Junie B. Jones is (almost) a Flower Girl

Junie never thought the bride chose the flower girl...

When Junie B. finds out her Aunt Flo is getting married, her friends at school insist she must be the flower girl. They even promise to teach her how to be a flower girl. On top of all this flower girl excitement, Junie B. is set on showing her parents that she is a grownup lady and definitely not a little girl. But, Junie B. keeps giving them reasons to think otherwise. Junie B. even calls her aunt and tells her she is going to be the flower girl. Sadly, Aunt Flo already has a flower girl. The devastated Junie B. will get to be the alternate flower girl...

Reading Level: DRA 28
                           Guided Reading: M
                           Lexile 380L
                           GLE 2.3

Teachers... here are some resources to help you to use this book in your classroom.

Web Resources:

• Worksheet: This worksheet includes comprehension and word work. It is available free from teacherspayteachers.
• Listening Library Study Guide: This is essentially a lesson plan using Junie B. Jones is (Almost) a Flower Girl as a read aloud. Includes extensions and other Junie B. stories.

Vocabulary: here are some vocabulary words you may want to pre-teach. I used vocabulary dictionaries with my students and would assign each group 1-4 words, the groups would then jigsaw and teach each other their words. You could do this multiple times (by chapter) or all at once before reading.
Chapter 1/2: bachelorette, glum, enforced, confused, expression
Chapter 3/4: entire, satin, aisle
Chapter 5/6: arrangements, receiver, alternate, reception
Chapter 7/8: organ, tussle
Chapter 9: polite, adjust, relief, shenanigans

Activities:
Before Reading: Journal: Have you ever been to a wedding? What do you know about flower girls?

During Reading: Journal: What do you predict will happen at the wedding? Will Junie B. get to be the flower girl? Explain.

After Reading: Journal: In what ways is Junie B. acting like "a lady" and in what ways is she acting like a "little girl?" Comparison Chart Freebie

Click here for a comprehension worksheet. I use T.A.P. in my classroom (Turn the question around, answer it, prove it) the document is editable though so feel free to take that text box out.

Happy Reading (& Running!)

My 2nd Grade Classroom

Wel-gum to 2nd Grade!

Here are photos of my class this past year... yes I realize they are nearly a year late, but, still fun to look at!

& if you love to pin like I do, you absolutely have my permission to pin!

I decided on a gumball theme, just as the picture of my classroom door shows. I printed the kiddos names on colored paper and cut circles around them. My lovely sister did the fantastic gumball machine artwork!

I decided to use gum balls as part of our behavior management in the class. Each team table had a small can (covered in duct tape of course) and the teams could earn gumballs throughout the week. Gumballs could be earned when the whole table was being helpful, working hard, etc. When Wacky Wednesday rolled around (free time on our no special day) we would count up the gumballs and the team with the most gum balls got to make their free choice first. All the gumballs would then be added to the class gum ball machine (the bigger can). When the classroom gum ball machine was filled, the class earned a celebration.

I ended up not keeping this behavior system all year. When I discovered whole brain teaching I started using the smile/sad face score board and it was way too hard to keep up with that and gum balls. One thing I did learn this year is that it's okay to abandon and change ideas throughout the year!

I used a clip chart for personal behavior management (right). I got this from Bainbridge Classroom. The kiddos started on "ready to learn" and could move down to "slow down" "think about it" and "parent contact" or up to "good job" "great job" or "outstanding. If the kiddos reached outstanding they got to choose from my prize catalog (left) I found this on pinterest from First Grade Fever. One prize is using the "super supplies" (below)

Next to my polka dot wrapping paper covered desk: Birthday prize straws & gumballs for extra special days or to chew on your birthday. Also a container for our school-wide B.U.G. awards (Being Unusually Good). Oh and a piggy bank to hold pennies for the gumball machine.

My principal required that we post objectives for our day on the board (left), I simply printed our "subjects" out and put them on different colored backgrounds. Then I put magnets on the back so they would stay on the whiteboard but could be moved when necessary. I could then easily write on objectives on the whiteboard no matter how long or short. I also created a sound level chart (left) that also was held by magnets to the whiteboard. I'll admit we RARELY used the "level 3" voices :)... In the corner (right) I had these games BOGGLE (available at msrojasteaches)and ADD IT UP (found this idea on a pin, but it didn't link to anything, claim if this is yours!) which I used as a choice when students were done with their work.

Job chart, also gumball themed!

(Left) Brain breaks written on popsicle sticks for when the kiddos needed to move around, journal jar with prompts for when the kiddos couldn't think of what to write during "free write." Journal prompts available from organized home.

(Right) Baskets for sharp and not sharp pencils. The whole pencil sharpening thing is definitely something I need to work on next year. It is my LEAST favorite thing in the world to sharpen pencils and the kiddos always ask at the worst times!

(Left)Bus/Walkers List, simple but organized and easy to see.

(Right)"Where are we?" sign, I ended up moving this to the bulletin board right outside our classroom because that made more sense.

And... cute bathroom passes that were destroyed by December :( which made me quickly discover the importance of laminating!

