Resources for iPads in the K-2 Classroom

Resources for iPads in K-2 Classroom
I often get K-2 teachers asking me for ideas on how to implement the iPad into their classroom.  This is a difficult question for me to answer as I have never taught in a K-2 environment.  We all know there is a world of difference between a primary classroom and a high school classroom.  So I continually try to fill my toolbox with information and tools that can assist the primary teachers.  I recently came across this article and resource guide from Edutopia.  It offers some great practical tools and ideas for the primary classroom. Even though it was published 2 years ago, it still has some great, relevant information.

Resources for iPads in the K-2 Classroom

Tech Tip - Quiziz

Quiziz
If you are familiar with Kahoot and loved Kahoot, you will LOVE Quiziz!  Quiziz follows the same premise as Kahoot, but in a slightly different way.  With Kahoot the questions are completed one at a time, meaning the questions do not move on until all answers have been collected, or the timer runs out.  With Quiziz, the students can go through the questions at their own pace (with a timer).  The cool thing is the teacher can still see real-time data, so it can be used as a formative assessment tool.  The other stark difference between Kahoot and Quiziz is that with Quiziz the questions appear on the student screens.  Whereas in Kahoot, the question appears on the screen in front, and the student devices are essentially clickers.  Quiziz is awesome if your students are getting tired of Kahoot.  Give it a try today!

Tech Tip - Digital Tools and Tutorials

Digital Tools and Tutorials
Here is a great list of digital tools to use in the classroom.  Some of the tools can be used by students, whereas other can be used by the teachers to convey information.  The best part about this list from KQED is the tutorials.  They will show you how to use the tools as well as offer suggestions as to how to use them in the classroom.

Technology Tip - AwwApp

AwwApp
AwwApp is a collaborative online whiteboard.  It is touch-friendly and works in any internet browser.  This cool web app could be used for idea generation, group KWL, draw a group picture, finish the sentence, plus so much more!  It's an awesome tool to show your class and watch them use it.

Technology Tip - Oregon Trail

Play the original Oregon Trail

When I found thie resource, I was thrilled!  I have always wanted my 7 year old to play some of the computer games I grew up with in school (namely Oregon Trail, Number Munchers, and Speedway Math).  Obviously I don't own an Apple //e computer with an external floppy disk, so I thought she would never enjoy the great games I once enjoyed.  Until now!

At archive.org they have a huge database of old "stuff" including old computer games.  I was able to find games such as Number Munchers, Oregon Trail, and Speedway Math, among others!  If you are curious if your favorite old game is out there, use the easy to use search bar on the website.

Technology Tip - Appear.in

Appear.in
Appear.in is a great video conferencing website and/or app.  The site allows up to 8 people to video chat at once.  There is no login or installing required!  The quality is great.  All you need is a camera and a microphone.  It's almost too easy!  This could be an option for an online class, or for a student that has been absent for an extended period.  It could also be used personally as well to make video calls.  It also works from an iPad or iPhone through their app.  And it's all free!

Technology Tip - Smarty Pins with Google

Smarty Pins with Google
Smarty Pins with Google is a trivia and geography game wrapped into one.  It is a very interesting concept because you use Google Maps to place pins in locations based upon trivia questions.  You start with 1000 miles, a question is asked, and for every mile you are off, you lose points.  It would be a great general trivia game for the classroom!  It would work great on your interactive whiteboard.

Technology Tip - Quotacle

Quotacle
Quotacle is a great website if you are referencing different movies in your classroom.  Quotacle allows the user to search a database of around 200 big name movies and search through for some of the big quotes from the movie.  You could also use this as a starter in your classroom.  Now you don't have to search YouTube for the quote or scour the web for the clip you want.  Hopefully the database can continue to grow!

Example

Technology Tip - Unite For Literacy

Unite For Literacy
Unite for Literacy is a neat website that is great for beginning readers.  Unite for Literacy has a variety of easy to read books that the user can read or have read to them.  The books are not "big name" books, but helps new readers hear and see the words.  This website could be a great individual reading station in your classroom.  The kids can put the headphones on and read away!

Tech Tip - Twitter for Teachers

Twitter, Twitter, Twitter...we hear this word all over the place.  You see hashtags in the corner of your television when watching your latest show, to hearing the news anchors ask for you to tweet in your responses.  Twitter can be one of the most influential social media tools in your life, if you know who to follow and how it works!  Once you get into Twitter, you will be hooked (as hooked as Pinterest).

Instead of me rambling on as to what Twitter is and how it works, check out Kathy Schrock's guide to Twitter.  The guide is very complete and will answer most of your questions.

