Doctor Day(s)

I completely transformed my classroom into a clinic with the help of some amazing parents!  We spent two days measuring, critically thinking, and participating in many engaging activities.

Contraction Hospital is available on TPT- and I will add the remaining Doctor Day files at some point :)

Contraction Hospital Word Surgery

I get bored with the show and tell of grammar right quick.  So instead of passing out a "printable" I surprised the kids and turned the classroom into a hospital.  Two words had a major accident and had to be put back together in contraction form!  This activity was a part of a bigger event called Doctor  Day! (more to come on that later)

                                            

I surprised the kids by flipping the classroom to look like a hospital.  They came in worked on their patient files (to be uploaded eventually) and took part in a white coat ceremony (white t shirt cut up the middle with a badge).  

During grammar we talked about some words that had terrible accidents--- getting run over by my naughty granny, a flock of geese popping their hot air balloon, etc. and that they had to be immediately rushed to surgery.  Some of the letters didn't make it out alive and need to be rushed into surgery.  They got their gloves and masks on, scalpel and tweezers in hand and they're off!

  

                                             

                                        

obviously finishing it with a snack... with cupcakes topped with brains.   

Dead Words Day

My 2nd grade students are really starting to take off with their writing!  The biggest part of craft is using wisdom in word choice-- but often students (and us) choose words that we're comfortable or we just don't know what our options are or take the time to think about them. So to be more intentional about words we had a Dead Words Day, to put the common words to rest and rise up with more interesting words.  Anything to get the students engaged! Let me start off my saying… this by no means is my idea.  I remember doing something like this in grade school and have seen idea on numerous blogs. 

                                          

Prior to students coming to class I have them wear all black.  Since I did this on Halloween they assume something is up and get all the more excited.  I made necklaces with words that had the dead words on them.  I had signs around the room that said "The Dead Word Zone" and caution tape on the door.  I copied tombstones onto gray construction for students to add the resurrected words on.  

                                      

I start the day telling them how proud I am of them as writers and explain that as we continue to mature we have to lay to rest what we did when we were just starting writing so that stronger and more powerful writing can emerge. I emphasize that as writers they have the power and to engage readers they need to keep them captivated using strong words. I explain that today we are going to have a memorial for the beloved words we have used so much so that we can resurrect new words into our vocabulary. I then pass out the necklaces and tell each child they are responsible for the memory and new life of that word. Throughout the day they think of words that could replace it. Depending on time and maturity they could do a word hunt in their books, use a thesaurus, etc. 

During literacy I pass out the tombstones and using the words they've collected and/or the resurrected words I've included to create a tombstone for that word. 

I gather students into a circle on the carpet to grieve the word we lost and celebrate what will rise up. Students read the epitaph- after they say the word that we are laying to rest- the rest of the class repeats that word. (reader) “Here lies ‘said’” (whole class) “said” (reader continues on) they drop the word into the bucket and place a flower into in. Depending on weather you could also do this outside and bury the words! 

Throughout the activities you could play “The Twilight Zone” or “The Undertaker” theme song... Along with the classics like “Thriller” After we complete the funeral service, students receive a small tombstone to write their word on it and a new sentence using the resurrected words. We hung those on a bulletin board and below I use the tombstones to create a new word wall so that we can add new words all year to it. I leave a marker so that students can add new words all year-- and boy will they call you out if you use them!  I went to the local craft store to make the tombstones look like a cemetery.  

Here are all of the materials I use in my class

                                             

Scout, our Reading Therapy Dog

Meet Scout, our classroom reading dog.  Isn't he about the cutest dog you've seen?!? I'm usually NOT a pet person, but I CAN'T get enough of him. He comes weekly to our classroom to read with students--- especially those that are reluctant or have any problems with reading.  He is a certified therapy dog and has his Canine Good Citizen certification and his a Reading Paws Dog.  

                                              

His master is a student in my class and his family. Scout had to do quite extensive training to be allowed to be in the school.  

What exactly did Scout to do to be a reading therapy dog?

1.  He had to pass an evaluation and training to be accepted in the Therapy Arc

2.  Then Scout and his owner, Amy, had to take classes to get his Canine Good Citizen through the AKC

3. Amy had to go to training through the Reading Paws/Intermountain Therapy to get certification.

Click on the links above and http://therapyanimals.org/R.E.A.D.html for more information of the steps to become certified.

While the steps to becoming a reading therapy dog are many--- so are the benefits of the dog with our students.  

The first time Scout came to school I had Amy (the momma owner) and the student in my class share about Scout.  All kids that wanted to pet him and asked as many questions as they wanted. We set a purpose that Scout was at school to help you be a better reader.  He's here to help you read more fluently and confidently.  

I read the book A Boy and A Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz the first day Scout came.    

                                        

The book is a PERFECT tie in for the benefit of animals in our world and can lead to a launching point of so many topics--- service/therapy animals, non-ficiton, biographies, wildlife conservation, different learning types, etc.  

                                        

This book is about a boy named Alan who loves animals.  He goes to the zoo and sees the animals alone and worries about them.  Alan wants to be their champion, helper, their voice- but he himself has a sever stutter.... except when he talks to animals.  Based on a true story this is a tender tale and lends to the power that each student has no matter the circumstance! 

My students LOVE reading with Scout obvi and go nuts every time they see him.  I am a firm believer that all students should have access to reading with him!!! High, low, middle, whatever category you put on it- all students have someplace to grow and I will support them in it however I can.  I don't make students "earn" their time with him because it is usually the particularly naughty students that need him the most!!! 

All students rotate through reading with Scout in 15 minute increments.  Scout can only be doing "therapy" for about 2 hours.  Some students go in groups, while others get one on one time.  I have a few students that I have read with Scout more often because they need that extra 1:1- this includes those with reading disabilities, ELL, need that little extra encouragement, have made a big turn in their reading, Austim, and developmental delays, etc.  There is mounds of research on animals supporting students growth academically.  I have an inclusion classroom and I can attest to the growth in fluency that has occurred when students read with Scout.  It brings me to tears/severe allergies when I see one student who wouldn't even get to close to Scout and couldn't read 3 words without stuttering now let Scout put his head on his lap and reads nearly fluently to him.  

There is nothing sweeter than seeing kids snuggle up to Scout and simply read because they can.  Scout reads to other students in the school throughout the week, but this year we get the special privilege of having him as an honorary classmate.  We love you Scouty!!!!