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Partner Reading: Helping Peers Teach Peers

In this video from Linda Karamatic’s second-grade classroom, two girls meet with Linda to develop tips to share with their classmates on how to partner read successfully.

From Rages to Rags: Conferring with Conner

When to let a child guess, and when to give the correct answer in a reading conference? That's the struggle for 2nd grade teacher Sean Moore as he confers with Conner.

Rereading Strategy: Conferring with Emily

Sean Moore confers with 2nd grader Emily about the strategy of rereading for comprehending reading and writing.

Focused Independent Reading in Second Grade

Sean Moore demonstrates how he helps students focus their independent reading with preparation and then with discussion after reading.

Found Poetry in Second Grade

Linda Karamatic teaches a small group of her second graders about found poetry.

Listen In: Strategies for Using Nonfiction Texts in Writing

The line between copying and plagiarizing can be a difficult one for young students to understand.  In this video, Heather Rader and Linda Karamatic share a humane strategy for helping two second graders craft nonfiction writing.

Accuracy and Comprehension: Conferring in Second Grade

In this video from Sean Moore’s second-grade classroom, Sean confers with a student who comprehends text well but has some issues with accuracy.

Listen In: About the Author

“About the Author” blurbs are a great way to bring closure to writing in workshops. In this “Listen In,” Myia begins to construct her “About the Author” page.

Listen In: Writing Reviews

Heather Rader uses Kincaid’s intricate system for analyzing books to build a writing agenda in this writing conference.

Listen In: Maya is a Chapter Writer

Some young writers take a lot of time and encouragement on the journey to uninhibited prose, while others zip to prolific. Maya is such a writer. Heather Rader assists this proficient 2nd grade writer as her teacher observes.

Book Matchmaker: “Cool” Books for a Struggling Second Grader

Franki Sibberson selects some “cool” books for a struggling reader who wants to fit in with his 2nd grade peers.

Guiding Reading Partners: Work on Accuracy

In this reading conference from a 2nd grade classroom, Linda Karamatic pairs two children who have similar needs in reading.

Nonfiction Read Aloud

Sean Moore reads nonfiction aloud to his 2nd grade students. This is the first video in a two-part series.

If You Like Junie B. Jones, You Might Like . . .

What young learner doesn’t love Junie B. Jones? Franki Sibberson shares great texts to recommend for readers who adore Junie and might be looking for similar characters and plots.

Nonfiction Read Aloud – Part 2

Here are some more tips for nonfiction read-alouds, based on Sean Moore's reading of Plants That Eat Animals.

Fluency in Focus: Conferring with Jake

Gail Boushey confers with Jake, a seven-year-old who is setting a reading goal of developing fluency. After the conference, she debriefs with Joan Moser.

Astrigs, Asterisks, and Letting Students Lead

In this video from Linda Karamatic’s second-grade classroom, Charlie shares his punctuation “find” of asterisks with his classmates. He is reading the book Miss Child Has Gone Wild by Dan Gutman.

Noticing Words in Second Grade

In this brief video from Linda Karamatic’s 2nd grade classroom, students share words they are noticing, and Linda talks about making revisions to the wall displays of words in the classroom. She also mentions the word “wretched” which the class discussed the previous day, and how the word might be used naturally in conversations.

Conferring About Chunking Words in Second Grade

Sean Moore confers with a 2nd grader who is learning the strategy of chunking words in reading. Notice how Sean focuses the student, refers to previous conferences, and previews an upcoming whole-class reading.

Capturing Student Learning with Evernote

It can be difficult to move from print to electronic records in the classroom. After using a spiral notebook for 10 years, Cathy Mere did just that.

Words and Images: Mentor Texts for Second Grade Boys

In this conference with two of her second-grade students, Linda Karamatic shares mentor texts and tips to help them with their writing. Both boys are writing stories with strong visual components.

Listen In: Writing in Math

Heather Rader confers with 2nd grader Maya about her math writing as Linda Karamatic listens in.

Listen In: Knowing When You’re Done

When is writing finished? Heather Rader confers with a second grader over that age-old question for writers as Linda Karamatic listens in.

Listen In: XBox Game Writing

Boys and their toys: Heather Rader confers with a second grader over his game writing while Linda Karamatic listens in.

Second-Grade Punctuation Conference

Beth Lawson confers with a second grader, assisting as she works on her punctuation skills.

Previewing Nonfiction

Teachers are adding more nonfiction to their classroom libraries, and looking for ways to promote nonfiction with students in light of the emphasis on nonfiction in the Common Core. Franki Sibberson share tips for previewing nonfiction with students.

Status of the Class and Monitoring Behavior

In this early year video from Beth Lawson’s second-grade classroom, Beth uses a writing status-of-the-class time to help students monitor their behavior, using peers as role models.

Conferring: Stretching Words

In this conference with a second grader, Beth Lawson uses a visual aid and a hand motion to help a young English language learner understand the concept of stretching words in writing.

Voila! Best Writing and Entry Slips in Second Grade

The word voila in French literally means “see there.” Linda Karamatic puts time and reflection into creating a binder, or “voila book,” that will ease the bulging writing workshop folders and preserve the best of her second-grade students’ writing.

Second-Grade Team Meeting: Helping Students Choose Books Independently

In this five-minute excerpt from a second-grade team meeting, Principal Karen Szymusiak sits in on a discussion about the challenges of helping young readers learn to pick appropriate books independently.

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