Sunday, February 21, 2016

Week in Review

Yet another powerful week in Room 200!

Project/Problem Based Learning

We started our week with a project/problem to solve during our Reader's Workshop. We identified that it was an area that we could improve. So, we began brainstorming, what we wanted in our Reader's Workshop and what we didn't want. 



Then we began talking about the good components of a great Reader's Workshop and how they should revolve around our CAFE model of Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency and Expanding our Vocabulary. We came up with a ton of great activity suggestions that could fall into our already established choices.



Once our board was full, the students began taking suggested activities from the board and trying them out.  The goal was to see if the activity helped us become better readers and was something we enjoyed.


(Activity Pictured: Song/Poem Writing)

(Activity Pictured: Danger Reading - Focus: Danger Books)
(Activity Pictured: Read Fluently to the Digital Device)
Once the students found an activity that they enjoyed and found valuable, they logged it into our Today's Meet so that we could review and discuss it. The students added the name of the activity, what area it belonged in, the volume level, and a brief description.




Now we have an excellent working list of great ideas to use during our Reader's Workshop!

Informational and Procedural Writing
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2
Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.7
Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.8
Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. 
K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem. 
K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.

Last week, the students began embarking on their own informational/procedural writing adventures. The students were tasked to come up with a guiding question, a hypothesis, and full procedure (list of materials, numbered steps, and detailed and labeled illustrations) before beginning their experiment. 



During the experiment, students recorded their data so that they will be prepared to write their scientific conclusion this week.



2nd Grade and 5th Grade Engineering Collaboration

K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem. 
K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.

On Friday, we combined forces with Miss Owen's homeroom class to solve an engineering problem. The students broke off into groups and began making plans for a waterproof boat. The finish products will be tested by identifying how many washers each boat can hold. We will continue this project next Friday.






Genius Hour!

On Friday, we began our introduction to Genius Hour.


We began by watching the following video clip:




Then we began brainstorming all of the things we enjoyed, were good at, and wanted more information on. This helped us create our Wonder Wall. 

Stay tuned for MUCH more to come on Genius Hour very soon!


Read to Self - Our most important part of the day!

As always, we took time to enjoy a good book. 


Have a fabulous week!

3 comments:

  1. Another impressive week filled with fun learning in Room 200. I loved seeing all the new ideas that you will be adding to your dailies. I hope all your boats stay dry and you can load them with washers! Have a great week! Mrs. Brown

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  2. WOW what an amazing week you all had! Fun stuff with learning too! Keep up the great work GRADE 2!

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  3. I really liked reading about your Project/Problem Based learning activities in class. I am also going to teach the same way to my Phoenix pre-k and such posts will be very helpful for me. Thanks and keep them posting.

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