Common Core Connected Reading Tasks for 2nd Grade... It's HERE! {And a GIVEAWAY!}

A week ago, I posted about my Common Core connected reading response tasks for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades...

And now, they are available for 2nd grade as well!

These packs have a reading response activity for each RL and RI standard.

An "I can..." statement is at the top, along with a graphic organizer and then directions for (usually) two writing tasks involving a book and the graphic organizer.  The last task will be graded, using the rubric... OR use the editable PowerPoint included with each file to create your own rubrics!

Everything you need (including a rubric!) is on one page, that students glue into a composition notebook...

 

Task 1 is completed on a graphic organizer and then the rest of the tasks are to be completed on the paper to the right of the response sheet.

These are new for me this year and I can't WAIT to use them with my 3rd graders!

You can win a copy!

Just enter the Rafflecopter below!  It only runs for three days to give the winner time to look this over, print, and get it ready to use in class!  In fact... I'll choose TWO winners!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Small Group Sunday- What We're Doing This Week!

I don't know about you... but I LOVE teaching small group reading!  I'm so excited to share what we'll be working on this week as it's one of my FAVORITE standards to work on.

We're going to be working on RL 3.7- how illustrations work to help tell a story.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE using wordless picture books to teach this so, we'll be "reading" The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee.  This is a GREAT story and I can't wait to share it with my groups.  We'll also be creating "Thoughtmarks" from my Comprehension Thoughtmarks pack.  These are bookmarks that explain the strategy on one side and give kiddos a chance to practice it on the other.  Last, we are completing a "Snapshot" assessment that will help me see if my kiddos understand how photos contribute to a story.

We'll also be reading the leveled stories from one of my newest creations.  I am so psyched to implement these as all of my reading groups will be reading essentially the same story, but each story is appropriately leveled to deliver the exact same content at an appropriate reading level!

That's what we're working on in small groups this week.

You can find the items I'm using on TpT if you want to check them out!

Leveled passages- also available for 2nd grade!

Thoughtshots!  Love them!

And the half page "Snapshots" assessment comes from this pack!

HUGE File Update!

Getting ready to head out to celebrate my sister's b-day but wanted to pop on to let you know about a HUGE file update!

My CCSS bookmark pack just tripled in size with the addition of "Thought"marks... which you print on the backs of the bookmarks to allow students to practice each strategy!

Two "Thought"marks are included for each bookmark to allow for differentiation... one thoughtshot is more "guided" type practice while the 2nd one for each standard allows students to practice with their own text.

If you have bought this, re-download!  For tonight only, it's $1 off if you want to grab it!  Just click the pic to see more!

File Update!!! {if you have the CCSS daily review packs!}

On Sunday {as the Lions were sadly getting their behinds kicked by the BOO!  HISS!  Packers...}, I shared one of the ways I'm using my ELA CCSS checks in my classroom.

I use them in lots of ways...

*for quick CCSS reviews during morning meeting
*as a "game" during transition times {students can get 1 NERD candy if they get the answer correct}
*as exit slips

And last week I used them to assess understanding about finding lessons/morals in a text and then proving your thinking by highlighting parts of the text.

I shared this pic on Sunday...

I used the text search feature to find the sheets that contained the word "lesson" and printed those out.  I printed out all of the "lesson" pages from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade packs so I could differentiate for my differing reading levels.

I cut the out and taped them onto a page with directions for students to write the lesson/moral of the story and then to go back to the text and highlight specific information that helped them understand the lesson.

It worked very well and was a great way for me to differentiate while checking for understanding.

If you have these packs, which are some of my favorite things I've ever made for TpT, you can re-download them to get this updated PowerPoint file that will allow you to create pages similar to the picture above so you can use the CCSS cards as assessments or extra practice pages!

If you don't have the packs and are interested in them, they are available for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade CCSS as well as in a 1st/2nd and 2nd/3rd bundle.  Click HERE to check them out on TpT.

Winner, Anchor Charts in a Departmentalized Classroom, and My Accomplishment!

I'm here!  And finally blogging!

First up...

The winner of the Snapshots! Critical Thinking Photo Cards from Learning Resources is the lovely Tattooed Teacher Mrs. Rachel Lamb!  Yay!!!!!  If you missed the giveaway or just want to learn more about the photo cards, click the pic below to check out my review and see some pics!

Second... anchor charts in a departmentalized classroom... 

I love making anchor charts and just creating charts together as a class.  But I teach ELA to two classes and don't like using twice the paper and feeling like I can't make the charts fun and interesting looking because I have to make two.

Crisis solved!

Here's what I do...

I create the charts and we use sticky notes to write responses!  Then I can peel off the sticky notes for the first class, add new ones for my class, take those off, and re-apply the ones for the other class when I see them the next day so we can review!

The top picture is my small group area.  The kids write on sticky notes for this chart.  The second chart is at my whole group instruction area and I do most of the writing.