My reminder board (from clutter free classroom) (left) saved me many times. I put it right by my door and it kept me on top of any dismissal changes for students, changed special time, assembly times and more!


I can... board (right) saved lots of questions from my kiddos (when I remembered to check off the boxes). You can download a version of this from first grade glitter and giggles (I used paint to crop and insert the bubblegum background, email me if you'd like a copy with bubblegum balls)

 I LOVED my back to back book cases with all the team supplies... unfortunately I had accidentally taken an unclaimed book shelf that another teacher claimed back so I had to change my plans for team supplies :(

In love with my crate box seats! used heavy cardboard with fabric staple gunned down. The kiddos managed to pull a few of these apart this year with their wiggly bottoms, but easy fix! Saw this on MANY pins and blogs, everyone has a different way to do it.

Matching curtains to cover all my math manipulatives, games and other various "stuff" that looked much better covered up.






"Word Wall" hanging like this took up much less space than the typical bulletin board word wall. I attached words with a paper clip (so I could use the letter/ribbon again if I want to). To see a fancier version of this, check out my second home blog.


I love my center bins from the dollar store!





















Book bins in our classroom library. Each bin has an envelope in it for students to put their number stick in so they know where the book goes when they are finished with it. (above)

Classroom library (left)

My beloved learning circle! The learning circle moved to the middle/front of the room by the end of the year, but still my favorite part of the room, many thanks to my easel!



A few shots of the whole room...



Well, I hope you enjoyed the tour. Many things changed throughout the year, and I don't have pictures of all these changes, but I think this post gives a pretty good feel of my room :)

Signing off a little differently today,
Happy Teaching (& Running!)

Been a while...

I'm back...

Hey everyone, it's been quite some time (nearly a year!) since I've been on teacherwillrunforbooks. Sad to say it was very tough being a first year teacher AND upkeeping this blog. Now that I have the teaching thing down I will do my best to post and teach as I enter my 2nd year of teaching.

Good news for any teachers who have stumbled across this blog in the past: I will be trying over the summer to link some games, activities, etc. that I used this year as a first year teacher, teaching 2nd grade, no longer only book reviews and corresponding activities.

More good news, I have a great Junie B. Jones book on the schedule to read this week, so there should be a post for using it in your class very soon.

Also, I plan on posting some pictures of my classroom from this past year, to maybe motivate some fun setting up your classroom this summer :)

Finally, I have some fun books I used in guided reading this year that I am going to try getting posts up about over the summer.

As always,
Happy Reading (& Running)

Horrible Harry and the Ant Invasion

Horrible Harry doesn't always mean to be horrible

When Harry is named ant monitor in 2B, everyone knows it could be trouble, and of course, it is. The thing is, Harry is great at turning things around and, managed to salvage his big mistake while the class is observing the ants. However, when Harry is possibly responsible for the fish debacle, it's questionable if Miss Mackle will ever forgive Harry. What Miss Mackle and 2B don't know is that this time, it isn't Harry being horrible, it's someone else! Will Harry be able to clear his name? Find out in Suzy Kline's Horrible Harry and the Ant Invasion.

Reading Level: Fountas and Pinnell: L

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you to use this book in your class.

Web Resources: 

• Lesson Ideas: This site offers lesson ideas for various Horrible Harry books
• Comprehension Questions: Copy, or let the students take this quiz online

Vocabulary: Here are some words I picked out: monitor, observe, antics, sashay, responsible, revenge, miffed

Activities:
Before Reading: Journal: What are some horrible things that could happen in your classroom if you class had an ant farm?

During Reading: Journal: Why do you think Harry liked Song Lee so much?

After Reading: Read Diary of a Worm and have the students write a Diary of an Ant.

Across the Curriculum: If you can, bring an ant farm, fish tank or other class pet into your classroom to observe like Harry and the other students in 2B do in Miss Mackle's class.

Kline, S. (1989). Horrible Harry and the Ant Invasion. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking.

Happy Reading (& Running) =) 

Dark Day in the Deep Sea

A Giant Octopus in the Deep Sea 

Jack and Annie have been recruited to help Merlin get better. He is in a deep state of sadness and it it up to Jack and Annie to find the four secrets of happiness to give to Merlin. When they embark on this mission, the find themselves stranded on an island. When they are picked up by a ship, the crew is in search of something, but it isn't happiness, it's a giant sea creature. Find out what happens in Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House, Dark Day in the Deep Sea

Reading Level: Fountas and Pinnell: M

Teachers: here are some resources to help you teach this book...

Web Resources:

• Teacher's Guide: Click here to find a teacher's guide for Dark Day in the Deep Sea and the nonfiction companion, Sea Monsters.
• Lesson Plan: This link will take you to a lesson plan summary for Magic Tree House books #37-40. There are some great activities and printouts.
• Story Mapping: Click here for a story mapping lesson using Dark Day in the Deep Sea

There are loads of MTH resources for the classroom. Let me know if you have or find any that you particularly liked or found very useful!

