Fun in First

A Teaching Blog by Jodi Southard

Curriculum

Book Tasting for Primary Students

by 1 Comment

I cannot say enough about how much I loved our Book Tasting Day!  My students were so engaged and the discussions that they were having about different genres of books was absolutely amazing.  I wish that I could have recorded their conversations.  It was truly a melt my heart teacher moment.

Hosting a Book Tasting in your classroom is an amazing way to get your students interested in a variety of book genres. Students are engaged while exploring different genres and increasing their interests in books. Extend the "restaurant theme" for the day by completing the extra activities to fit the theme.

How do I host a Book Tasting in my classroom?

I like to set the stage when I am doing an activity like this, but I also don’t want to spend a lot of money or a lot of time doing it.  Let’s face it….life is busy!  I purchased red checkered tablecloths, glass vases, fake flowers, and battery-powered candles from Dollar Tree.  I also purchased a class set of chef hats off of Amazon.

Hosting a Book Tasting in your classroom is an amazing way to get your students interested in a variety of book genres. Students are engaged while exploring different genres and increasing their interests in books. Extend the "restaurant theme" for the day by completing the extra activities to fit the theme.

Hosting a Book Tasting in your classroom is an amazing way to get your students interested in a variety of book genres. Students are engaged while exploring different genres and increasing their interests in books. Extend the "restaurant theme" for the day by completing the extra activities to fit the theme.

The day before our Book Tasting, I pulled books in six different genres from my classroom library and our school library and put them into book baskets.  I personally used the genres biography, nonfiction, fantasy, realistic fiction, fairy tale, and graphic novel, but you could use any book genres that you want for this activity.

Hosting a Book Tasting in your classroom is an amazing way to get your students interested in a variety of book genres. Students are engaged while exploring different genres and increasing their interests in books. Extend the "restaurant theme" for the day by completing the extra activities to fit the theme.

On the day of our Book Tasting, we discussed genres.  We talked about how there are different genres of movies, tv shows, and books.  We reviewed some of the genres that we would be “tasting.”  Then, I passed out the Book Tasting trifold.  They filled out their reading information.  Then, we were set for our tasting.

Hosting a Book Tasting in your classroom is an amazing way to get your students interested in a variety of book genres. Students are engaged while exploring different genres and increasing their interests in books. Extend the "restaurant theme" for the day by completing the extra activities to fit the theme.

I told my students that they were required to visit three different genres of books.  They could not pick more than one book from one genre.  I knew that if I did not make this rule, many of my students would have stayed at graphic novels the entire time.  As they browsed, they were to choose a book from the tub of their choice, look at the cover, and flip through a couple of pages.  Then, they had to decide if this would be a book that they think they would enjoy reading.

Hosting a Book Tasting in your classroom is an amazing way to get your students interested in a variety of book genres. Students are engaged while exploring different genres and increasing their interests in books. Extend the "restaurant theme" for the day by completing the extra activities to fit the theme.

Holy engagement!  I could have watched them do this for hours.  They were so into this activity.  I absolutely loved hearing their conversations and reading their thoughts and feelings about the books.  It was truly amazing!  When they finished, they filled out the back of their form to rate and review the book tasting.

For the rest of the day, we completed more “restaurant themed” activities.  They acted as waiters and waitresses and took each other’s orders off of menus, which they loved.  We also completed many other writing, reading, and math activities.

Hosting a Book Tasting in your classroom is an amazing way to get your students interested in a variety of book genres. Students are engaged while exploring different genres and increasing their interests in books. Extend the "restaurant theme" for the day by completing the extra activities to fit the theme.

This will DEFINITELY be an activity that I will do every single year from now on.  The students loved it and it really increased their enthusiasm for books and reading, which is a win-win situation.

If you would like check out the printables that I used for our Book Tasting, click on the picture below.

Hosting a Book Tasting in your classroom is an amazing way to get your students interested in a variety of book genres. Students are engaged while exploring different genres and increasing their interests in books. Extend the "restaurant theme" for the day by completing the extra activities to fit the theme.

