Horrible Harry

  Last week we completed our first chapter book study as a class.  At the beginning of the year (and really all throughout the year) I love introducing my students to new series and authors that I think they will enjoy as 2nd graders… Horrible Harry always becomes a favorite of my little ones!  We read Horrible Harry in Room 2B while focusing on making connections and character analysis.  I’m going to be honest, the first chapter book that we do as a class can be a bit of a challenge because they haven’t built their stamina quite enough, BUT after you jump over that first hump it gets much easier!  At the beginning of the year when we do chapter book studies like this my students are following along either with their own book or one they share with their partner.  Until I am confident that they can read and comprehend, we do a lot of the reading together.  Plus, I am modeling how to read with expression, to stop for comprehension, and how to make connections throughout the book.  If I want them to be successful reading independently or with a partner then I have to model, model, model!!  We will soon get into book studies in smaller group settings, but it takes time to get there!

I decided that a directed drawing was in order after we finished the book.  I’ll just say it… one of the only times my students are completely SILENT and FOCUSED is during directed drawings right now.  I have a group of talkers, and I’m okay with that most of the time.  We talk a lot while we are learning and interacting, but sometimes this teacher needs a moment of peace.  These activities do just that!