Happy spring!  April is almost here, which means we are in the final quarter of school.  It's time to get in all of those standards that we have not yet covered or review standards that we have already taught.  I use my interactive read aloud time to also integrate science and social studies standards, so this month is heavy in both of those.  We are covering economic standards and force and motion standards this month.  April is also the month that we celebrate Earth Day, so we are learning about that, too!  April is a busy one!   Who's Buying? Who's Selling? Understanding Consumers and Producers This book covers lots of vocabulary and important economics topics for second graders, such as producers, consumers, supply, demand, product, service, and budgets.  I used this text to teach RI 2.2, identifying the main topic of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within a text. Print this anchor chart. as well as the one below, to use throughout th...

 I love incorporating themes into my instruction.  I have been wanting to come up with a lesson that incorporated a CIRCUS theme, and I though why not use main idea?!  You can transfer your room into the Main Idea Show!  The greatest show on Earth!   The main idea is like the big top of the circus.  Students train to be Main Idea Masters (a fun little take on ringmaster of the circus).  These activities would be just enough to get your students excited and keep them engaged in learning about identifying the main idea of a text.  The main idea of a text is the overall idea that the text is mostly about.  Students begin identifying the main topic orally in kindergarten of an informational text.  By third grade, they transition into identifying the main idea and supporting details.  These activities would be most appropriate for third and maybe even fourth grades.  Let's take a look at some tips and  resources  for teaching main idea! Room Transformation Decorations Transform your cla...

Who doesn't love a good theme?!  I know that I do, and I love incorporating themes into my instruction.  A few years ago, we did a construction room transformation in math, and it became my favorite transformation of all.  The students loved getting to be builders and wear all of the fun construction gear.  I knew that I had to find a way to incorporate it into ELA, so the Main Topic and Key Details Construction Room Transformation was born!  Now don't feel like you have to go all out with a room transformation.  These activities would be just enough to get your students excited and keep them engaged in learning about identifying the main topic of a story. The main topic of a text is the overall topic that the text is mostly about.  Students begin identifying the main topic orally in kindergarten of an informational text.  Students in first and second also identify the main topic, as well as the key supporting details or ideas.  By third grade, they transition into identifying...