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Fun in First

A Teaching Blog by Jodi Southard

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Seasonal

Top Picks for the Most Stylish and Comfortable Shoes for Teachers

May 5, 2019 by Jodi 4 Comments

Who doesn’t love shoes?  Well, let me tell you…people with feet that hurt after being on them all day.  That’s who doesn’t love shoes.  Now, that isn’t to say that I don’t love comfortable shoes, but I have definitely become picky over the years of which shoes work for me.  As I’ve gotten *ahem* older, I am more aware of how my feet just cannot handle being in unsupportive, cheap shoes all day while teaching.

I was guilty for many years of just buying inexpensive and cute shoes and wearing them all season until my feet would be screaming at me to buy a new pair.  I have found that if I actually invest in some better quality shoes, they last longer, and I don’t dread wearing them all day.  I wish that I was someone that could just put on any pair of shoes and have my feet be fine, but that is definitely not me.  I can’t even walk around my house barefoot.  I have to wear a pair of hard soled slippers.  My feet just don’t like me very much 😉

With that being said…I also want to still buy stylish shoes.  Maybe someday, I’ll be fine wearing big clunky orthopedic shoes, but today is not that day.  I am always on the hunt for cute shoes that I can actually wear all day, or a least a large part of the day, and be pain free.

Here are my favorite cute and comfy shoes that I wear while teaching.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of these links, they throw a couple of pennies my way.  This helps to support the blog.  None of these shoe companies are sponsoring me in any way.  I just truly loves these shoes 🙂

These are my top picks for stylish and comfortable shoes that are perfect for teachers or anyone that is on their feet all day.  This list includes wedge sandals, sneakers, flat sandals, booties, and more.

Sorel Wedges

A co-worker friend recommended Sorel wedges, and let me tell you, I am so thankful for her.  These shoes are my absolute favorite!  They are very cute and supportive.  My feet do not ache at the end of the day.  I have these Sorel After Hours Sandals in Camel pictured above and also the black Sorel Joanie Sandal (pictured below) that I love just as much!

I’m pretty sure that the Ella Slingback sandals from Sorel will be my next purchase to wear this summer.


Vionic Sandals

Another company that makes cute and supportive sandals is Vionic.  I ordered these Vionic Kirra Backstrap sandals, and they are a very comfortable flat sandal.  The sole of the shoe really supports your foot and are great to wear all day.

These are my top picks for stylish and comfortable shoes that are perfect for teachers or anyone that is on their feet all day.  This list includes wedge sandals, sneakers, flat sandals, booties, and more.

I loved them so much that I also ordered the Vionic Tide II Toe Post Sandal in Brown Leopard.  These are a little harder to “dress up,” but they are perfect for a less casual outfit. Trust me with this brand.  Your feet will thank you!

Toms

These sandals used to be my go-to shoes prior to finding Sorel.  I do still love these Toms Majora Cutout sandals though.  I have the desert taupe suede and the black leather ones.  (The black leather ones are the more comfortable of the two.)  I definitely still wear these shoes on a regular basis.

Toms wedge booties are some of my favorite “winter” shoes that I wear frequently, as well as the Leila Bootie that I have in black leather.

Sketchers

Everyone loves Sketchers, right?  There are SO many to choose from, too.  These are obviously a much more casual shoe than the others on the list, but they are perfect for casual Fridays.  I love the slip on Sketchers.  They are like clouds for my feet.

Converse

Another casual shoes option are Converse.  The soles are definitely flat and don’t seem too supportive, but for some reason, they do not hurt my feet.

Olukai Sandals

I’m actually not even sure where I was when I first walked into a store that sold Olukai shoes, but I remember putting them on my feet after a long day and immediately falling in love.  I have the Kulapai Kai sandals and they have held up perfectly for about 3 years now.  They barely even look worn, and they are my go to black flip flop in the summer.

I also love the look of these Olukai Upena Gladiator Sandals.

Tieks

While I will say that I do like my one pair that I own, I’m still just not a big enough fan of them to cough up the money for another pair of these flats.  (I actually didn’t even pay full price for my first pair.  I bought them off of someone that didn’t want theirs anymore.)  Maybe eventually I’ll get another pair, but it would have to be in a color that I would wear all of the time.  These things are expensive.

Have you tried any of these?  Do you have your own favorite teaching shoes that should be added to this list?  Share with me in the comments.

Pin the image below to save for future reference.

These are my top picks for stylish and comfortable shoes that are perfect for teachers or anyone that is on their feet all day.  This list includes wedge sandals, sneakers, flat sandals, booties, and more.

