Grades 1-3 Opinion Writing!

 

Hello everyone!  I know it's been a little while since our last post but I just got back from sunny Florida (although we saw mostly rain and clouds-haha) As soon as I returned I've been busy finishing up my latest unit. As Jayme promised in her last post here is a sneak peak of our opinion writing pack.... 

 

This 39 page unit is a jam-packed resource with what you'll need to encourage your students to be opinionated writers! You can check it out at our TPT store.

Informational Writing

Did your jaw drop like mine when you read the common core writing standards!?  I mean I always set aside a time during the day for writer’s workshop….but now I have to restructure it a bit to meet each piece of the writing standards.  As I was researching on how to effectively meet these writing standards I came across a second grade site from Georgia.  This teacher did a nice job of showing a variety of informational writing pieces and if they meet the expectations.  It was pretty mind blowing to see what second graders are expected to write.  You can take a peek for yourself below:

http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/LanguageartsES.nsf/80862A9A9191FD858525748D004D1E06/$file/2Informationalanchors.pdf

Ok, so are worried yet!?  Haha I was too, but then realized we already are writing similar to this but I just need to model informational pieces a little more frequent.  This led me to create a writing pack solely on informational writing.  I thought the best way to focus more heavily on informational writing was to integrate it with science and social studies.  Therefore, this writing pack focuses on second grade science and social studies standards. 

Included in this informational writing pack are: 5 posters breaking down each step, 2 revising and editing posters, a list of read aloud books for mini lessons, several graphic organizers to arrange information, two writing reports along with differentiated rubrics, a memory game for topic sentence practice, a list for grades 1-3 of the writing standards this pack covers, and more!  Head on over to our TPT store to take a look.      
                                              Happy Friday! =)

Place Value Freebie

It’s been awhile since we have posted a freebie so we thought we’d share our latest math creation. We have found this year that a handful of our kiddos are really struggling to grasp the concept of place value. Since this is the foundation of ALL other math concepts we thought we’d better make sure our students have a good understanding before moving any further. What better way than to play a game right!? Of course our students are at different levels so we have created two different place value activities at 3 levels. We use the varied activities during our small math group time when students meet with us.

The first game requires students to spin the place value spinner while identifying base-ten blocks. The second activity can be used with base-ten blocks or just numbers for students to compare two numbers and fill in the signs >, <, or =. It is versatile so teachers may use however they choose! You can click on the image below to visit our TPT store and download this activity pack for free!

We are strong advocates for technology in the classroom so we have found a great link which practices place value and also has varying ability levels. We were thrilled to find a website that differentiates!

http://www.funbrain.com/tens/index.html

Guest Blogger! Featuring Yvonne Dixon from Sassy in Second

Hi everyone!  My name is Yvonne Dixon (from Sassy in Second) and I am SO excited to be the guest blogger today for …Two Tacky Teachers!  I just LOVE their blog name and want to thank Jayme and Val for asking me to join them to share some Common Core ideas and resources.  We are all in the same boat trying to come up with assessments and materials to support our new Common Core State Standards.  I am so thankful for all of the amazing educators out there posting ideas for us all to use!

                         

As a second grade teacher that has taught for 20 years in Georgia, I’ve seen the pendulum swing from Quality Core Curriculum (QCC’s) to Georgia Performance Standards (GPS), to what we now have…National Standards with the Common Core.  Unpacking and unwrapping standards is a tedious job and finding materials and units can be a little tricky.  Thank goodness we are in a blogging world where we can find resources at our fingertips!  If you haven’t already seen this, I would suggest you check out the amazing resources this Common Core for Educators article provides.  At the top of the list is the Common Core Initiative (a must for all teachers)!  It has everything you need from finding text Lexile levels to Common Core lessons on the Teaching Channel!

        

I realized a couple of years ago when my principal announced that we were moving toward National Standards that I would need to create materials that not only supported the standards but offered opportunities for differentiation as well.  I decided to design tiered math tubs that fit the levels of my kiddos while covering the expectations of Common Core.  Below is an example of one of my Tiered Math Tubs aligned with Common Core Standards.  I’d love for you to check them out on TpT!

 

 In addition, I’ve created a Common Core Notebook that is LOADED with pages that include:

Essential Question Posters, Domain Posters (notebook dividers), Word Wall Vocabulary Cards, Standards at a glance, a parent letter explaining about standards based notebooks, standard recording sheets, work sample evidence of learning sheets, and much more!

I am also reading books to help me design or implement units for Common Core instruction in my classroom.  I highly recommend you purchase the Common Core Curriculum Maps for your grade level.  I am participating in a book study on these “roadmaps to learning” for Common Core lessons and planning.  Many schools are implementing these across grade levels.

 

Thanks again to Jayme and Val for having me on their precious blog and I hope you can use some of this information as you implement CCSS in your school. Come visit me sometime at Sassy in Second!  Thanks friends!-Yvonne