If you use these and host your own Book Tasting, I would absolutely LOVE to see pictures of your day.  You can email them to me or share them with my by tagging me on Facebook or Instagram @funinfirstblog.

Feel free to pin the picture below to save this idea to use anytime in your classroom.

Hosting a Book Tasting in your classroom is an amazing way to get your students interested in a variety of book genres. Students are engaged while exploring different genres and increasing their interests in books. Extend the "restaurant theme" for the day by completing the extra activities to fit the theme.

 

Reading Warm Ups

by 1 Comment

Time spent in small reading groups is so important, and we have to make the most of our time while I have them at my reading table.  I like to start with some type of quick warm up to get their brains working before we get into our lesson.  I was constantly scrambling to come up with ideas, or I was stuck on doing the same things, so I came up with Reading Warm Up Cards.

Reading Warm Up Cards are a great way to begin your small group or whole group reading lessons. This set includes warm up cards for Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Fluency (476 cards in all.) Simply print, laminate, and place on a metal ring.

These cards are full of quick reading warm ups that we can use in our small reading groups, as a whole group, or when we have a couple of extra minutes in our day.  They are also great to use before lining up for lunch or recess.  I printed, laminated, and placed each set on a metal ring.  This way, they are easy to grab and use.

Reading Warm Up Cards are a great way to begin your small group or whole group reading lessons. This set includes warm up cards for Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Fluency (476 cards in all.) Simply print, laminate, and place on a metal ring.

I created five sets of Reading Warm Up Cards to reach many aspects of teaching reading and language arts; Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Grammar.

Phonological Awareness is the ability of hear and manipulate sounds.  I like to remember that phonemic awareness can be done with your eyes closed.  It truly is the foundation for learning to read.  This set includes cards for Sentence Segmentation, Rhyming, Alliteration, Syllables, Onset & Rime, Phoneme Blending, Phoneme Segmentation, and Phoneme Manipulation. (48 Warm Up cards in all)

Reading Warm Up Cards are a great way to begin your small group or whole group reading lessons. This set includes warm up cards for Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Fluency (476 cards in all.) Simply print, laminate, and place on a metal ring.

The Phonics Warm Up cards include 120 cards in all working on Letter Sounds, Short Vowels, Beginning Blends, Ending Blends, Digraphs, Long Vowels, R-Controlled Vowels, and Dipthongs.

Reading Warm Up Cards are a great way to begin your small group or whole group reading lessons. This set includes warm up cards for Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Fluency (476 cards in all.) Simply print, laminate, and place on a metal ring.

The Vocabulary set includes 80 vocabulary warm ups.  These cards include a variety of vocabulary words as well as work with synonyms, antonyms, prefixes, and suffixes.

Reading Warm Up Cards are a great way to begin your small group or whole group reading lessons. This set includes warm up cards for Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Fluency (476 cards in all.) Simply print, laminate, and place on a metal ring.

The Fluency Warm Ups include 124 fluency cards working on Letter Fluency, Sight Word Fluency, Short Vowel Fluency, Long Vowel Fluency, Blend and Digraph Fluency, R-Controlled and Diphthong Fluency, Expression, and Short Story Fluency.

Reading Warm Up Cards are a great way to begin your small group or whole group reading lessons. This set includes warm up cards for Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Fluency (476 cards in all.) Simply print, laminate, and place on a metal ring.

Grammar Warm Ups include 104 cards working on Sentence Structure, Word Order, Sentence Fragments, Ending Marks, Nouns, Plural Nouns, Possessive Nouns, Proper Nouns, Irregular Plural Nouns, Verbs, Present-Tense Verbs, Past and Future Tense Verbs, Commas, Contractions, Adverbs, Combining Sentences, Adjectives, Pronouns, and Abbreviations.

Reading Warm Up Cards are a great way to begin your small group or whole group reading lessons. This set includes warm up cards for Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Fluency (476 cards in all.) Simply print, laminate, and place on a metal ring.

I have also bundled all 5 sets, 476 Warm Up cards in all, which includes the Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Fluency, and Grammar sets.  Click on the picture below to take a closer look and to download the preview files.

Reading Warm Up Cards are a great way to begin your small group or whole group reading lessons. This set includes warm up cards for Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Fluency (476 cards in all.) Simply print, laminate, and place on a metal ring.