How I use Twitter

• Connect and hear what great minds have to think
• Become exposed to resources
• Follow live events
• Partake in "chats"
• Follow "important" people

If you are still on the fence about Twitter, talk to someone who is on Twitter and ask them about their experience.  Do not connect Facebook and Twitter into the same thing.  Yes, they are both social media, but each has their own niche in your life.  Give it a try today and give a follow to me :)

@braymo22

Brandon will be tweeting from the TIES conference Monday and Tuesday, so now would be a great time to see the benefits of Twitter.  You can also follow the hashtag #TIES14.

Technology Tip - CNN Student News

CNN Student News is a great daily program for students to hear national news stories.  In my classroom, we watched CNN student news every Friday and either played a current event game, or discussed the current events.  We would also watch any episode the day after a "big" news story.  CNN Student News would be appropriate for any 7-12 grade, and could possibly be a good option for students as young as 5th grade.  CNN Student News could also be a great filler activity for students who have finished work and have a device in front of them.

Below is an example of a CNN Student News program with captions.

Technology Tip - Recite

Recite is a fairly simple website that allows users to input any text into a box and it turns it into a cool looking poster.  It could be a great way to recognize a student or class for their work, or put your own quotes to work.  The templates are all premade, all you have to do is input the words.  Students could also make their own creations with this website.  Give it a try today!

Tech Tip - Halloween Resources

With Halloween almost upon us, check out some of the resources below as to ways to teach about the holiday.

• Read Write Think
• Teaching Ideas
• NEA
• Pinterest

Share your own Halloween ideas HERE.

Tech Tip - Webcam QR Code Reader

QR Codes can be a quick way for a teacher to get students where they need to go on the web.  QR codes can be links or documents you want your students to access.  They work really well for classroom sets of mobile devices, like iPads, but have not been a great tool for classrooms with Chromebooks or laptops.  Until now!  Try this webcam QR code reader for your classroom!

https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/scan

Now any device with a webcam attached can scan QR codes.  You can also generate the QR codes on the same website.

https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/

Kathy Schrock as a great guide to using QR codes in the classroom if you are looking for ideas.

Tech Tip - TodaysMeet

I have highlighted TodaysMeet before, but wanted to share some of the recent updates from the summer that make this a great classroom tool.  TodaysMeet is a website that allows you to setup a chat room.  The chat room can be used as a place for students to share thoughts and/or talk about a movie while it's playing.  I use it when I present as a way for attendees to talk and share ideas while I present.

Summer Updates

Moderate the rooms - before this update TodaysMeet chat rooms were unmoderated.  Meaning the creator of the room had no control over things that were said.  Now the creator can delete unwanted posts.

Log In Feature - You now have the ability to log in to an account and save rooms.  

Tech Tip - ClassTools.net

Classtools.net offers some great tools to be used in the classroom.  If you want your students to create Facebook pages for historical figures and/or characters in a book.  You can also create fake tweets and fake text messages from people as well.  Aside from those things, students can do much more with the many different tools on the site.  The best part, it's FREE!

Tech Tip - ThingLink

thinglink has become one of my favorite tech tools.  It has so many applications in and out of the classroom!  thinglink is a website and an app.  thinglink allows users to create interactive images.  There are so many different ways you can use this in the classroom.



Check out the 73+ Interesting Ways to Use ThingLink in the Classroom from Web 2.0 Teaching Tools

Check out my example!

Tech Tip - Kahoot

Kahoot

If you are looking for a way to do fun review in your classroom, pull in a set of devices and play Kahoot with your kids.  Kahoot is a great tool for all ages.  It is a game-based way to assess. Teachers can either create their own questions, or select a quiz from the many quizzes already created in the public gallery.  Kahoot requires no student signup, so playing a game in your class takes very little time.  Give it a try during the first couple weeks of school.

Kahoot Tutorial Video

Tech Tip: Plickers

Plickers
Clickers in the classroom without devices!  If you are like many teachers and only have one or two devices in your classroom, Plickers is the tool for you.  Plickers is an app you need to see to believe.

Each student has a piece of paper with a shape on it.  Each side of the shape corresponds with a letter (A,B,C,D).  The teacher can ask a question, the students hold their pieces of paper up, with the correct letter on the bottom, and the teacher scans the room with his/her iPad.  Plickers will calculate who has the correct answers and you will be able to see each students answers in augmented reality.  It really is as easy as the video shows.  Go to Plickers today, set your class up, and "plick" away!

Tech Tip of the Week

Are you looking for a neat way to grab the attention of your students?  Are your students looking for a different project idea?  Look no further!  Newsjack.in is an awesome website that allows you to take any website and edit the contents.  See this EXAMPLE.  Newsjack.in is so easy to use, elementary students would have a blast using it!