WBT Oral Writing Freebies

So you may have guessed by the name of my blog that I am into, drank the kook-aid, got the t-shirt (literally) wholebrain teaching.  When you truly implement the strategies it will transform your teaching!!  Take student engagement to a whole new level!!  I am still learning and there is so much that I don't know, or forget at times to do.....  But I keep starting over everyday and some days are WONDERFUL and others are a true learning experience.  If you have not really looked into it go to www.wholebrainteaching.com .... oh and the BEST part is any resources are FREE!!  You should NEVER pay for any WBT resources!!  Who does not like free???

So going into the 2nd school year (first whole year) of using WBT I really wanted to get a grasp of the whole oral writing process.  There are several components and I just was not sure where to start!! I knew that first and for most your students are "oral writing" meaning they are expected to talk in complete sentences ALL THE TIME!!  That was something I really had to focus on in that as we all feel the rush to "get it all in" and just take the 1-2 work answers and go!  But if you slow down and expect your students to ALWAYS answer in complete sentences you will be AMAZED!! at the deeper level of thinking that comes forth! And yet it is such a simple idea!!  Well then there is the genius ladder, the superspeed100, the triple whammy, the micro essay!  I am sure I am forgetting something and I had NO IDEA what I should do first!  I ready all the information on the website but I need to see and hear something also so I did not start as strong this year as I wanted to.....  But then Christina DeCarbo @ Sugar and Spice blogged about her journey and it made TOTAL sense to me!!! So we got to work and they really got good at the Micro (college-in my room) Essay.

My anchor chart!! Very proud--I do not like to hand write things... I do not have good handwriting...

So last week I wanted to push them; we took our field trip the week before to ASI,  which is a GREAT field trip btw... each station has some type of math skill!!  The kids had a blast!  But I digress.....

So we started the triple whammy sentence based on a St. Patricks book we read previously and I used the green, blue, and red colors to help color code and when they did it on their own they were giving me more of a micro essay because I forgot to change the colors!!

So I created these writing guides to help them and me remember the color system and how to combine the Triple Whammy and Micro (college) Essay.  We are in the middle of our writing so I do not have a pic as today I was not at school (opening day at the Ballpark-GO RANGERS!!)  But I think once they are done they will be great!!  My hope is tomorrow we will be able to go into writing the final copy!  Click on either pic to go to my TPT store and download!  Happy Writing :)

Second Grade Math Maniac: Mystery Box, March!

I am rubbing my lucky rabbits food as I type!!!



Second Grade Math Maniac: Mystery Box, March!: March is roaring in like a lion for sure! Especially cuz the Mystery Box is baaaack!!! Hopefully you'll win the GRAND PRIZE worth o...

Super Speed Math

Well it was a crazy day here in North Texas.... We got snow!!  Not a big deal for the rest of the country but for us it is!!  I can just feel the dust blowing off the empty store shelves from the mad dash to get milk, eggs and bread.  We hear the whisper of snow and we react as if the world is ending!!  I really could not make this up!  lol

We have done Super Speed 100 off and on for sometime now and about a month ago I thought why not have them write one sent. as many times as they can in 1 minute and have them try to beat their times.  They love it they ask all the time to do it.  It is great!  So this week I one of my goals was to  finally read up on Super Speed math and implement it.  Well to day was the day!  As a whole my class is not the fastest with their math facts fluency.  And I found a really cute fluency packet on TPT but with doing the test, scoring, keeping track of who passed what or did not pass it does not always get done.... You know how it is!!  To much to cover and not enough time!  Super Speed Math is SO easy!!  Nothing to check, nothing to score or track!!  The kids partner up and one person says as many facts while the second partner tracks them and  HELPS  them if needed!!  I love this part!  Both  are getting practice!!

They LOVED it!!  And the whole think took less than 5 min. once I explained the rules.

WOW!! Look At the Deal I Just Found!!

I have stumbled upon something I think is going to be GREAT for my students!!  It is AdaptedMind.  Right now if you are an educator it is FREE for a yearly membership!!!  That is $195/year savings.  Apparently the program will customize for the students needs!  I love that something that will be great for RTI as well as everyone!!  I can not wait do sign up my class!

I am linking up again!!

The Primary Gal: Friday Free-for-all!

The weekend is coming.... Linking up withTHE Mrs. Shipley :)..OH and a Freebie FB LINKY!!!

Well I have wanted to post lately but I have not had the spirit...  It is a tough year!!  My first year in 2nd grade and our district has "podded" 2nd and up with "advanced and regular" so there are 4 regular (myself included) and 2 advanced classes...  I don't have any measure to base these kids on because I have always been in K or younger.  The other fabulous team members HAVE done 2nd for many years.  And us reg. folks are DROWNING!!  My other reg. team mates keep saying this is the worst year ever!!  They have not seen kids this low!!  These kids are so LOW!!  We have unit assessments it seems like every other week--which is the data we look at (math and ela) but they do not count for a grade (thankfully!!) and I personally have at least 7 that I know will not pass because they are ESL and or reading at a 6-10 DRA.  And then the rest are at least on grade level (now) DRA of 24 or higher.  About half to 3/4 ths of them will pass.....   Then throw in the 4-5 that are ADHD/ADD some are on meds. and some are not.... So needless to say when my unit assessments come back they are not good.... I feel like I am failing these guys...    BUT TODAY WAS DIFFERENT!!

I am so excited to link up with THE FABULOUS Mrs. Shipley @ Mrs Shipley's Classroom ( I want to be like her when I grow up!! ).      Well I really prayed last night help me get some spark back and going in today WBT was there for me!  :)  I knew I needed to spice it up but I'm not as familiar with some of the different levels of the scoreboard yet like I am with the basic smilies/frownies ....  That has become second nature..  Today I went in with the boys vs. girls.  OH man did they move fast and work!!  This was one of the best days in a while!!  Greatness!!  I heard the boys telling others "to move faster"  "hurry so we can get a point".... They showed so much EXCITEMENT, used great gestures, used more "College talk" than they have been lately......  A  Great day!!  I used to be one of those teachers who in the past felt they had to talk loud or they did not respond...I did not like it but it seemed the only way I got results..  Now with WBT I am so quite 90% of the time!!  I am the teacher I used to wonder about... How were they so quiet!?!?  lol    

AND (insert drum roll)  Starting Jan 25--Saturday  I am so blessed and thankful to be part of a great freebie linky hosted by Amanda @ The Primary Gal there will be some great freebies (that are NOT usually free!!!)

Freebie Link UP... Yeppy Its Friday!

Well it is the last day of the 9 weeks....  I am tired!!  Ya'll know how it is you go into EVERY new grading period with great intentions of getting X number of grades each week and then those little cuties come in  to your room and .....   Well let's just be honest!  It does not always work out that way!   Here is an organizer that I thought of to help my kids with regrouping.  I was sitting at the bank with a deposit slip that I NEVER use anymore in the is day of technology and looking at the segmented boxes it came to me... Maybe this will help!!  I am sure it won't hurt.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ADDSUB-work-mat-1059423