Vocabulary Research!
A solid paragraph is definitely a piece of writing to be proud of and we have many proud second graders! Enjoy their work below with pictures and/or poems about their word.
Finishing Frindle!
With only two chapters remaining, we explored the big ideas and symbols in Frindle. The last two chapters will add a nice little twist to our story! After your kiddo finishes reading the last two chapters of Frindle, they should think about what idea or image they think Andrew Clements would want to reader to hold onto.
Today we added two ideas to our Literature Web on Frindle:
Today we added two ideas to our Literature Web on Frindle:
- frindle became a word because it was popular and became a trend; and,
- Frindle shows how new words become part of our language.
The Eyes Have It!
The 2nd grade group of Frindle readers are really having a great time with Andrew Clements' use of metaphors! While maintaining a focus on how he portrays Mrs. Granger's and Nick's eyes, the kids also discussed his symbolic use of battles/war/chess in the story.
By next Tuesday, these readers should have read chapters 12 and 13. You'll notice their post-it has an eye drawn on it! This is to remind each reader to be on the "look out" for more eye quotes!
By next Tuesday, these readers should have read chapters 12 and 13. You'll notice their post-it has an eye drawn on it! This is to remind each reader to be on the "look out" for more eye quotes!
Word Detectives Work to Make Sense of Etymological, Lexicographic, Embodies
We are now 2/3 of the way into Frindle and the level of thinking continues to dig deeper! The kids began class today by writing for six minutes and documented some great ideas they brought to the literature web below.
"It's like a chess game between him and Mrs. Granger."
"[Frindle} has many cool frazes."
"I think Nick is on to a new language - if Ms. Granger lets him."
"I think Nick will get everyone in his town to say the word frindle. And Ms. Granger will dislike the word frindle even more."
"Frindle will be a word eventually."
"I think Nick is quite troublesome for a kid his age. He's very imaginative. He seems to be plotting something all the time."
On Friday, we'll continue delving into the words embody, lexicographic, etymological and more! "Frindle-y" ideas kids read in chapters 10 and 11 will assist in this work and be added to our literature web. Your kiddo has time at school during their independent reading time to read these two chapters before Friday. Please help your kiddo make sure they have their green folder with the papers we are working off of as well as their book at school. :)
"It's like a chess game between him and Mrs. Granger."
"[Frindle} has many cool frazes."
"I think Nick is on to a new language - if Ms. Granger lets him."
"I think Nick will get everyone in his town to say the word frindle. And Ms. Granger will dislike the word frindle even more."
"Frindle will be a word eventually."
"I think Nick is quite troublesome for a kid his age. He's very imaginative. He seems to be plotting something all the time."
On Friday, we'll continue delving into the words embody, lexicographic, etymological and more! "Frindle-y" ideas kids read in chapters 10 and 11 will assist in this work and be added to our literature web. Your kiddo has time at school during their independent reading time to read these two chapters before Friday. Please help your kiddo make sure they have their green folder with the papers we are working off of as well as their book at school. :)
Andrew Clements Really Emphasizes Mrs. Granger's EYES!
Today, the Frindle readers compiled the 6+ different examples of figurative language Andrew Clements used to describe the power of Mrs. Granger's eyes! We discussed "the teacher look" as well found each of the quotes identified.
On page 14 - 15: "Her sharp gray eyes were not even turned up to half power."
Page 15: "Her eyes were the color of a thundercloud."
Page 22: "And Mrs. Granger's eyes would be cranked up to maximum punch power."
Page 25: "He glanced up at Mrs. Granger, expecting to see those eyes drilling a hole in him."
Page 28: "Nick glanced up at her now and then as he read, and each time, Mrs. Granger's eyes clicked up to a new power level."
Page 41: "Mrs. Granger's eyes flashed, and then narrowed, and her lips formed a thin, hard line."
Page 61: "Judy noticed Ms. Granger's eyes right away-gray, maybe flecked with a little gold, and very sharp, but not hard or mean. Just bright, and strong."
Finding the quotes together and discussing them, helps the kids practice good book discussion strategies. As we move further into the book, I'll step back in my role as discussion facilitator.
Help your child be ready for Tuesday! They need to have read through chapter 9 and have completed the collections of figurative language and important words from chapters 1 - 7. By Tuesday, we'll be halfway through the book so please make sure your child is ready to discuss.
On page 14 - 15: "Her sharp gray eyes were not even turned up to half power."