Do you know the website http://www.readworks.org?  It's amazing.  I've been using the passages from this site for my small group instruction.  They are expertly leveled and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you can search for passages that target specific comprehension skills.  The site is free and is seriously amazing.

The pic below is of one of my small group kiddos making a prediction (on a specially made Vistaprint sticky note!) so that we can stick the prediction on one of our anchor charts.

Sneaking in something that wasn't in the blog title...

Have you bought the 100 Days to CCSS *ELA* Success that I have for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades?  I wanted to show you one of the new ways I used them this week...

I made a quick written response page with a large space at the top.  We were working on proving the lesson of a text so I searched the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade for the word "lesson" and printed out the pages from all of the packs that asked students to prove the lesson.  I cut them out, taped them in the black space on each response page, copied, and... voila!  A CCSS aligned, perfectly differentiated activity for students to write down the lesson from the story and then highlight the info in the story that led them to understand the lesson.

It went so well and gave me a great idea of who understood what... and my lower readers read the 1st grade passages which still assessed their understanding but allowed them to read independently!  Yay!

If you click the pic below, you can check them out on TpT.  I am adding a page similar to the one I used above to each packet as you read... so re-download if you have each pack to get the update!

Last... my accomplishment...

Yesterday my two best friends and I ran a 5K together.  BFF #1 and I started training about 8 weeks ago and we seriously could not run for one minute.  We did C25K three days a week.  We ran twice a week at 5:30am and on Saturdays at about 8:00am.  BFF #2 and I got together a few times after work to train but none of us could run 1 minute in the beginning.  I am so proud to say that yesterday we finished the Color Run in about 35 minutes... we walked a teeny tiny bit, but ran almost the whole thing and crossed the finish line arm in arm together!  I love these girls and had so much fun running the 5K with them!

Thanks to my #1 blog stalker for the inspiration and for coming to cheer us on!

What's In the Box???? An AMAZING ELA Giveaway!!!!

Ok friends... yesterday I showed you the box I got in the mail from my friends at Barker Creek Publishing.

So, here's what I got last week...

Then I opened it and this was what I saw...

Are you getting excited yet?

Ok... I gingerly pulled this paper off (aka- feverishly ripped it out of the box) and this was below...

It is their ENTIRE "Reading FUNdamentals book and poster pack" and it is seriously amazing.  Like, uncontrollable-smile-giddy-with-glee-as-you-thumb-through-the-books-and-look-at-the-cute-posters-amazing.  Seriously.

It has large posters and small poster sets AND workbooks for homonyms, synonyms & antonyms; compound words, nouns, verbs & adverbs, adjectives, collective nouns ,prefixes & suffixes, idioms, and similes.

I love the colorful, kid-friendly illustrations and kid-friendly language.

Check out these workbooks... I LOVE them.  They really make kids think, make connections to their learning, and apply their learning.  Did I mention I LOVE them?

They also sent me printouts of all of the ways these materials are CCSS aligned... look how thick this folder of Common Core goodness is...

I already have some of their products and love these grammar posters...  You can click the pic to see how I used them in my classroom.

They have also just launched a new line of classroom decor that is too stinkin' cute!  I love these happy birds!

But wait, it gets better.

Barker Creek Publishing is going to GIVE, yes GIVE, one lucky winner the entire set of "Reading FUNdamentals books and posters".  It's over a $150.00 value, so we are talking about a major prize here, friends.  Each component of the kit is also available separately if you'd like just the books or posters.  Here is the link to their GRAMMAR PAGE where you can find each part of this kit, plus lots more affordable goodies!!!

You can enter on the Rafflecopter widget below and I'll announce the winner on FRIDAY!

Click the picture to learn more about this amazing pack!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T-Minus 2.5 Days... and a Giveaway!

I can't believe that I only have two and a half days left!  It's NUTS.  It didn't actually hit me until this weekend that it really is the end of the year.  I'm looking forward to the break to work on things for next year, read, exercise, and catch up on some TV!  This year has gone by incredibly fast and I am so excited for next!

So, that's what I've been doing... working on wrapping up my year.  That's why I've been MIA from this little blog for almost a week.  But my report cards are DONE and that's cause for a celebration!  I teach ELA to two classes, so I had all of the ELA standards to go through for 56 kids PLUS behavior/social skills type report cards for my 26 homeroom kids!  I'm glad to have that done.  It was really exciting to see the growth they've made as I put in final grades.  I'm going to miss those kiddies!

I've also been working on a writing resource that is going to really help me in my room next year.  I love love love using writing folders in which kids document their own successes and/or hopes for future writing assignments and I've just finished a MONSTER of a pack that is 180 pages of writing goodness connected to the Common Core!  There are resources for setting up writing portfolios, a narrative, informative, and opinion writing prompt for each month, 30 extra writing prompts not monthly themed, a few writing graphic organizers, student check-lists for each type of writing for upper and lower elementary, and resources for getting students to talk and think about their writing.

