Living Biography Wax Museum

Our Living Biography Wax Museum was a HUGE success last Thursday.  Each student did an incredible job teaching us about their historical figure.  The project linked reading, writing, social studies and character education together.  Our local newspaper came out and created a wonderful video of our students.  Thank you Mr. Baxter!

Padlet

Created with Padlet

Tomorrow I will be introducing second grader's to the website Padlet, formally known as Wallwisher. Richard Byrne, author of the website Free Technology for Teachers, has a great tutorial on how to use this website.  His post offers excellent suggestions for using Padlet in the elementary classroom.  You can take a look at it by clicking here.

As you can see, Padlet allows you to embed your wall on your classroom blog which I think is very handy for using with little ones.  One less URL to try to copy down. Love it!  You can also change the URL from the given number code to one you think your kiddos would be able to remember more easily if you don't have a classroom blog that your students access regularly.

We will be using this wall, our first experience, as our exit ticket at the end of the day.  I love using websites and apps like this (yes, there is a free Padlet App) because they encourage students to pay close attention to what they write, students get immediate feedback from their peers, everyone shares an idea and a whole lot of reading goes on using this format. Visit us tomorrow afternoon and read about all the new learning that took place.

What We Are Reading!

Today our retiring Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Van Nice, came to our classroom to read us 2 of the 5 Children's Choice Award Nominees for this year.  All we have to say is that it is going to be HARD to vote for just one!  Mo Willems made the list again with his sweet book, The Duckling Gets a Cookie.

We have a soft spot for Mo Willems and will be adding this book to our collection for sure!  The second book Mrs. Van Nice read to us was Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by James Dean.  LOVED!!!!!!!!!

If you click here you can visit the Harper Collins website and enjoy listening to the author read the book to you.  You will not be disappointed! We promise.  We can hardly wait for tomorrow.  We will be reading Nighttime Ninja by Barbara Decosta. Click here to read all about the Children's Choice Book Awards.

READO

I have been reading a GAZILLION fantastic teaching blogs this summer.  I found this great idea on the Two Can Do It blog...one of my new favorites.  It is a reading game similar to BINGO.  If you have brothers or sisters around the house you can team up with one of your parents and your sibling can team up with the other to see which one of you can get a READO first! Let me know how it goes when you play.  Do you think you could get a "blackout?" (fill up all the squares).  How long do you think it might take you?
Read-O

Nature Scavenger Hunt

My Sons and I have been spending a lot of time in our backyard observing the two young chicks Eli brought home from Kindergarten this spring.  As I was sitting out in the sunshine watching them yesterday I realized there was a lot going on around me!  In that small space I saw a turquoise beetle (yes, turquoise!), beautiful blooming iris, an ant with only 5 legs, a birds nest I hadn't noticed before, shimmering green leaves on my neighbors aspen trees...and then my great idea hit!  Why not see what those sweet little scientists I know can find in their backyards!  And this is how the Nature Scavenger Hunt was born.  Of course, lots of people have created nature scavenger hunts before.  I have gone on many myself.  However, I can't say that I remember being asked to do one while sitting quietly in my backyard.  I hope you try it out and have as much fun as I did.  Please don't forget to share all of the interesting things you find with us.

Nature Scavenger Hunt