1st & 2nd Grade Language Arts

Mrs. Clemmons teaches 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade Language Arts at BSS. She graduated from Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!) with a BS in Early Childhood Education (PK–2) as well as Elementary Education (K-6). She later received her MEd at Meredith College and did additional graduate work at UNC-CH. Mrs. Clemmons taught in the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools for 15 years. While working for CHCCS she earned her National Board (NBPTS) certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist. She has maintained this certification for 24 years. After many years of living in Chapel Hill, she moved to Burlington and took a teaching position with ABSS. There she taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades at Smith and Highland Elementary. In addition, she was a Curriculum Facilitator at Garrett Elementary for four-years. After 31 years in the public schools Mrs. Clemmons decided to retire; but feels fortunate that a position at BSS has allowed her to continue her passion of teaching and helping children learn and grow.

Mrs. Clemmons and her husband, Chris, have three children. Zach, their oldest, is a sophomore at UNC-CH. Lilly is a junior at Williams HS in the IB Program. Catie, her youngest, attends BSS and is a seventh grader. They have two dogs named Cookie and Coco. The Clemmons family is very busy, but they enjoy making popcorn and watching movies together. They also enjoy cheering on the Tar Heels any chance they get! In her free time, you will find Mrs. Clemmons taking a quiet walk or enjoying a caramel latte at a local coffee shop.

The Boxitects

Builders Extraordinaire

Objective/Expected Outcomes:

1. Students will read the book Boxitects by Kim Smith.

2. Students will design and create an object using a variety of cardboard boxes.

3. Students will build skills that involve teamwork and compromise by working with a partner during the process.

Description: Over the summer of 2021, students read the book Boxitects by Kim Smith. At the beginning of the school year the book was read aloud to students. As a post-reading activity students were given partners and an empty cardboard box of their choosing. Students were asked to imagine all of the things their box could be and then to sketch one of their ideas. At the end of class, students shared their ideas and sketches with classmates. During the next class period student pairs designed and sketched a new creation that they wanted to make in the Makerspace. In addition, groups made a list of the materials they would need to complete their box creations. Over the course of the next three weeks groups of students worked together with fifth grade students to build their creations. When students finished, they shared their box creations with the class. Finally, they completed a reflection sheet related to the activity.

Materials Needed: Boxitects by Kim Smith

Cardboard boxes of various shapes and sizes

Duct tape or packing tape

Student copy of sheet titled “This isn’t a box, it’s a ....”

Student copy of sheet for creation design, materials list

Student copy of the reflection sheet

Diocese of Raleigh Academic Standards Covered

Reading, Writing, and Speaking & Listening
RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

RL.2.5 Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story, the events unfold in the middle, and the ending concludes the action.

SL.2.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups. a. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions. b. Build on others’ talk in conversations by linking their comments to the remarks of others. c. Ask for clarification and further explanation as needed about the topics and texts under discussion.

Mathematics

2.MD.1.1 Measure the length of an object in customary units by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.

2.MD.1.3 Estimate lengths using customary units of inches, feet, yards, centimeters, and meters.

2.G.1.1 Recognize and illustrate plane figures: triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, and hexagons, having specified attributes.

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