book. We also discussed when I could really start and help out with the class more and get to really teach a lesson. We agreed that the next time I go that I would be splitting a lesson with her, that I way I could learn how to do the lesson, so the next time that the classes change, I can teach it on my own. I am very excited to actually start and just work with the kids. When I read the book to the class, it went well. And what makes it even better is that Mrs. Thompson is such a great mentor! She is very positive and always up beat!

Second Grade!

My second time in the second grade, it was a very good time. On this day here I always arrive when the students are in there special which was library. In this time, Mrs. Thompson and I got to discuss some, which is nice because we then have time to catch up. In this time we talked about the time that I would teach my lesson and what I am going to teach about. She told me that soon the second grade classes will be trading classes for a little bit in there science and social study section. For the fist switch they will be learning about the solar system. Mrs. Thompson told me that I can teach a part of the lesson to a class that will go along with the rest of what is being taught. I will base the lesson that I teach off of the lessons that Mrs. Thompson already has made up, that way all of her classes will learn the same thing. I am going to start off the year by just reading a read aloud to the class the next time that I go. She gave me a couple of books to choose from, they were ones that the class has not heard and that are different for them to hear. When the class came back they read a chapter from the chapter book James and the Giant Peach. This is the read aloud book that they have been reading everyday for read aloud. After they read a chapter, they are allowed to pick a few poems out of the poem book that they have. When they went back to their seats, they started to read out of a scholastic magazine. They took turns by being picked by Mrs. Thompson. She got into the reading by acting like a news broadcaster. They read about monuments. When they were done with that, they had a coloring contest, which was a eagle and they learned that, that was the state bird. That took the whole time for science/social time and then they began T.A.B. which is silent reading. I wrote down grades that the students got on the A.R tests. Some of the important things that I learned are:
*Try to get lesson plans done the week before because it saves a lot of time in the long run.
*Get active in the lessons you do, that way the class is interested in what is going on.
*Always work on grading when you have a chance.
I am very excited to go back and actually get to interact with the class!

First Day!

Thursday was my first day over in Mrs. Thompson's class and let me tell you it went great! Here class this year is so different from last year. The kids are quite and so well behaved. When I first arrived over there yesterday the class was in their special, which was reading. I got to talk to Mrs. Thompson about my situation and how we were going to be able to get everything done. We got most of that figured out and then it was time for her to go and get the class from the special. When I first met the class, I did know quite a few of the students, which was nice to already know names. When they arrived back to class they began reading out of a read aloud book that they have been reading. When they were finished with that, they did a memory activity where they had to study items on a table and be able to memorize them. I think that was a neat and active way to get the students to get to remember what memorization really is. Next, the class made a brain book and learned what it looked like and what it was made up of. For the end of the day they do T.A.B., which is silent reading. I got to help out with writing down scores for some of the students when they were done taking a test. In my first I have already learned many things. Mrs. Thompson is a great teacher to learn things from, especially hands on activities, ways to get the class to always pay attention and to keep them on their toes. I am so excited that my first day went so great and I am so excited to continue this year!

My Plans In 2nd Grade.

As I start blogging about what I am going to do in my second grade class, I plan on observing and working along side the students in the classroom. I want to do this because I plan on going to college to become an elementary teacher. As I observe in the classroom, I want to be able to have the experience to help out, teach, and learn many things during my time. I also plan on researching further into the topic of children at this age group and to find out as much as possible as I can about them. I know that by doing this it will help me further my education in early childhood education.