Jodi

100th Day Challenge

February 5, 2018 by Jodi 3 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, we had our 100th Day of School. It is always such a fun day, and one that the students look forward to. Along with the traditional things that I have done for the past couple of years for the 100th Day of School, I added in the 100th Day of School Challenge. This was set up just like the Christmas Challenge.

I love these challenges because my students have to work cooperatively together to solve 10 academic challenges. After they solve a challenge, they earn a challenge ticket envelope. Inside of the envelope is a mystery word that they have to solve using the code. It is amazing how excited they get when they earn each of their tickets.

It’s an easy to prep activity that the students love, and they don’t even realize they are learning.

“My students loved the challenges. They even begged to skip indoor recess to keep working on them! So engaging!” -Alyssa

“AHHHH!!! My students are going to LOVE this! They love teamwork & challenges! I can’t wait to use this on our 100th Day! -Jennifer

What is included in the challenge?

★Directions for the Challenge
★10 academic challenges (math and language arts based)
★10 Challenge Tickets
★10 Corresponding Envelope Labels
★100th Day Challenge Code
★Answer Key

Check out the 100th Day Challenge by clicking the picture below.

Need more 100th Day of School ideas? Check out this 100th Day of School blog post from last year.

Sight Word Fluency in 5 Easy Steps

January 25, 2018 by Jodi 2 Comments

Every teacher knows the importance of learning sight words, but so many times, sight words are taught in isolation. In order to really improve sight word fluency, we need to teach sight words in context. Students should be able to easily recognize sight words in the text while they are reading. Sight word fluency allows students to increase their reading comprehension because their focus is off of trying to decode unknown words and can shift to comprehending what they are reading.

Did you know that the first 300 Fry Sight Words make up approximately 65% of all written material? When students are not fluent with their sight words, this greatly impacts their reading abilities. There are so many wonderful ways to practice sight words, but I am constantly trying to think of new and exciting ways to keep my students engaged while practicing sight word fluency. A while back, I created my 5-Step Fluency passages. They quickly became a favorite in my classroom, so I wanted to create a way to combine this with sight word fluency. With that, 5-Step Sight Word Fluency was born.

I cannot tell you how excited I am about using these in my classroom. It is such a fun and engaging way to work on sight word fluency. Each passage follows a 5-Step approach.

1. Read the sight words from the Sight Word box on the top of the page.
2. Read the passage.
3. Highlight or circle the sight words in the passage.
4. Reread the passage in a silly voice.
5. Reread the passage in a regular voice.

The students LOVE rereading the passage in silly voices. It is definitely a favorite among my 1st graders.

I have created two sets of 5-Step Sight Word Fluency. I have a set for the first 300 Fry Sight Words. This Fry 5-Step Sight Word set includes 47 passages using the first 300 Fry Sight Words. The second set includes 37 passages using the 220 Dolch Sight Words. This are great for whole group, small group, or individual sight word fluency practice.

If you need an engaging and effective way to practice sight words in context. check out 5-Step Sight Word Fluency.

I also have a BUNDLE that includes BOTH sets of passages.

Comprehension Notebooks

December 23, 2017 by Jodi Leave a Comment

Comprehension can be such a difficult task to teach, but these Comprehension Notebooks have been a life-saver over the past couple of years. They allow me to give a quick daily dose of comprehension, and we can really dig deep into each story. I personally use these in small groups, but they can also be used in a whole group setting. I prefer to use them in small groups because I can use a variety of grade levels in order to differentiate for my students.

Daily Comprehension Practice

These Comprehension Notebooks are set up on a 5-day schedule using the same story each day. In all honesty, I usually do these over a 2-3 day time frame. My schedule does not allow me to meet with each small reading group every day, so I usually do Day 1 and Day 2 together. Then, the next time, we reread and do Days 3-5. You can use these however you feel works best in your own classroom.

Differentiating with Comprehension Notebooks

I have 4 different grade levels of Comprehension Notebooks available (Kindergarten-3rd grade). I personally like to use each of the grade levels in my classroom depending on each student’s reading level. While the majority of my students do well with the Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade notebooks, I definitely have students that are capable of using the 3rd grade notebooks as well.