If you have any questions or comments, let me know.  I love hearing from you and knowing how things are going in your classrooms.

Reading Warm Up Cards are a great way to begin your small group or whole group reading lessons. This set includes warm up cards for Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Fluency (476 cards in all.) Simply print, laminate, and place on a metal ring.

Interactive Fact Folders for Spring

by Leave a Comment

It’s officially Spring, even though it definitely does not feel like it here in Indiana.  Even if the weather is not cooperating, these Spring Interactive Folders will help.

Interactive Fact Folders are a hands-on way to integrate science and social studies with reading and writing. Students will work on comprehension, vocabulary, and writing while learning about science and social studies topics.

I love using these Interactive Fact Folders each month because they allow my students to integrate science and social studies with reading and writing.  They are always so proud of them when they are finished.  I began making these using file folders, but have since switched to using 12×18 pieces of construction paper with my students.  It’s much more cost effective, and they still turn out great.

What is included in an Interactive Fact Folder?

Each set of fact folders includes a cover page, graphic organizers, vocabulary words, four fact sheets, and a writing page.  I personally LOVE the fact sheets because the students can highlight vocabulary words and practice reading fluency and comprehension.  Then, the fact sheets get stored in the pocket inside of the fact folder.  Let me walk you through the Earth Day Interactive Fact Folder and give you an example of how I break these down.

Day 1 – Pass out the folders and the cover page.  The students color, cut and glue the cover onto the folder.Interactive Fact Folders are a hands-on way to integrate science and social studies with reading and writing. Students will work on comprehension, vocabulary, and writing while learning about science and social studies topics.

Day 2 – Pass out the Earth Day Graphic Organizer and have the students write what they know and what they want to know.  Then, have them complete the Vocabulary pocket and Color the Earth section.

Interactive Fact Folders are a hands-on way to integrate science and social studies with reading and writing. Students will work on comprehension, vocabulary, and writing while learning about science and social studies topics.

Day 3 – Have students make their Earth Day Fact Sheet pockets and glue on the comprehension organizer.  Then, I pass out the first fact sheet.  We read through it and discuss the passage.  Next, the students lift up the flap on the organizer and write something from that passage.  We usually do two passages on the 3rd day.

Interactive Fact Folders are a hands-on way to integrate science and social studies with reading and writing. Students will work on comprehension, vocabulary, and writing while learning about science and social studies topics.

Day 4 – We read through the last two fact sheet passages and write our information under each flap.  Then, I pass out the vocabulary words.  We discuss each of the words.  Then, we go back and find them in our reading passages.

Interactive Fact Folders are a hands-on way to integrate science and social studies with reading and writing. Students will work on comprehension, vocabulary, and writing while learning about science and social studies topics.

Day 5 – On the last day, we write about our learning.  I pass out the writing page.  We discuss where we can find words to spell and information to write about in our fact folders.  I really emphasize to use our resources.  After the students complete their writing, they glue it onto the back of their fact folders.

Interactive Fact Folders are a hands-on way to integrate science and social studies with reading and writing. Students will work on comprehension, vocabulary, and writing while learning about science and social studies topics.

Doing these all in one day would definitely be A LOT, especially for 1st graders.  Older students may be able to handle it, but for my little ones, I like to break it down into manageable sections.

I am really excited about my April set of Interactive Fact Folders, which includes Plants, Insects, and Earth Day.

 

Interactive Fact Folders are a hands-on way to integrate science and social studies with reading and writing. Students will work on comprehension, vocabulary, and writing while learning about science and social studies topics.

Each of these folders can be purchased separately, or as a month bundle.  You may also be interested in my March set, which included Rainbows, Weather, and the Solar System.

Interactive Fact Folders are a hands-on way to integrate science and social studies with reading and writing. Students will work on comprehension, vocabulary, and writing while learning about science and social studies topics.

If you love these and want to use them throughout the year, make sure you check out my Entire Year Bundle.

 

Digital Word Work

by 2 Comments

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.

 

Sight Word Fluency in 5 Easy Steps

by 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.

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

by 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.

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