Vocabulary: here are some words I picked out: sorrow, shrouded, dune, capsize, harpoon, expedition, specimen, scurvy, salute, unfurl, compassion

Activities:
Before Reading: Based on the illustration on the cover of this book, make a prediction about what you think is going to happen in this adventure.

During Reading: What do you think would have happened differently if Jack hadn't gotten seasick during the storm?

After Reading: Jack and Annie learned the secret that you can conquer fear through knowledge. Can you think of a time when you were scared of something but then learned about it and were not afraid anymore? Find out something new about a fear of yours, see if it helps you to not be afraid anymore.

Across the Curriculum: Use the Nonfiction companion, Sea Monsters and link into Science in the ocean or animals, etc.

Osborne, M. P. (2008). Dark Day in the Deep Sea. New York: Random House.

Happy Reading (&Running) =)

Nate the Great

The Great Detective

 Nate the Great prides himself on his ability to find things. When the phone rings during his pancake breakfast, he hopes he will be asked to find dismonds or pearls, but it's only Annie who needs help finding a painting she made of her dog. Nate dives into the case, getting all the facts he needs not only to find the painting but to find Super Hex the cat too. Learn about Nate the Great, and his detective skills, in the first of the series, Nate the Great, by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat.

Reading Level: Fountas and Pinnell: K

Since I just found out I will be teaching second grade, please bare with me while I get up to date on some books closer to second grade level for the time being :)

Teachers...here are some resources to help you teach Nate the Great in your class.

Web Resources:

• Printables: Free Nate the Great printable activities.
• Nate the Great, the Play: Here is a classroom guide if your class was lucky enough to go see Nate the Great on the state. It has pre and post show ideas and activities... but here's an even better idea, put on a reader's theater version of Nate the Great and include the pre and post show activities!
• Graphic Organizer: A mystery graphic organizer from Read Write Think.

Vocabulary: With this book being so short, the only word I felt would be useful if pretaught was: detective

Activities:
Before Reading: Nate is a detective. What do you know about detectives? Have you ever had to be a detective? Write a journal entry about a time when you were a detective (had to find something) and share it with a friend.

 During Reading: Journal entry: who do you think took the painting? Where do you think Nate will find it?

After Reading: How would you feel if you were Annie and your brother took your painting and painted over it?
What color would the monster have been if Annie's brother had blue paint instead of red?
In groups of 2 have one partner create a drawing or painting and have the other partner make it into something else.

Sharmat, M. W. (1972). Nate the Great. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.

Happy Reading (& Running) =)

Wonder

Ordinary or Extraordinary?

To say I was impressed with R.J. Palacio's Wonder would be a huge understatement. The entire book is filled with such truth and raw emotion that I almost could not put it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen with the main character Auggie and all those surrounding his story. August "Auggie" Pullman is a very unique 5th grader. He was born with a severe facial deformity and has gone through his entire life up to this point getting series of facial surgeries. Even after his surgeries though, Auggie does not look anything like most people do. Up to this point Auggie never went to a real school, his mom had homeschooled him and Auggie was very happy with this arrangement. However, Auggie's family feels it's time for him to go to a real school. As if 5th grade is not a hard enough period of time in a child's life, Auggie will be approaching a 5th grade with no friends, no "real school" experience and a face that people are scared to look at. Palacio takes the reader through a first person narrative in the voice of Auggie, a few of Auggie's classmates and his sister. The shift of narrative perspective opens the reader up to heartbreaking truths that a one narrator story line does not offer. Take the journey with Auggie into 5th grade and meet a not so ordinary, perhaps extraordinary boy by the name of Auggie. This is a journey you should take, a journey you should talk about and a journey you should share. This is one of those no excuses, must read kind of books!

Reading Level: GLE: 4.8

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you to use this book in your classroom...

Web Resources:

• Blog: This fantastic blog has links to this teacher's presentation during his read aloud of Wonder. He makes some great observations and asks some awesome questions.
• This is a very new book, published this year which makes it difficult to find quality web resources, if you found one and would like to share please leave a comment with the resource in it, thanks!

Vocabulary: Here are some words I picked out... ordinary, extraordinary, anomalies, hindsight, aversion, biracial, phony, sympathetic, inclusion, hypocrite, fluke, taciturn, prude

Activities:
Before Reading:
Discussion: Auggie has a facial deformity like not many people have ever seen before. What do you think your reaction to him would be? What is the kind of reaction you should have to something or someone that is different from what you are used to? (This type of a discussion can get tough, but is something that students should begin to discuss with each other and understand.)

Journal: Has anyone ever treated you differently based on how you look? If so how did it feel? If not, imagine what it would feel like.

During Reading:
Discussion: Why do you think the author chose to write this book in different points of view? Are there any points of view you feel are missing right now that are important to the story?

Journal: How do you think your life would be different if you were like Auggie?

After Reading:
Discussion: Why do you think Mr. Tushman chose Auggie to receive the Henry Ward Beecher medal?

Journal: Choose a precept from the list at the back of the book. Write about what you think it means. Create your own precept.

Palacio, R. J. (2012). Wonder. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Happy Reading (& Running) =)