I'm super excited about this!

I'm going to giveaway a copy too!  Just leave a comment and tell me anything about writing instruction in your classroom.  I'll pick a winner later this week!

In the meantime, it's on sale at TpT for a few days... you can check it out below!

Find it on TpT and Teacher's Notebook

First Grade Friends... I Haven't Forgotten You... You Can Win! And a Sale! And a Linky!

It's DONE!  It took me all day but it's finished

Fourth grade... you're next!  But probably not for a week or so.

I'll be giving away a copy of my 1st grade CCSS 100 Days of ELA Review to two lucky winners... just leave a comment.  Anything you want!  Hubby will pick a random number and I'll e-mail the winner a copy tomorrow!

Here it is on TpT if you want a sneak peek... or to add it to your wish list!  :)

 Check it out on TpT or Teacher's Notebook

I'm sure you've heard by now that Tuesday kicks off two days of huge savings at TpT!  I'll have everything in TpT and TN at 20% off and you get an EXTRA 10% off on TpT if you enter  the code TAD13 when you checkout!  Thanks Beth at Zip-a-Dee-Do-Dah Designs for this cute button!

And... check out my blog tomorrow!  I'll be hosting a great linky party, spotlighting some awesome feedback I've gotten on TpT.  If you let me the feedback that I post about, you can win a freebie from my store!

TGTF! Am I Right? Also... New 2nd Grade CCSS Item & You Can Win!

Thank GOODNESS tomorrow is Friday!  I can't wait for the weekend!  Hubby and I have date night every Friday and I am so looking forward to chilling at dinner with the hubs tomorrow!

This week has been crazy at school...  Tuesday we did a 3rd grade Wax Museum and it was AWESOME.  We had everyone from Barack Obama to Neil Armstrong to Wilma Rudolph... the kids worked SO hard and did such a great job!  I was so stinkin' proud of my students... I shed a few tears, gave lots of hugs, and was just amazed at how much my kiddos learned and how much I was able to assess through this project!

So, that has pretty much consumed our lives for about 2 weeks... researching, writing, creating, practicing... then yesterday I had a sub so today was a catch up day.  Tomorrow is our field day (please stay away, rain!) and so we had to take our spelling tests today too.

BUT... the good news is that I did get the 2nd grade CCSS 100+ Days of Review pack finished!  It's on sale for $1 off at TpT for the next few days, but you can win a copy!  Just leave me a comment, letting me know the highlight of your academic week.  Mine was the Wax Museum!  I'll have hubby select a few random numbers and will send two or so packs on Saturday to the winners!

In the meantime, I hope you'll check it out!

 Find it on TpT or Teacher's Notebook!

I'll be working on a 1st grade set starting this weekend and then movin' on up to 4th after that!

And now... bring on the weekend!

CCSS Daily Skill Review... Want One?

Phew!  I just finished a huge project I've been working on for my classroom next year...  I am so excited about this one!!!

A set of CCSS ELA review cards to use for about the first 100 days of school!

Check it out on TpT or on Teacher's Notebook!

There are 100+ passages, grammar reviews, and each one shows what the goal is and what standard it connect to.

It addresses tons of ELA standards!

There are 100+ review cards.  I'll be binding mine like one of those daily calendar type things for us to do each day during our morning meeting!  This pack is specific for 3rd grade CCSS, but if you aren't using CCSS or want to challenge 2nd graders or help your 4th graders review, it would be great too!

It's on sale right now for $1 off for the next week and I'll be starting on 1st and 2nd grade this week!

If you'd like to win a copy, just leave a comment saying anything on this dreary Sunday.  Hubby will pick a lucky winner (or two) randomly this week!

Graphic Organizers for Big Kids... and a FREEBIE!

Hey there!

Today was a super success for me... laundry, a cookie, worked out, and went shopping with my seeister!!!  I'm a clothes junkie and I got a ton for only $70.00!!!  Woot woot!

I also finished a graphic organizer pack that I've been working on for a while.  We've been using these in class and I've finally finished with the last minute touches.

I'm so psyched to show you my Graphic Organizers for Big Kids pack!  It is CCSS aligned for grades 3-5 for many of the RL and RI standards.

Find it on TpT

Here's one we've just finished using while we read The Chocolate Touch.  I love using that book for teaching character development and visualizing- I have a little mini-pack for it on TpT too!  Anywho... this organizer is one of the 25 included in the pack, but I'm sharing it with you for free!

You just need to run it front-to-back and have students write in the chapter numbers.  We only used 12 for The Chocolate Touch, so no worries if you don't use them all.  Students drew their visualizations while I read and then we talked about them after each chapter.  At the end, they wrote about how the character changed in the spot at the bottom of the page.

Click the pic for the freebie in Google Docs!  And I'd love to know what you think!  :)