What does each Comprehension Notebook include?

Each notebook includes 30 weeks worth of comprehension practice using both fiction and nonfiction text. The comprehension skills are appropriate for each grade level and include a variety of skills. (cause and effect, main idea and details, compare and contrast, visualizing, theme, inferences, etc.) Every week includes a Write About It section that allows students to respond to the text and make text-to-self connections. In order to help you with differentiation, I also have two different bundles available for you. My K-2nd grade bundle is a great way to differentiate for a 1st grade classroom. I also have a K-3rd grade bundle that includes ALL of my Comprehension Notebooks.

What are teacher’s saying about Comprehension Notebooks?

“True brilliance…that is all I can say about this resource. I am going into my first year of teaching and have viewed thousands of resources and this is by far my favorite. The excitement I have for this is a little silly, I must say! (I even called my mom). I always struggled with comprehension as a child so seeing a clever way to implement reading comprehension activities aside from curriculum is brilliant!” -In the Shade

“This book is probably one of the best purchases I have made on TPT. I have used it daily. It is used as a must do for my students during centers. It took about six weeks of working with the students , but now they are working in a group of about 5 students and getting a lot out of the daily practice pieces. It goes along well with Journeys. I just have to tell the students what page to work on to match up with the comprehension skill of the week. Often they will ask if they can finish the page which is exciting to hearing. I sent it away to be bound into a book as shown and the students know to pull out their books when we have centers. If you are wondering if it is worth it… It is!” -Primary at Heart

“Absolutely a GAME CHANGER in teaching comprehension! Thank you for making a product full of practicality for my kiddos! Your hard work is beyond appreciated! Thank you for making my job easier!” -Krystina

Check out all of my Comprehension Notebooks.

Kindergarten Comprehension Notebook

1st Grade Comprehension Notebook

2nd Grade Comprehension Notebook

3rd Grade Comprehension Notebook

Kindergarten-3rd Grade Bundle

The Christmas Challenge

December 10, 2017 by Jodi 3 Comments

Do you need a fun activity for your class during the hectic weeks before Winter Break? The Christmas Challenge is perfect. Your class will compete in small groups to complete 10 academic challenges. After each challenge, the class will open a Challenge Ticket envelope and solve the code word. The first team to solve all 10 code words is the winning team.

What is the Christmas Challenge?

The Christmas Challenge is a fun, cooperative learning activity where students work together to complete 10 academic based challenges. Once a team completes the challenge, they open the corresponding Challenge Ticket envelope and solve the mystery word. You can decide if you would like for your class to complete all 10 challenges or only pick and choose some of the challenges.

Each Challenge activity, Challenge Ticket, and Code Word has coordinating pictures, so the project is easy to organize. After a group completes the challenge, they will receive the Challenge Ticket with the same picture. Inside the envelope, they will solve the mystery word with that same picture again.

I know that the weeks leading up to Winter Break are hectic, and activities that take a ton of time to prep are almost always impossible to squeeze into your plans. I love this challenge because the students can work together, it’s academic based, and easy to prepare. This low prep activity only involves printing and getting the envelopes ready for each team.

What is included in the challenge?

★Directions for the Challenge
★10 academic challenges (math and language arts based)
★10 Challenge Tickets
★10 Corresponding Envelope Labels
★Christmas Challenge Code
★Answer Key

Check out The Christmas Challenge by clicking on the picture below.

Look for more Challenges coming soon!

25 of the Best STEM Toys

December 4, 2017 by Jodi 3 Comments

This list of 25 of the best STEM toys has been slowly created over the past couple of years as I purchase new items for my Morning Tubs. I have become obsessed with finding new educational toys for my students that allows them to have fun and be creative. When students become interested in one of the items, I like to send a picture to parents to use as ideas for Christmas or birthday gifts. I thought that this list may come in particularly handy as you look to buy presents for your own children or for your classroom.

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of my links, which helps to support the blog.

1. Zoob Builderz

These blocks are really durable, and I love how they connect like joints to allow my students creations to be moveable.

2. Bristle Blocks

The bristles on these blocks interlock anywhere, so there are more options in how they can be hooked together.

3. Learning Resources Gears
My students love figuring out ways to make the gears move.

4. Kanoodle

This is one of my new favorite toys. Not only is it great for the classroom, but I have to say, it is really addicting to play for adults as well! It would be perfect for kids on a road trip or to keep them busy at an appointment.

5. Roller Coaster Challenge

This is a recent purchase that I am so excited about putting into my Morning Tubs.

6. Playstix

These are similar to a soft version of Lincoln Logs.

7. Code & Go Robot Mouse

This has been a huge hit in my classroom this year. The students love programming the mouse to make it move through the maze.

8. Emido Building Blocks

I love how these interlock with each other on all sides.

9. Picasso Tiles

These are very durable for being plastic tiles with magnetic sides. I actually need to order another set of these because there were not quite enough for a group of 4 students.

10. Quadpro Magnetic Blocks

These were one of my first purchases for Morning Tubs, and they are still a favorite among my students.

11. Rainbow Flakes

These are so much fun! Over time, a couple of the flakes have broken, but they are still usable.

12. Goobi Construction Set

My students love using these blocks.

13. Block Buddies

These blocks come with cards that have pictures for the students to create items with the blocks.

14. Legos

Legos are always a popular toy.

15. Marble Runs

This see-through marble run allows the students to follow the marble all the way through the maze.

16. Keva Brain Builders

These wooden planks come with pictures of structures for the kids to build.

17. Topple

My students love playing this game and trying not to make the pieces topple over.

18. Emido Block Bars

These pieces were a little hard to snap together for some of my students, but they eventually got the hang of it. I would not recommend these for really young kids though.

19. Let’s Go Code

This is a great way to introduce coding without a computer. The pieces go on the floor and the children can step on them to follow the code.

20. Snap Circuts

This includes over 100 different projects. Some of them are easier than others.

21. Q-Ba-Maze 2.0

This is one that my own kids got last year as a Christmas present. You can make some really cool marble mazes with this.

22. Gravity Maze

This is another marble maze, but it involves a logic puzzle as well. You have to build a path to get your marble to the target.

23. Chain Reactions

This is perfect for teaching about simple machines and chain reactions.

24. Qwirkle

This is a great game for 2-4 players.

25. Ozobot Bit Coding Robot

This programmable robot comes with 20 games and activities.

Do you have any Must-Have STEM toys that you would add to the list?

Comprehension Bookmarks – Free Download

December 3, 2017 by Jodi Leave a Comment

Working on comprehension can be challenging, especially when you are trying to differentiate for a variety of learners in your classroom. I like to use Comprehension Bookmarks to give my students some things to think about before, during, and after they read, but I knew that I needed a way to adjust the activity for the different reading levels in my room.

This is a sponsored post. Fun in First has received payment, trade and/or products from Astrobrights in exchange for promoting, however all opinions stated are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of my links, which helps to support the blog.

I created three different Comprehension Bookmarks that can be used depending on the type of book my students are reading and/or their level of comprehension. I printed them on three different colors of Astrobrights paper for a number of reasons. Studies have shown that color improves retention as much as 18%! The more chances I can give my students to retain the information that I am giving them, the better. Studies have also shown that color can increase memory and help students remain engaged. This is definitely an area where I want my students to remain engaged for an extended period of time. Another reason I used different colors for each bookmark to help me stay organized. If my students lose their bookmark, they can tell me which color they had. I can also find the bookmark to replace it much faster if they are printed on color paper.

The first level of comprehension, printed on Lunar Blue™, has picture clues to help students with the questions. They are pretty basic story structure questions. The second level, printed on Martian Green™, does not have the picture clues. It includes the basic story structure and sequencing questions. The third level, printed on Solar Yellow™, includes higher order thinking questions for your more advanced readers.

My students can keep their bookmarks in chapter books that they are reading, or they can grab their bookmark to use while reading a picture book. These are perfect for placing at a Read to Self station or in an independent reading book tub. How would you use these in your classroom?

You can download these Comprehension Bookmarks for FREE in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Jodi

100th Day Challenge

Sight Word Fluency in 5 Easy Steps

Comprehension Notebooks

The Christmas Challenge

25 of the Best STEM Toys

Comprehension Bookmarks – Free Download

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