A Small Moment By: Mrs. Hall

Stories happen to each of us daily, whether it is at a resturant, during recess, or during a drive home from school.  Each and everyday is a story, the only difference between what happens and what is written is whether it gets on paper.  Pretty simple? 

However, it is hard for our students to see that even the simplest of situations are worth telling.  Many times our kids think their stories need to be elaborate pieces of work.  The magic of writing is realizing that our mundain lives might serve as a lesson to others. 

Our first writing assignment is about a small moment.  Please be brainstorming with your child about a sweet, sad, funny, or memorable small moment in their lives.  Some examples:

A time at a resturant

Going to the drive-in

A scary storm

Buying a new pet

Going on a Bike Ride

Making Cookies 

The purpose of this writing assignment is to establish a concrete understanding of a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end and to tell something about themselves.  We are keeping it simple...

Rubric of "A Small Moment"

It Begins... By: Mrs. Hall

Welcome to another year of "Writing to Inspire".... These past two days have been just perfect.  We are busy learning how to be the best listeners we can be!  Today's lesson was accompanied by Interrupting Chicken by: David Ezra Stein.  Afterwards, we practiced what it means to be a great listener... wow.  We have quite a group of GREAT listeners....  as you can see...

Noelle listens as London reads... no "interrupting chickens" in this room!

Mrs. Hall's Newsletter 5.2.14

Friday Newsletter By: Mrs. Hall

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

MES Welcomes... Koo Koo Kanga Roo By: Mrs. Hall

To finish our exciting "Reading Kick-Off" week, MES rocked out to the exciting internet sensation "Koo Koo Kanga Roo"!  Our students were also treated to two high school students from Manchester High School as they shared their love of reading by reading to our classroom.  

Check out Koo Koo at: http://kookookangaroo.com

A BIG Thank You to Kate McMullan By: Mrs. Hall

http://www.katemcmullan.com/

This past Monday we had the opportunity to Skype again with Kate McMullan!  This time our classroom was able to share her with the rest of our school for our Reading Kick-Off!  She inspired and entertained each of the approx. 600 students here at our school to be readers who LOVE reading!  She even shared some of the books that have been a part of her family over the years!  

We are always blessed by her words of encouragement and her generosity!  

Thank YOU, Mrs. McMullan!

Mr. Feitshans' NCAA Class Champion By: Mrs. Hall

Savannah's UConn stole the basketball stage... Her prize, a game ball signed by the Manchester College Basketball players! The ball was presented by Mr. Feitshans today!  Congrats Savannah (...and UCONN:)

MES Reading Kick-Off By: Mrs. Hall

Today we were treated to the events that encompassed the MES Reading Kick-off!  It was a wonderful time to reflecting, learning, and pumping ourselves up to be readers!  Here are a few snapshots of today's events!  More media coverage is to follow!

A Visit from the "Cat in the Hat"

Hello, Cat in the Hat!

MES Cheerleaders help get us pumped up!

The amazing, the talented, Kate McMullan "Skyped" up from New York to share with our MES student body about the importance of reading!

Thank YOU, Mr. Feitshans By: Mrs. Hall

Our student teacher, Mr. Feitshans will continue to leave a lasting impact on the students in our classroom.  We are blessed by his teaching over the past few months.  Over spring break, he came back with a tangible gift that will forever be a part of "Mrs. Hall's Classroom"... he built this beautiful and sturdy set of mail boxes.  He crafted it with his talented grandfather, out of 200 year old Kentucky beech wood.  It will forever be a staple in our class!  Thank you, Mr. Feitshans!

A New Way for News By: Mrs. Hall

It's HERE...our Newsletter!

Parents, you may opt out of the weekly paper newsletter and keep up with our current news every Friday... Stay Tuned in with "Writing to Inspire" weekly...

Recycled City By: Mrs. Hall

Our Art Teacher continues to inspire and astound the rest of the crew here at MES, with her talent of creating unique displays and art with a variety of mediums, including recycled materials!  

The 2nd grade team is thankful for how she challenges all of our students to create and show off their creativity! 

Here is only one example of the beutiful art that comes from Mrs. Schuler's room!

…. It's been over a month By: Mrs. Hall

Logging on to our normally more active blog I see another month has flown by without a post!  This mainly speak to how BUSY our class has been creating "How To" projects and writing Fairy Tales…and MOSTLY spending time working on the process of the product, which can be so often over looked!

So I am pleased to announce that our blog will be "hopping" with posts, videos, and fairy tales to entertain and inspire all of our readers!  The following "How To" projects have left us informed… and most certainly entertained!

Enjoy!

How To Make Chocolate Chips

How To Know if a Narwal is Right For YOU!

