I made the leap into mobile apps 2 years ago when the school I teach at bought each classroom 1 iPad. Now granted 1 device per classroom is not ideal, but it can still be useful. I've found that it motivates kids that otherwise weren't motivated before. Here are a few apps that are near and dear to my heart.
Name: Endless ABC
Location: the App Store
Cost: FREE
Ages: preschool - primary grades
Description: This app is most favorite free app ever! It starts with all of these colorful monsters bowling over a word and mixing up the letters. As you grab each letter the letter starts to make its own unique sound. This is especially helpful with short and long vowel sounds! Because let's face it, vowels are so unfair to the phonemically challenged. In the end it repeats the word's pronunciation and then gives an animated demonstration of the word used in real life. It's a phonics AND vocabulary building app! I love love love this app!
Name: ABC Mouse books
Location: the App Store
Cost: FREE
Ages: preschool - primary grades
Description: these free books are amazing. The books have 2 options for reading independently and aloud. This is great for fluency and scaffolding for struggling readers. Another great thing about these books ate the glossaries that accompany the fables and nonfiction. The books are wonderful free audio books for all struggling readers!
Name: Amazing Coins
Location: the App Store
Cost: FREE
Ages: preschool - primary grades
Description: This app is wonderful for 2nd graders learning their coins. It shows all the faces of the coins including all 50+ quarters! It's immediate feedback allows the children time with the coins without the stress of others watching. It's a wonderful tutorial and practice education app for money.
Name: Teach Me K- 2nd Grade
Location: the App Store
Cost: $1.99 (each grade level)
Ages: 5k-2nd grade
Description: This app is so cool! I don't pay for apps often but this one is worth it! It tracks the progress of multiple users. I have it in three different levels to meet the differential needs of all my learners. What I like most is when a user makes a mistake, it GUIDES the learner to the correct understanding instead of just giving the correct answer. This set of apps is a must have all primary teachers!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Responsible Digital Citizen
When thinking about the importance of being a responsible digital citizen, I think about my daughter and the children I teach. I believe that if we are to expect these responsible behaviors from our children, we must be prepared to be examples worth following. I came across this site (http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/technology/using-technology/raising-good-digital-citizens) while looking into digital citizenship for our project and found it very helpful as a parent. It's a great tool to use as a parent and a teacher. We really are the first generation faced with this facet of child rearing. In my opinion, being a good digital citizen is a lot like being a good person, and that's something we all want for our children and students.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Material Generators
Desktop Publisher - I've never used it in my classroom, but I have used the software Page Maker when my husband printed a local paper about racing. I've never really thought about using in my classroom, but with Common Core State Standards coming down the pike I may want to pull it back out to help my kids start writing toward the editorial/argument based writing. Sometimes it takes a gimmick to get kids to write in new ways. And I can see kids scrambling over themselves to "publish" their own articles!
Whiteboard Activity Software - I use ActivStudio everyday! It is my best friend for introducing concepts and reviewing material for my visual learners. My kids love the "games" that our Reading series created with the software. It forces the students to be active (hints the name!) learners instead of passive participants. It's a great tool that I only started using 6 years ago but now I couldn't live without!
Worksheet and Puzzle Generators - (with my hand in air to show guilt). Yes. I use these websites from time to time. I'm not big on worksheets but some skills demand repetition and practice. I like using these fir Math because I can tailor the sheets to meet each child's needs. I believe in leveled instruction and practice. It takes more time to create 3 to 6 different Math sheets for homework but my children are MUCH more likely to complete their homework if its on their ability level. I honestly don't know why anyone wouldn't use these free worksheet generator sites for their kids.
Whiteboard Activity Software - I use ActivStudio everyday! It is my best friend for introducing concepts and reviewing material for my visual learners. My kids love the "games" that our Reading series created with the software. It forces the students to be active (hints the name!) learners instead of passive participants. It's a great tool that I only started using 6 years ago but now I couldn't live without!