 

Filed Under: Back to School

Back to School Challenge

July 21, 2018 by Jodi Leave a Comment

The beginning of the school year is always exciting.  New supplies, new students, new opportunities to try something new.  However, it’s also stressful.  The first couple of weeks always end up being a blur.  One of the most important things that I want to accomplish during those first couple weeks of school is a sense of community.  I think it is so important to teach students how to work together successfully.  We do a lot of group work during the year, so they need to learn early how to cooperate with each other.  My classroom challenges provide the perfect opportunity for students to work together to complete academic challenges and earn rewards together.

Do you need a fun, engaging, and academic activity for your class to complete anytime during the Back to School season? The Back to School Challenge is your answer. 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.  Letter sounds, missing numbers, counting, rhyming, and more.

What is the Back to School Challenge?

The Back to School Challenge includes 10 academic based challenges for the students to complete in small groups of 3-5 students.  After each group completes one of the challenges, that group earns a Challenge Ticket.  The Challenge Ticket includes a coded mystery word that the group must solve using the decoder page.  The first group to complete all 10 challenges (or however many you decide to use) is the winning group.  You can decide if there will be a prize for each group or not.  I usually hand out something little after each group is finished. (pencils, seasonal erasers, candy, stickers, …)

Do you need a fun, engaging, and academic activity for your class to complete anytime during the Back to School season? The Back to School Challenge is your answer. 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.

Each challenge has a picture on the top left of the page.  This picture matches a picture on the Challenge Ticket.  This makes organization of this project very easy.  The academic skills that are included in this challenge include:

-Lowercase Letters
-Numbers or Letters
-Missing Numbers
-Rhyming Words
-Counting
-Beginning Letter Sounds
-Number Order
-Fixing Sentences
-Graphing
-Illustrating Sentences

“I bought your 100th day challenge last year and it was a big hit with the kids! I’m excited to introduce this to my new group of kids the first week of school. I think it will be a great way to promote team-building and cooperation skills, while also reviewing things that they should know from kindergarten.” -Beth

If you love this challenge, you may also want to check out my other Classroom Challenges including The Christmas Challenge, Valentine’s Day Challenge, Spring Challenge, and more.

Do you need a fun, engaging, and academic activity for your class to complete anytime during the Back to School season? The Back to School Challenge is your answer. 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.  Letter sounds, missing numbers, counting, rhyming, and more.

Filed Under: Back to School Tagged With: Back to School

Back to School Must Haves

July 17, 2018 by Jodi 1 Comment

Every year, a couple of weeks before school starts, I start purchasing things that I need for the school year.  I always seem to find myself wracking my brain to try and remember everything that I need to get.  I decided to make a list of items that I buy EVERY SINGLE YEAR before the school year begins, so I can make sure that I have everything I need.  This list includes all of my must-have back to school items.  I am not including those items that you buy once every couple of years or a new expensive item for your classroom.  I am talking about the consumable items that have to be purchased every year.

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. Crayons, crayons, and more crayons

You can never have enough crayons.  I feel like my students must be eating crayons each year.  They always bring their own at the beginning of the year, but most of those are gone by the second week of school.  I always provide crayons in baskets in my classroom, but I am constantly adding more to the tubs.  I usually stock up on the cheap crayon boxes at Walmart during back to school time (ALWAYS Crayola), but if I have to buy them later on in the year, I found that buying a large bulk box on Amazon was cheaper.

2. Glue Sticks

Glue sticks are another item that somehow disappear in no time.  You can never have too many glue sticks.

3. Folders

I always get folders before the school year starts.  I purchase red ones to use as Ketchup folders.  (Students keep these in their desk to place work in that they need to “catch up” on.)  I also love these Resource Folders from Really Good Stuff.

4. Mr. Sketch Markers

I get a new pack of Mr. Sketch Markers every single year.  They last the entire year and are perfect for anchor charts.

5. Chart Paper

I go through at least one tablet of chart paper each year for anchor charts, interactive writing, etc.

6. Astrobrights Paper

I seriously use Astrobrights paper for everything.  I love the colors, and I love the quality.

This Interactive Practice Folder is perfect for early finishers. Students can practice sight words, vocabulary, math facts, phonics skills, and more.

Find this Interactive Practice Folder in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

7. Sticky Putty

All of the walls in my classroom are cinder block.  This definitely makes hanging things harder.  I have found that Sticky Putty seems to work the best for keeping things up.  There are still times when I come into my classroom after the weekend, and I have to pick things up off the floor, but it isn’t nearly as often if they are hung up with Sticky Putty.

8. Name Badges

I love having name badges for my students.  These are great for the beginning of the year when they are still learning their lunch numbers.  They are also great for subs and/or field trips.

