Treasure Maps.. Argh!

We completed our Map unit in the Fall, and yes, I'm just now getting around to posting about it.  During our Map unit we did several different activities.  Each student made an On The Map book that we completed together to discuss our classroom, school, city, state, country, continent, and planet.  I also assigned students to complete a Map Your Neighborhood project as homework.  I forgot to take pictures of this but they came out really cute!  And... we made treasure maps!

Before we got started on our treasure maps, we discussed natural features vs. manmade features.  We also read the book The Day I Became A Pirate.  Then we got started on our treasure maps.  First we created a chart to list what needed to be included, like a title, compass rose, and a mixture of natural and manmade features.  I posted examples of treasure maps I found online onto our whiteboard.  For the actual maps, I cut apart brown paper sacks.  Then the students got to work!  When they were finished, they crumpled up their map to make it look like it was old... I'm pretty sure that was their favorite part!  Here are some of my students' treasure maps.

Reading Rubric for Independent Reading

I created a Reading Rubric awhile ago for my students to use during Independent Reading time.  I wrote about it in this post.  I've had a lot of great feedback on it and a lot of people asking for a copy... which is great!  I'm glad that I could create something so useful for people.  I've recently been asked to change the wording a little so I thought I would make another version in case others want it as well.

This is the original version that I use in my classroom.  I like it this way so that I can read it to my students like, "Shining Stars can... Read in a silent or whisper voice," etc.

Reading Rubric 1

Here is the new version, written in first person.

Reading Rubric 2

If you are interested in getting a copy of either one, comment below with your email address or send me and email letting me know!

**Update: I have added a FREE new version of my Reading Rubrics to my TpT store.  Check them out here!

Patterns {freebie}

My second graders are learning about patterns right now.  We've talked about all types of patterns - color patterns, shape patterns, number patterns, etc. 

Here is a worksheet I whipped up last night to help students think about how patterns continue and to show their thinking.

It's nothing fancy, but it's free if you want to grab a copy!

Find Someone Who.... FREEBIE

I have totally been off the grid lately.... oops!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!  Well I'm just checking in to share a quick freebie as we are all headed back to work!  Some of you may have even started back today... eek!  We got to work a half day today with no students.  Be jealous.  It was nice.

Tomorrow will be a laid back day as we review things we learned before winter break as well as review our building and classroom expectations (the kiddos seem to forget so easily).  Along with some New Years activities, I am planning for my kiddos to complete a Find Someone Who page about winter break.  I posted about another Find Someone Who activity here.

If you'd like a copy for yourself, click here!

I'll be working on getting my crap together and blogging about the cool things I have coming up.... like perhaps a cruise! :)  Stay tuned!

My Neighbor's Dog is Purple - Visualizing

We just finished up Visualizing in our classroom.  We didn't spend too much time on it since my second graders seemed to grasp the concept pretty well.  And of course they enjoy sharing the fun images they create in their minds!  One of the activities I had my kiddos do was to draw their mental images after reading My Neighbor's Dog is Purple by Jack Prelutsky.  If you haven't heard it, you need to find it.  I actually found the idea online last year and of course it's on Pinterest.  It's such a fun poem that is PERFECT for the visualizing strategy.

First, we read the poem together (minus the last two lines).  Then we read back over it and underlined the words that stuck out and helped our mental images.

Then I had my students draw the mental images they had about the poem.  After independent reading, we came back together to add the last two lines to the poem.  My kiddos went crazy when they heard the last two lines... it completely changed their mental image!

I had my students go back to their page and create their NEW mental image after hearing the ending to the poem.  Here are a few examples of my students' work: