Fun in First

A Teaching Blog by Jodi Southard

Jodi

Digital Word Work

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Teaching phonics is an essential skill for readers, but if it’s not jazzed up, it can be downright borrrring for kids.  I absolutely LOVE teaching phonics.  I enjoy seeing my students put the puzzle pieces of phonics together to make words and having it all make sense to them.  Even my higher readers need to know and understand phonics skills.  We talk a lot about how knowing the rules of phonics can help them with longer unknown words.  Since phonics is such an important part of the 1st grade curriculum, I am constantly trying to find ways to make it more fun for my students.

A new component that I have added this year is Digital Word Work.  We do not have iPads or tablets for our students, so I created something that we could do together using what we have.  We have one computer and a projector, so I created a Digital Word Work Slideshow that can be projected while my students record their answers or interact with the slides.

Do you need something to help spice up your phonics instruction each week? This Digital Word Work activity is the perfect way to add a little extra to your week. Simply project the file onto your screen and complete these activities as a whole group or small group. Students will record their answers for some of the activities on the included recording sheet.

What is included with Digital Word Work?

These Digital Word Work packets come with three separate files.

  1. Digital Word Work without Timers – This includes a Power Point Slideshow that you will display and click through each section at your own pace to allow for all students to complete the activity.
  2. Digital Word Work with Timers – This Power Point Show has timers, which allows you to walk around your classroom and help students where needed.  This works well once your students have done these for a couple of weeks and know exactly what is expected.
  3. Printable Recording Sheet- This includes a PDF that needs to be printed for each of your students.  I print this 2-sided, so each student only needs one paper.

How do I use Digital Word Work?

I personally use the slideshow without timers.  I have a huge range of learners in my classroom, and I want to make sure that I give my students an ample amount of time to complete the task.  Plus, my goodness…we have a really hard time keeping track of our crayons in my classroom 🙂

I hand out the 2-sided recording sheet and have my students go ahead and get their crayons ready before we start.  Then, I project the slideshow for the class.  The first activity has the students looking at pictures and saying the phonics skill sound for each picture.Do you need something to help spice up your phonics instruction each week? This Digital Word Work activity is the perfect way to add a little extra to your week. Simply project the file onto your screen and complete these activities as a whole group or small group. Students will record their answers for some of the activities on the included recording sheet.

The second activity uses the recording sheet.  A group of pictures are on the screen.  The students have to write down the picture that shakes on the screen.

Do you need something to help spice up your phonics instruction each week? This Digital Word Work activity is the perfect way to add a little extra to your week. Simply project the file onto your screen and complete these activities as a whole group or small group. Students will record their answers for some of the activities on the included recording sheet.

Students need their crayons for the third activity.  They turn their recording sheets over and color the picture that matches the word on the screen.

Do you need something to help spice up your phonics instruction each week? This Digital Word Work activity is the perfect way to add a little extra to your week. Simply project the file onto your screen and complete these activities as a whole group or small group. Students will record their answers for some of the activities on the included recording sheet.

The last activity gets the students up and moving.  When a picture flashes on the screen that has the particular phonics skill that you are working on, the students have to stand up.  If a picture appears that does not follow the skill, they stay seated.

Do you need something to help spice up your phonics instruction each week? This Digital Word Work activity is the perfect way to add a little extra to your week. Simply project the file onto your screen and complete these activities as a whole group or small group. Students will record their answers for some of the activities on the included recording sheet.

These have been a great addition to our classroom.  It’s just a fun twist on phonics each week.

Which phonics skills are included?

I have each phonics skill listed individually, but I also have bundles available.  The Ultimate Bundle includes:

♥short a, e, i, o, & u  ♥r blends  ♥s blends  ♥l blends  ♥ending blends  ♥sh digraph  ♥th digraph  ♥ch digraph  ♥wh digraph  ♥long a_e  ♥long a (ai,ay)  ♥long e  ♥long i_e  ♥long i (ie/igh)  ♥long o_e  ♥long o (oa, oe)  ♥long u  ♥ar  ♥er,ir,ur  ♥or  ♥soft c/g  ♥ou/ow  ♥oi/oy  ♥au/aw  ♥oo/ew

Check out ALL of my Digital Word Work packets in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

 

100th Day Challenge

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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.

The 100th Day of School Challenge is a fun and engaging way for your students to practice their academic skills while collaborating and earning challenge tickets.

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.

The 100th Day of School Challenge is a fun and engaging way for your students to practice their academic skills while collaborating and earning challenge 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

The 100th Day of School Challenge is a fun and engaging way for your students to practice their academic skills while collaborating and earning challenge tickets.

“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.

The 100th Day of School Challenge is a fun and engaging way for your students to practice their academic skills while collaborating and earning challenge tickets.

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

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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.

This 5-Step approach to sight word fluency makes learning sight words fun. It is an engaging and effective way to practice sight words in context, which is proven to be more effective than teaching in isolation. This 5-Step Sight Word packet includes 47 fluency passages using the first 300 Fry Sight Words. Students will follow a 5-Step approach to practice.

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.

This 5-Step approach to sight word fluency makes learning sight words fun. It is an engaging and effective way to practice sight words in context, which is proven to be more effective than teaching in isolation. This 5-Step Sight Word packet includes 47 fluency passages using the first 300 Fry Sight Words. Students will follow a 5-Step approach to practice.

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.

 

This 5-Step approach to sight word fluency makes learning sight words fun. It is an engaging and effective way to practice sight words in context, which is proven to be more effective than teaching in isolation. This 5-Step Sight Word packet includes 47 fluency passages using the first 300 Fry Sight Words. Students will follow a 5-Step approach to practice.

Comprehension Notebooks

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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.

Comprehension Notebooks provide your students with rigorous and focused daily comprehension practice. Each week includes an original text for students to read or have read to them. Each day, the students will practice a comprehension skill related to the text for the week.

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.

Comprehension Notebooks provide your students with rigorous and focused daily comprehension practice. Each week includes an original text for students to read or have read to them. Each day, the students will practice a comprehension skill related to the text for the week.

Comprehension Notebooks provide your students with rigorous and focused daily comprehension practice. Each week includes an original text for students to read or have read to them. Each day, the students will practice a comprehension skill related to the text for the week.

Comprehension Notebooks provide your students with rigorous and focused daily comprehension practice. Each week includes an original text for students to read or have read to them. Each day, the students will practice a comprehension skill related to the text for the week.

Comprehension Notebooks provide your students with rigorous and focused daily comprehension practice. Each week includes an original text for students to read or have read to them. Each day, the students will practice a comprehension skill related to the text for the week.

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

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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.

The Christmas Challenge is the perfect way to keep your students engaged before the holidays. Students will compete in teams to solve 10 academic challenges. After they solve a challenge, the team will earn a Challenge Ticket to solve a mystery word. The first team to solve all 10 mystery 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.

The Christmas Challenge is the perfect way to keep your students engaged before the holidays. Students will compete in teams to solve 10 academic challenges. After they solve a challenge, the team will earn a Challenge Ticket to solve a mystery word. The first team to solve all 10 mystery words, is the winning team.

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.

The Christmas Challenge is the perfect way to keep your students engaged before the holidays. Students will compete in teams to solve 10 academic challenges. After they solve a challenge, the team will earn a Challenge Ticket to solve a mystery word. The first team to solve all 10 mystery words, is the winning team.

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.

The Christmas Challenge is the perfect way to keep your students engaged before the holidays. Students will compete in teams to solve 10 academic challenges. After they solve a challenge, the team will earn a Challenge Ticket to solve a mystery word. The first team to solve all 10 mystery words, is the winning team.

Look for more Challenges coming soon!

25 of the Best STEM Toys

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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.

25 of the best S.T.E.M. toys for kids

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?