Growing in Second Grade

This is a digital file visually explaining the four main strategies used for addition and subtraction during mental math computation. It visually explains the Decomposing Strategy, Branching Strategy (or "Pull Down" Method), Partial Sums Strategy, and Open Number Line Strategy (or "Jump Up" Method). It can be used: 1. during a parent-teacher conference as a handout 2. in small math groups 3. as a resource for an anchor chart 4. blown up and placed on a bulletin board 5. lamin

The first day of school can make children and teachers very nervous. To alleviate some of those nerves, you can have a ready made activity with self guided directions for the students to start on without your guidance. After greeting them, you can direct your students to choose a desk and begin on their ice breaker activity. Creating a sculpture out of play dough gives the children a chance to settle their nerves, get acclimated with their new environment at their own pace, and even begin to de

In this fun and highly engaging project, students will explore what it means to be a surveyor through creating a question, conducting a survey, gathering data, analyzing the data, and representing data in a variety of graphs for others to interpret. They will gain a deep conceptual understanding of what data is and how it can be purposefully used within the context of a meaningful real world setting. They will work in collaborative partners first and more than likely, they will want to ventur

Use both the "At School Contract" and "At Home Contract" that inlcudes clear language to help children and families use technology in the healthiest way possible. What: This editable product includes two contracts. There is one to send home for parents to use with their child and one for teachers to use in the classroom. The "School" contract can be required and the "Home" contract can be used as an optional tool for parents. How: I have found it extremely beneficial to have clear terminolog

This product can be used to make a poster using a poster machine, a handout for students to add to their writing notebook, a small laminated chart for a writing center, or an insert in students' homework folder. Enjoy! :)

Common Core Math Strategies to help acquire a deeper understanding of Common Core Math Standards Addition Within 1000 and Applied Word Problems Included is a packet of 10 pages. Entry Level and Post Formative Assessments help to identify which children need more instruction on various common core standards. After assessing, there are 8 additional pages that focus on a particular skill or strategy. Each page begins at a basic level and then increasingly becomes more difficult.

The following 5 writing graphic organizers are specific to helping students write an animal report, country report, simple machine report, recipe, and narrative story. It scafolds the report by asking specific questions and placing them in a comprehensible order. The task of writing a report or paragraph can seem daunting if starting with a blank paper.

This printable is incredibly helpful when trying to explain how to access the mysterious QR Code. For many people out there, you might be the first person who has ever even mentioned or pointed out this handy and quick internet tool! For me, I found it pertinent to draft a flyer that gave clear directions in accessing the app. You see, at Back to School Night, I had attached a QR Code to each of the student's image on the bulletin board and assigned to each unique url address was a recording of

This is a performance based math task aligned with the Common Core for grades1-5. In this task, children are given "budget" of $40.00 to spend at the grocery store. They are given specific criteria to follow. It is so much fun to watch as they problem solve and grabble their way through tis task! This task: * requires students to use a variety of strategies in order to add 2 and 3 digit numbers and find the difference between numbers ( Branching Strategy or Jump Up Method, Partial Sums S

Getting organized can be fun! Isn't is nice to have all the information you need on your new students in one area? After going through many different student Information cards, I always found myself wanting more specific information. Now that we live in a digital age, it's important to know what types of devices your students have access to and whether or not you can reach parents using a smart device with apps like Remind101. The student information card also includes a quick character analysis

These documents were created to enhance the 6 Traits of Writing program. I use them in my students' writing binders as dividers. I introduce each trait using a mentor book, an anchor chart and a divider. Individual lessons that support each trait is later placed after the divider. This helps to keep my students organized. It also helps them to see the "big picture". I also print each divider in different colors so that we can quickly revisit skills previously taught. I have included a mentor aut

In an effort to align a formative/diagnostic assessment which would demonstrate a child's understanding of the common core math standards to my teaching strategies, I developed the following quiz. It can be used for a child in 1st-4th grade to diagnose students' ability to demonstrate their understanding of numbers. Students are asked to explain how they arrived at their answer using a variety of strategies taught in the classroom, such as decomposing strategy, partial sums, branching strategy,

In a cooperative group setting, it's always nice to have designated team signs. The following team names are designed to build character while positively acknowledging individual team behavior. After using the "Character Building" Team Table Signs all year long, students will have heard, used, and adopted important character traits that will be a part of them forever. Research has shown how important repetition is in order to instill long lasting habits. Referring to the team names that are incl

Progress Report for 1st Trimester Freebie!

This document is the first of 6 documents that were created to enhance the 6 Traits of Writing program. I use them in my students' writing binders as dividers. I introduce each trait using a mentor book, an anchor chart and a divider. Individual lessons that support each trait is later placed after the divider. This helps to keep my students organized. It also helps them to see the "big picture". I also print each divider in different colors so that we can quickly revisit skills previously taugh