READING WORKSHOP
In Reading Workshop, we have reviewed various decoding strategies and children have learned how
to identify "Just Right Books," which they choose to read during independent reading times. While
they read, they are practicing the "thinking strategies" that we have been learning about. They mark
their books with "think marks" to indicate where they make predictions or connections, have
particular feelings, questions, learning, and/or make other observations. In small guided reading
groups, children focus on the particular skills where they need to improve.
WRITING WORKSHOP
In Writing Workshop, second grade authors have been busy writing stories about their personal
experiences. They have been learning to replace "blah words" with more "colorful words" and to
include more detail in their stories so that they can "paint a clear picture in the mind of their
readers." Teachers conference with children about their writing and children take turns sharing with
the microphone in Author's Chair. Other times, "Writing Buddies" share their stories with one
another.
WEEKEND JOURNALS
Children in 2C begin each week by writing a letter to the teacher in their Weekend Journal. They are
allowed to tell me about their weekend, or about anything that is on their mind. Sometimes they
write about their excitement over an upcoming event, or about something that is bothering them.
I write back to the girls one week and to the boys the next.
WORD STUDY
Our weekly spelling practice comes from a phonics awareness program called "Words Their Way."
This program involves practice in school and at home and is meant to improve children's skills in
spelling and decoding. So far this year, children have been learning spelling patterns for short and
long vowel sounds.
DAILY LANGUAGE REVIEW
Each morning, children complete short language exercises that are meant to improve their skills in
spelling, punctuation, grammar, and other general language skills (i.e. alphabetizing, categorizing,
word families, opposites, etc.). Then we correct our work together. The exercises increase in
difficulty throughout the year as children's skills improve.
