Two Step Word Problems

C'mon, you know you love them... word problems, that is.  Especially two step word problems... you love them as much as the kids do!!

Well, my second graders have been working on them this week and we've been adding to our math notebooks...

This is what we write in our math notebooks.  (SN: my summer goal is to make everything we've put into our math notebooks in one place...and have it ready to go! This was the first year we've done math notebooks...)

I really like the part, part, whole models to help solve word problems.  I'm a very visual learner, and I wish I'd had this when I was learning how to rip apart word problems.  It would have saved me lots of fingernails... 

Check back to see how we do more with our two step problems next week!

Lots and lots of anchor charts... and rain!

I am on an anchor chart kick lately... last year I did some, especially toward the end of the year with reading... but now I'm branching out from reading into math and writing.  More on that in a minute...

Today was a typical Monday... rainy, Fall chill in the air.  I actually woke up early... that never happens.  I am not a morning person.  Not by a long shot.  I set my alarm for 6 am but hit the snooze button numerous times... it's usually after 7 when I finally jolt awake and run around like a mad person.  My husband hated it when he worked 2nd shift.  But today, I only hit the snooze button a few times and woke up in time to shower, do hair, put contacts in, iron my pants (miracle!!) and get my daughter up in time to get her ready without rushing.  Still clocked in on time!  Well, that was where all my luck ran out... the Keurig ate my K-cup and I had to get another one :(  Those things ain't cheap...and I get "reprimanded" by hubs about the impracticality of purchasing said K-cup and after the gazillionth time it's all Charlie Brown adult on me.... you know, wahhh wah wahhh wahh wahhhhhhh.... 

Shhh.... I do have a small coffee maker that was mine but who wants to clean up a coffee pot or worry about leaving it on and drive all the way back to school to check and see? (Does it sound like I've actually done that??  a few times....) so, I'm really saving gas money...right?

Anyways, day got sad... all I'll say is that a call was made to Social Services... all teachers know what that means :(  Just say a prayer for my little friend...

I was observed today, too.  I hate being observed... doesn't matter by who or how long or what, I just hate that feeling of being under a microscope.  I was actually prepared (yay!!) lesson plans done, papers graded, lesson plans actually pulled up on my computer... ducks in a 4 S line! (straight, still, silent, and smiling!)  Wahoo!!  

I was working on my subtraction anchor chart with the kiddos when the principal came in...  We were about midway through it.  Here it is!

And, we're starting letter writing... anchor chart??  Oh yeah!

I can't wait to get these kids writing some letters!  I always enjoy teaching writing a friendly letter, don't know why!  Downside to this is that the kiddos start writing notes to each other!

Well, I was planning on leaving before 4 this afternoon, but I was making all my anchor charts pretty and didn't notice the thunderstorm heading my way...

This is what it looked like just as I picked up my keys to leave... it was POURING!  But it did let up enough that I did get in my car and drove home, just in time to see this...

Happy Monday and a better Tuesday!!

Synonym Anchor Chart

Quick post today...

Wanted to share my synonym anchor chart that I made with my class this week.  

I've written about Making Meaning before, how my school is using this program for the first time this year, and my school was lucky enough to purchase Making Meaning vocabulary that coincides with Making Meaning comprehension...

With each weekly read aloud, we have a comprehension strategy that is used as we read.  Well, the following week, Making Meaning vocabulary pulls some tier two vocabulary words from the story, or words that relate to the story, and we talk about them.  We usually do about 4 words a week and add them to our "Strong Vocabulary" chart.  Well, last week, we introduced synonyms formally.  The words on the left side of our anchor chart are words we brainstormed... the words on the right are some of our Making Meaning vocabulary words and synonyms for them!  The kids loved trying to come up with synonyms for their vocabulary words... I just love that they are using those tier two words!  

We are also working on incorporating these words into our writing... that hasn't been as easy as using them in our day to day conversations (obviously!) but we'll get there!  Just wanted to share... :)

Happy Sunday!