We started our day by finishing a Squiggle for Creative Problem Solving. Our first grade basic academic vocabulary includes:
These lessons are fun, but they have an academic purpose as well. Students that are "fluent" in their thinking are successful problem solvers because they are able to think of many solutions to a problem. With practice, they become more "flexible" in their thinking enabling them to approach problems from a new or different angle. When students get better at flexibility, they find unusual, "original" themes for their Squiggles. This can transfer to original, unique topics and perspective when they are given a writing prompt. Finally, "elaboration" is about adding details. Whether in their artwork, projects or creative writing, an understanding of the purpose of elaboration allows them to extend their writing by using a richer vocabulary. They are able to focus on a quality product by adding more detailed illustrations, models and projects. Ask your child to share their Squiggle with you.
In the computer lab, the students explored Microsoft Power Point. They learned to insert shapes, resize them, and move them around the slide. They also learned to use the "arrange" tools to bring objects forward or to send them backward. Next, the boys and girls learned to fill a shape with textures, patterns and gradient colors. They did a great job!
Our 2nd grade, basic academic vocabulary includes:
- knowledge
- comprehension
- research
- independent
- plagiarism
After lunch, the students worked with a partner to highlight a digital article from World Book Encyclopedia Online. The article, "Endangered Species" has important information they will need to answer questions in our research packet. They will need to prove their answers by by showing us where they located their information. While schema or background knowledge is very important, in this case, they can only record what they can prove out in their resources. I want the students to understand this kind of research is about using quality, current informational sources, accuracy in their note taking, avoiding plagiarism and documenting their sources with a bibliography.
We were very pleased with their focus, effort and ability to work cooperatively.
Bravo A Day 2nd Graders!
The second grade students have been learning important research skills the past few weeks. We have learned to locate information in print sources such as encyclopedias, atlases and informational (non-fiction) texts. They have learned to use an index, table of contents and glossary to locate information.
This month, we began a group study on endangered animals. The boys and girls took a KWL pretest to show what they know about endangered animals and to make a list of questions they would like to learn.
Last week, we continued to practice how to take research notes. The students learned to use bullets for their notes and to capture important phrases that will remind them of the information they were hearing. The students have taken notes during the oral reading of a book and then while watching a video on endangered animals. We combined the notes the students made and I typed them up for the class. This week, they will work with a partner to record notes from an online encyclopedia article. They will be using a highlighter to focus in on key facts.
In the computer lab, we have continued learning more about Power Point. Once everyone had a slide presentation open, we reviewed/learned how to insert a text box, move it on the slide and how to save our work. The students also reviewed how to format a text box for font style, size, color, bold, underline and italics. Next, they learned to insert shapes and format them for fill color, size and position on the page.
Understanding the basic tools and functions of this program will transfer in the application of other Microsoft products and web based slide show applications. Power Point is a good slide show program, but it is also great for digital story telling, book reports, posters, and even holiday cards. Primary students soak up the functions with minimal instruction. When my own children lost their "computer gaming privileges" for one offense or another, they would always say, "But can we still do Power Point?"
If you have Power Point available on a home computer, consider allowing your child to practice.
At lunch Thursday, we had our first Brown Bag Luncheon. Several parents joined us for lunch. Detective Ron Hunter brought is drug interdiction dog, Bennett to Briarcliff to tell us about his job and how his dog locates illegal narcotics. Bennett was a beautiful and lively black lab. We even had the chance to hide a jar of marijuana in the room, and Bennett was able to quickly locate it. Ask your child to tell you what they learned from Detective Hunter.
We ended our day working at our Exploratory areas. Several students have finished their first center and have chosen a second. Ask your child about his/her current Exploratory task.
Have a great week!