9. Pencils

If you’re a teacher, you know how quickly students can go through pencils.  Ticonderoga pencils are definitely the easiest to sharpen and are my go-to pencil choice.

10. Hand Sanitizer

I always purchase the gigantic hand sanitizer container from Sam’s for my classroom.  There is a lot of sneezing, nose picking, and shoe tying in 1st grade.

What are your Back to School Must-Haves?

Are you new to 1st grade or do you just need some new and fresh ideas for Back to School?  Check out my go-to for the first week of school.

Everything you need for the first week of 1st grade.  Lesson plans, activities, forms, letters, and more.

Filed Under: Back to School Tagged With: Back to School

The Spring Challenge

April 8, 2018 by Jodi Leave a Comment

Do you or your students have Spring Fever yet?  I would say that we do, but it has not felt like Spring here yet, so I may have to call it never-ending Winter Fever.  If you need something to spice up your Spring, The Spring Challenge may be just what you’re looking for.  Do you need a fun, engaging, and academic activity for your class to complete anytime this spring? The Spring Challenge is your answer. 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.

This Spring Challenge includes 10 academic challenges that your students complete together to earn Challenge Tickets.  After they earn a challenge ticket, they use the code to solve the mystery word.  The first team to complete all 10 mystery word challenge tickets is the winning team.

Do you need a fun, engaging, and academic activity for your class to complete anytime this spring? The Spring Challenge is your answer. 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.

Each challenge has a picture at the top, which matches the picture on a challenge ticket.  This makes it easy to organize and to know which challenge ticket the students have earned.  I put each of the challenge tickets into envelopes, so the students can tear the envelopes open and get their ticket.  I have heard from other teachers that they prefer to place the challenge tickets into a pocket chart.  Then, as each group completes a challenge, they can go and get their ticket from the pocket chart.  There are many ways to organize this to fit your classroom.

What are the academic challenges included in The Spring Challenge?
-Adding adjectives to sentences
-Fact Families
-Bossy R Words
-Double Digit Addition
-Sequence Writing
-100’s chart
-Beginning Blends
-Telling Time to the Hour and Half Hour
-Spring Word Search
-ABC Order

These challenges really are a fun way to change things up in your classroom any day this spring.  I like to have some little type of prize for my students when they finish the challenge, like a pencil or spring eraser.  Eventually every team earns the prize, but you can do whatever works best in your own classroom.

Learn more about The Spring Challenge by clicking on the picture below.

Do you need a fun, engaging, and academic activity for your class to complete anytime this spring? The Spring Challenge is your answer. 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.

Filed Under: Spring

Reading Warm Ups

March 31, 2018 by Jodi 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.

Filed Under: Back to School, Fluency, Reading Tagged With: Fluency, phonemic awareness, phonics, Vocabulary

Interactive Fact Folders for Spring

March 27, 2018 by Jodi 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.

 

Filed Under: Science/Social Studies, Spring Tagged With: Earth Day, Insects, Interactive Folder, plants

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Definitely not my favorite of his costumes, but he Definitely not my favorite of his costumes, but he loves it, so that’s all that matters 🦴🎃
We will be completing our Halloween Challenge on F We will be completing our Halloween Challenge on Friday. It’s such a great way to make learning fun while working cooperatively.🎃
Check it out by following the link in my profile.
Thank you, Halloween!!🎃👻 Thank you, Halloween!!🎃👻
🌟Easy small group activity🌟 Give each studen 🌟Easy small group activity🌟
Give each student the vowels using foam or magnetic letters. Say a CVC word.  The students hold up the vowel to show the middle sound that they hear.
Super easy and effective💙
I could not be happier that Halloween falls on a S I could not be happier that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, but that definitely does not mean that the kids will be calm this coming week🤪
If you can’t beat them, join them, right? We will be working on reading fluency using my Halloween Reading on the Move.
Check it out by following the link in my profile.🎃
I’ve definitely need some coffee to get through I’ve definitely need some coffee to get through this past week that I swear was actually 15 days long 😂 But, I’m officially done with my parent-teacher conferences✔️👏👏
We normally do a student pumpkin decorating contes We normally do a student pumpkin decorating contest at school, and the pumpkins are always AMAZING. Due to Covid, we had to cancel it this year, but each classroom created a pumpkin.
We finished ours today, and I actually think it turned out pretty cute🦁
At this point in the year, I am definitely feeling At this point in the year, I am definitely feeling like my soup of the day should be coffee.
I’m *almost* done with Parent-Teacher Conferences. Only 2 more left👏👏
How are you holding up? Do you need some coffee soup along with me?
 

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