How to Take Care of a Dog

How to Make a Loom Bracelet

How to Play Heart and Soul

How To Take Care of a Dog

How To Take Care of a Snake

How To Make a Loom Bracelet

How To Make a Fish Tail Braid

…and finally How To Take Care of a Cat

Looking Back at Time By: Mrs. Hall

Our Time Unit wrapped up this last Friday...however due to the lack of school, we will be revisiting this subject, daily.  I encourage you to visit this area of study daily too!  One of the greatest parts about our time unit is that we dove into Math Groups and nailed the management side of things!  The students now have the hang of how to properly conduct themselves during this time, and have done a wonderful job during "Independent Math Time"... I think "Math Workshop" will be headed into our class shortly...

Kevin Henkes By: Mrs. Hall

For more information check out: http://www.kevinhenkes.com/

When  a child can connect with a character, it leads to an endless love with a book and an author.  Mr. Henkes continues to capture the hearts of 2nd grade readers in our classroom year after year, and this year is no exception.  I think once a day, one of my students asks to skype with Mr. Henkes!  (Mrs. McMullan has spoiled us with her willingness to skype!)  Quite possibly we could skype with Mr. Henkes... It never hurts to ask!

In the meantime, we have become enthralled  with Mr. Henkes' craft.  We have made note of his use of repeating lines, lovable and feisty characters, and meticulous illustrations...so much so, that our own Kevin Henkes' inspired-pieces are in the works... Stay tuned...

Schema By: Mrs. Hall

Research says that the most proficient readers activate their schema before, during, and after reading... 

 


 I believe that readers who activate their prior knowledge get PUMPED up before and during their reading.  Every time I challenge my students to think, talk, or write about their prior knowledge, they are much more excited to read their books!  Their curiosity is sparked.  Their minds are in gear...and their brain begins to automatically ask and answer questions during their reading.   I encourage you, at home, to challenge your students to activate their "Schema Files"!

Shared Writing By: Mrs. Hall

We just wrapped up "Small Moments" and our "I'm"books...next we venture into another author study.

However, this week, we are taking three days to focus on using complete sentences to help our reader visualize the text.  We are also taking this week to be accountable to our peers for writing FULL and COMPLETE sentences.  We have a lot of great things going on as writers, and for this, we celebrate! 

We also understand that we have a lot of great work to do in the area of writing stories that incorporate writing elements that help us clearly communicate our story to our readers.  Be waiting for the shared writing projects...

A Small Moment By: Mrs. Hall

A sweet blessing from today.  So thankful for my students and their parents...

It was hot, and the smell was unpleasant.  My fifteen year old attitude was in full bloom.  Not to mention my comfort level amidst the scene of elderly sick people was at the point of alarm.  I felt very uncomfortable.  There I was, in the middle of Oklahoma, in a nursing home with my sweet aunt and grandma visiting my Aunt Mildred on her death bed.  The sound of beeping machinery and alarms were present filling my mind with forebodings of what I could witness that day.  From across the room my aunt mouthed the words “Go get your cd and sing to her”.  I couldn’t believe my aunt’s request.  Her face was something not to argue.  She was kind, but stubborn, and what she wanted, she got.  I nodded and walked out the doors and out into the Oklahoma air that hit me like a brick and got my cd.  I then walked back into the tension filled room…and began singing.  The music melted the tension and suddenly breathed life into my own reluctant spirit.  I’ll never for that day, that moment when I took my sweet Aunt Mildred to another place far from the dreariness of the present.

The posts to follow are of a moment  in time that stood out in my student's minds.  Some moments are really funny and some of them hit straight to the point and will leave you with a bit of understanding of their life.    Welcome to our class of "Small Moments"...

Design Contest Winners By: Mrs. Hall

I remember, as a student in Elementary School and throughout Middle and High School, wondering WHY I had to learn certain subjects.  I often still ask that question during different times in my life... I wonder WHY?  The question WHY?  can be haunting and distracting, so in order to help my understand the WHY?  I often attempt to provide them a real-world answer. 

Which brings me to our Math Project last week... A Design Project.  Last week we discussed perimeter, and geometrical shapes.  We discussed how real world designers use these terms when designing buildings, homes, and even amusement parks.  We decided to then put our design skills to the test.  The pictures are our classroom design winners.  What fun it would be to see their designs one day in real form...

Skyping with Kate McMullan By: Mrs. Hall

The author of I Stink and I'm Dirty and many other loved children's books, Kate McMullan, spoke to the minds of 23 authors yesterday(including myself).  She was gracious and empowering as she confirmed the students' writing.  She left them with possibilities and so much to think about as up and coming authors.  For her time and her spirit I am so grateful! 

-Mrs. Hall

Happy Election Day! By: Mrs. Hall

During the 2012 Election, we have been reading TIME for KIDS magazine articles, watching Slim Good Body Videos, and reading books about the presidency and the election process.

We have even written and delivered our own presidential speeches... Here are a few:

Enjoy!