Taking on Second : Homework

Get Students Excited about Reading Again! Life After Accelerated Reader

I have some super exciting news! Our SIT (School Improvement Team) met last week, and they decided that teachers can decide whether to participate in AR {Accelerated Reader} by grade level! I have been on cloud 9 ever since!

I feel like by the time students are in second grade, they are pretty wishy washy about having to do AR and get points. They love it for the first semester. They are totally into it and track each little half point they earn. Toward the second semester, I stop getting questions about what point club they are in or how many points until they get to the next one.

Here is why I am so excited about the change:

With AR: Students only like to read AR books. They only want to read to "get it over with" or to get those stinking points. They ignore all of the amazing National Geographic books with the awesome pictures I have in my room. They ignore all the fun books that may actually interest them. Instead, they choose the shortest, lamest book...just. for. the. points.

Without AR: There is no pressure to read as many books as the can, no pressure to be in the top point club, no pressure to read those lame books that "I have to read because it's in my dot level!" There is NO PRESSURE! Reading can be fun again!! They can look at books that catch their interest without worrying about the dot, the test, and the points.

Now the big question:

How do I motivate students to read for meaning without AR?

I wanted some awesome, do-able options before I went to my teaching parter {Cassondra} and said I for sure wanted to quit AR. The program is really a great way to get/make students to read, but I want them to enjoy reading, not just do it because they HAVE to. I searched and searched and searched...Here is what we came up with!

AR Alternatives

-Book BINGO: Students get a BINGO card on Monday and have to get a BINGO by Friday. They will be reading at home, have a choice in their books, and have to take ownership in their reading.

The cards can be by character, genre, fiction/nonfiction, pretty much whatever! Friday they will choose their favorite book for the week and do a book talk about it in small groups.

- Book Blogs: Students can blog about their books they read the previous night for morning work.

-Read and Retell page

-PowerPoint/Prezi: Students will create a presentation over a book/author they enjoyed reading.

-Commercial: Students will use the iPads to create a commercial for a book they really enjoyed.

-Author Study

-Student lead quizzes: Partner students up, each student reads a book and creates their own quiz for their partner. They swap books and take the quiz.

-Read-A-Thon: Half day of nothing but reading (but how to track this in an educational way?)

-Exit/Entrance Tickets: Students answer a comprehension question about their book upon entering the classroom.

Book Chain: For each book they read and do a read and retell page they can put a link on a paper chain. When it reaches the floor, we could have a half day book party/read a thon.

We are going to attempt some of this for the rest of this year. If it doesn't work the way we want, I guess we can always join the AR game next year since K-1 have decided to continue with the program.

I love using my {Read with a Purpose pack} to help students organize their thoughts and ideas before they generate their final product. These have been an awesome addition to my classroom.

Now for my next venture:

How to organize my books?!?

Welcome to my Classroom 2015

Well it's that time of year again...

We go back MONDAY. Yes, you read that right, Monday, this Monday, the one after tomorrow. That Monday. Usually I'm more than ready, but this year, I am one big procrastination! It's coming, whether I am ready or not! I better get prepared! I have been in my classroom working all week. Here is what I have so far!

I added balloons to my classwork clips....One has already deflated, see the green one!? It must have had a hole in it. The desks are all set up with the name tags, books, and folders. If you look across the room, I still need to get my stability balls blown up! Our PE teacher is usually pretty helpful with that! I only have 16 kiddos this year, so far! I haven't had this small of a class in a couple years. It will be a nice change!

I also start the year out with Play-Doh. It makes dealing with supplies and incoming students so much easier. It's probably one of my favorite {Pinterest} ideas!

I'm doing my homework plan a little differently this year. When they turn their homework in to the tray(which is right below the last magnet strip), they will take their number and put it on the Homework Hero board. This will help me to take a quick check of who has or hasn't brought their homework.

The Hero board is a pizza pan from The Dollar Tree that I spray painted gold last year. This will be my first year trying this, I'll keep you updated if it works!

I have a new "cool down" area in my room. I already know I have a few kiddos with strong emotions. I'm so excited that I was able to find a place for them to cool off when they need a break. The rug and pillow are from Ikea.

Inside the tote are:

-{One of Those Days} by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

- 2 journals(for the 2 kids that may utilize the space most)

- crayons

- pencil

- eraser

- 3 minute sand timer

- two stuffed animals to comfort and squeeze

{Number of the Day} is a freebie in my store!

I'm very proud of my subject areas that I have started this year. I tried last year, but I just couldn't make it work. This year, I nailed it! I am even letting them use one of MY(that was bought for them in the first place!) pointers! That is a big deal!

This is my writing board. I think in the blank area I want to put what "Writer's Eyes" do, but I'm still looking for ideas. We have our "Fancy Words" at the bottom instead of taking up a whole board(even though it was super cute) like last year. Students can also keep track of which part of the writing process they are on. I am very excited to work this into our lessons!

This is about the same as my board last year, but I needed to add more prefixes and suffixes! I love {Melonheadz} clipart! My room is full of it! The pencil was made by one of my students who I was fortunate enough to loop with a couple years ago! He did wayyyy better than I would have! Oh! and see that princess light!? It is from the Dollar Tree too! When the light is on, students cannot talk to me, unless they are bleeding, barfing, or not breathing. This works amazingly during small group time! I just love it!

So that's what I'm working with so far this year! There are a lot of changes from {last year}, and I believe they will better the flow of my classroom and the learning environment for my students.