Learning about time!!!

My class is currently learning to tell time. We have been working on this skill for about two weeks. Time is a very tough skill to teach to 2nd graders. We have been focusing on telling time in 5 minute intervals. This concept hasn't been too bad. As long as they know which hand is the minute hand and which is the hour hand, then they do much better.

The hardest concept is using terms like quarter til, quarter after and half past. For some reason this is concept is almost impossible for 2nd graders to understand. This has been such a struggle for everyone. I have tried many different strategies, but it is just not working as well as I had hoped.

This is the last week we have to focus only on time. I plan to continue teaching time when possible throughout the year. Next we are tackling money. This should be interesting. Wish me luck!!!

Spring is on it's way!!!

Today was Groundhog Day. I had two students, one in 4th grade and one in 5th grade that shadowed me today. The students stayed with my class the entire day and were able to see how we do things in 2nd grade.

We learned about the history of Groundhog Day. I learned a lot about Puxatony Phil from the website, www.groundhog.org. This website was great because it had a video of the actual ceremony where Phil comes out to see his shadow. Today, Phil did not see his shadow, so that means that spring is on its way.

We also did several activities on the promethean board with groundhogs. The students really enjoyed learning about Groundhog Day and the celebration that occurs in Pennsylvania. They also thought it was neat that two other students came to shadow their teacher. I love when we can tie in holidays or events into the curriculum.

100th Day of School

Today was the 100th day of school. We had a great day full of 100th day activities. We started the day by reading "The Night Before the 100th Day of School." Then the students created a 100th day book. The book discussed what the students would do if they had 100 of something, something they would not want 100 of, and much more. The students also illustrated pictures of how they will look in 100 years. The students wrote a story about what they would do if they had 100 dollars. Then finally we counted 100 items and glued them to a poster. The students worked in groups. One group had straws, another had toothpicks, another had Q-tips and the last group had rubber bands.

This was a great day full of fun ways to celebrate the 100th day of school. It is hard to believe that we have been in school 100 days already. Only 80 days to go...