Worksheet and Puzzle Generators - (with my hand in air to show guilt). Yes. I use these websites from time to time. I'm not big on worksheets but some skills demand repetition and practice. I like using these fir Math because I can tailor the sheets to meet each child's needs. I believe in leveled instruction and practice. It takes more time to create 3 to 6 different Math sheets for homework but my children are MUCH more likely to complete their homework if its on their ability level. I honestly don't know why anyone wouldn't use these free worksheet generator sites for their kids.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
5 Types of Educational Software
Educational software is a tool. And just like any other tool, it has its specific uses and limitations. Teachers must fully understand and know the products they direct their students to utilize and weigh the pros and cons of each specific application of a software's options. The 5 types of educational software are detailed below with examples for each.
Drill and Practice - Students work on skills that have been previously taught and work toward mastery of pre-taught skills with feedback to assist. My school uses a program called Math Facts in a Flash sold by Renaissance Learning (the AR and STAR people). Students must master Math facts in a certain amount of time before moving onto the next level. It provides feedback to the students when they aren't allowed to advance. It also has a great parent piece to help parents understand how to help their children. http://www.renlearn.com/mf/
Tutorial - This type of program allows students to feel as though they have an instructor alongside them. These type of programs provide information informational activities that help students master skills and topics with informational summaries, explanations, practice routines with feedback, and skill assessments. Math is a great at subject to utilize this type if software, but I have a feeling that with more standardized testing moving to computers, we will probably see an explosion of typing tutorial software in the next year with all programs aimed at 1st and 2nd graders. Here is a link for a Math tutorial software
http://mathspractice.com.au/tutoring/math%20education%20tutorial.htm
Simulation - Students are able to vicariously experience real and imaginary systems that otherwise wouldn't be fully possible. Students are apply to apply and further expand content knowledge with these types of software. Such things as virtual field trips and the inner workings of a cell are all possible with thus type of software. Here is a link for Math/Science simulations http://www.scienceshareware.com/
Instructional Games - Students seem to have the most experience with this type of software in the elementary grades. Drills and Simulation activities have been converted into games that interest students and increase their desire to master skills and further understanding of concepts. My second graders love the site www.funbrain.com/ because they have so much fun while practicing otherwise boring skills.
Problem Solving - This types of software instructs through direct application if skills and concepts. Of all the different types of software, this one utilizes the most higher order, critical thinking skills. Students are aided with tutorials and feedback, but it ultimately becomes about winning out against the problem/computer. A program I'm going to recommend to my school's Odyssey of the Mind team is
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000B642OI to help train for competitions.
Drill and Practice - Students work on skills that have been previously taught and work toward mastery of pre-taught skills with feedback to assist. My school uses a program called Math Facts in a Flash sold by Renaissance Learning (the AR and STAR people). Students must master Math facts in a certain amount of time before moving onto the next level. It provides feedback to the students when they aren't allowed to advance. It also has a great parent piece to help parents understand how to help their children. http://www.renlearn.com/mf/
Tutorial - This type of program allows students to feel as though they have an instructor alongside them. These type of programs provide information informational activities that help students master skills and topics with informational summaries, explanations, practice routines with feedback, and skill assessments. Math is a great at subject to utilize this type if software, but I have a feeling that with more standardized testing moving to computers, we will probably see an explosion of typing tutorial software in the next year with all programs aimed at 1st and 2nd graders. Here is a link for a Math tutorial software
http://mathspractice.com.au/tutoring/math%20education%20tutorial.htm
Simulation - Students are able to vicariously experience real and imaginary systems that otherwise wouldn't be fully possible. Students are apply to apply and further expand content knowledge with these types of software. Such things as virtual field trips and the inner workings of a cell are all possible with thus type of software. Here is a link for Math/Science simulations http://www.scienceshareware.com/
Instructional Games - Students seem to have the most experience with this type of software in the elementary grades. Drills and Simulation activities have been converted into games that interest students and increase their desire to master skills and further understanding of concepts. My second graders love the site www.funbrain.com/ because they have so much fun while practicing otherwise boring skills.
Problem Solving - This types of software instructs through direct application if skills and concepts. Of all the different types of software, this one utilizes the most higher order, critical thinking skills. Students are aided with tutorials and feedback, but it ultimately becomes about winning out against the problem/computer. A program I'm going to recommend to my school's Odyssey of the Mind team is
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000B642OI to help train for competitions.
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