Page 15: "Her eyes were the color of a thundercloud."
Page 22: "And Mrs. Granger's eyes would be cranked up to maximum punch power."
Page 25: "He glanced up at Mrs. Granger, expecting to see those eyes drilling a hole in him."
Page 28: "Nick glanced up at her now and then as he read, and each time, Mrs. Granger's eyes clicked up to a new power level."
Page 41: "Mrs. Granger's eyes flashed, and then narrowed, and her lips formed a thin, hard line."
Page 61: "Judy noticed Ms. Granger's eyes right away-gray, maybe flecked with a little gold, and very sharp, but not hard or mean. Just bright, and strong."
Finding the quotes together and discussing them, helps the kids practice good book discussion strategies. As we move further into the book, I'll step back in my role as discussion facilitator.
Help your child be ready for Tuesday! They need to have read through chapter 9 and have completed the collections of figurative language and important words from chapters 1 - 7. By Tuesday, we'll be halfway through the book so please make sure your child is ready to discuss.
Avalanche by Kristine O'Connell George
A thousand pines are sprawled
like broken toys, snapped like toothpicks by the crushing mass of snow that pounded down the steep mountain. They tell me it was over in minutes, a forest that took a century to grow gone in a roar, an enormous thunder of snow. |
Comparisons found by the 2nd graders:
|
By Friday, all kiddos should have delved a little deeper into chapter 5 through 7 of Frindle. Please check-in with your kiddo to make sure their sheet with figurative language and important words is completed and in their green folder on Thursday evening! We use the books in class, so please help you 2nd grader carefully add it back to their green folder.
Our Frindle Discussion Commenced!
Having read chapters 1 through 4, a group of 2nd graders proved themselves ready do discuss the relationship between the main characters in Frindle! Students described these two characters in the following ways:
Today kids placed a post-it with 3/15 written on it at the end of chapter 7, so they remember when they need to have read by next Tuesday! I look forward to hearing their thinking!
- Nick is like a cannon firing questions.
- Nick is as creative as an artist.
- Nick is as distracted as a mouse with cheese.
- Nick is as silly as a goose.
- Mrs. Granger is like a volcano ready to explode.
- Mrs. Granger has eyes like thunder.
- Mrs. Granger is like glue attached to paper.
- "Mrs. Granger is like a giant."
- They have a good relationship because they both like words.
- They have a bad relationship because they are tricky. When Mrs. Granger makes him do the report, his trick was a dud.
- They are opposites. Mrs. Granger is strict and Nick is a class clown.
Today kids placed a post-it with 3/15 written on it at the end of chapter 7, so they remember when they need to have read by next Tuesday! I look forward to hearing their thinking!
What is a ZIMULIS?
2nd graders began exploring the context clues in Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's Baloney (Henry P.) to figure out the meaning of many exciting words! You can join the mission by reading the book with your kiddo! A copy of the book your child used is at: http://www.youblisher.com/p/421488-Baloney-Henry-P/
Poems Inspired By Metaphors and Similes About the Sun
Moon Metaphors and Similes
The Moon & Words
Second graders are pondering the moon by exploring how different poets help us think about that great sphere in the sky. Tonight, they'll ask you to listen in to one of the following:
Word Research!
We've begun our research on a specific word your kiddo selected! Tonight, your 2nd grader will add a sentence to their Vocabulary Web in their green folder. We talked about how the sentence should give the reader information about the word, but not define it. (We'll get to that soon! We began by looking up the word quay in the Robert Louis Stevenson poem.)
So, what kind of sentence should they write?
In the Quest room, Fred rocked to-and-fro on the wiggle stool to help him focus on his work. (Yes! This sentence gives the reader information about the use of a wiggle stool and where one might use it.)
Wiggle stools are cool! (Nope. This doesn't help the reader learn about the word.)
So, what kind of sentence should they write?
In the Quest room, Fred rocked to-and-fro on the wiggle stool to help him focus on his work. (Yes! This sentence gives the reader information about the use of a wiggle stool and where one might use it.)
Wiggle stools are cool! (Nope. This doesn't help the reader learn about the word.)
Our Collection of Word Changes Ends on Tuesday, January 12th
Over the last six weeks, your 2nd grade researcher has collected Changes in Language on the Brainstorming pages in their green English Quest folders. On this coming Tuesday, January 12th, each student will declare a first and second choice in a word change they researched to explore further.
Please help your kiddo collect an idea in each of the above areas and discuss which word changes intrigue them the most. They'll need to have a first and second choice to help insure their word is "2nd grade researchable" in one of these areas:
Please help your kiddo collect an idea in each of the above areas and discuss which word changes intrigue them the most. They'll need to have a first and second choice to help insure their word is "2nd grade researchable" in one of these areas:
- words in the past that are not usually used now,
- new words as a result of inventions and technology,
- words used in different places, and,
- words you did not know.
Researching Words Over Winter Break
Dear 2nd Grade Families,
Please help your children with their language research over winter break. They should add any new words that have changed to the Brainstorming: Changes in Language pages in their green English Quest folders. These pages have different areas to add research. They need to have many words in each of these areas:
Thank you for helping your researcher bring their green folder as you travel near and far over break. Enjoy the time together!
Please help your children with their language research over winter break. They should add any new words that have changed to the Brainstorming: Changes in Language pages in their green English Quest folders. These pages have different areas to add research. They need to have many words in each of these areas:
- changes to your language as people grow up,
- words in the past that are not usually used now,
- new words as a result of inventions and technology,
- words used in different places, and,
- words you did not know.
Thank you for helping your researcher bring their green folder as you travel near and far over break. Enjoy the time together!
Exploring the Grammatical Side of Language
The second language journey has added an additional path! We've started exploring grammar and the 8 parts of speech. There is no need to rush down this path with 2nd graders, so we'll take our time to really soak in and enjoy the different parts of speech we study.
Our first part of speech is the noun. The kiddos watched the Schoolhouse Rock video, 'A Noun Is a Person, Place, or Thing.' We'll examine the lyrics of the song on Friday to learn more about nouns.
In the meantime, our changes in language research project will continue throughout the quarter! Your 2nd grader should have brought their green research folder home to continue adding on new language change ideas they hear. Please help your budding researcher by including how language changes as part of your regular family discussion. Every Tuesday and Friday, researchers who have their work with them will choose a highlight to share with the group.
Our first part of speech is the noun. The kiddos watched the Schoolhouse Rock video, 'A Noun Is a Person, Place, or Thing.' We'll examine the lyrics of the song on Friday to learn more about nouns.
In the meantime, our changes in language research project will continue throughout the quarter! Your 2nd grader should have brought their green research folder home to continue adding on new language change ideas they hear. Please help your budding researcher by including how language changes as part of your regular family discussion. Every Tuesday and Friday, researchers who have their work with them will choose a highlight to share with the group.
Ch-, ch- ch- changes!
This fall, second graders have explored the idea of change in the Quest room with a recent focus on how language changes. We had discussions about the nursery rhyme, Cobbler, Cobbler before the kids worked to update the words for today’s readers.
What's next? A changes in language research project! As many will spend special time with family over Thanksgiving, I wanted to be sure the kids had the project information, and materials, to start gathering some language changes they hear.
Your kiddo will receive a Green Quest folder to take home over Thanksgiving break. Inside, you'll find a description of the language project, a brainstorming sheet (on the back), their Cobbler, Cobbler thinking and their examples of change sheet. We'll research language changes throughout the second quarter, so there is plenty of time! The kids will read the article, Sharing turkey and life stories at the Thanksgiving table, about the StoryCorps Project (https://storycorps.org/blog/storycorps-and-google/). There are so many great stories to hear.
Enjoy listening over the break. Perhaps your 2nd grader will hear some changes in language to bring back to share next week in the Quest room. This should be a fun adventure!
What's next? A changes in language research project! As many will spend special time with family over Thanksgiving, I wanted to be sure the kids had the project information, and materials, to start gathering some language changes they hear.
Your kiddo will receive a Green Quest folder to take home over Thanksgiving break. Inside, you'll find a description of the language project, a brainstorming sheet (on the back), their Cobbler, Cobbler thinking and their examples of change sheet. We'll research language changes throughout the second quarter, so there is plenty of time! The kids will read the article, Sharing turkey and life stories at the Thanksgiving table, about the StoryCorps Project (https://storycorps.org/blog/storycorps-and-google/). There are so many great stories to hear.
Enjoy listening over the break. Perhaps your 2nd grader will hear some changes in language to bring back to share next week in the Quest room. This should be a fun adventure!
Highlights from their examples of change.
Below are the categories and generalizations 2nd graders formed about change.