Happy Holidays!

StoryBots

Today, while helping at teacher with a holiday project for her class I stumble across a great resource called StoryBots.   Storybots is a site that is dedicated to making learning fun for kids, created by the talented guys you created Jib Jab.  There are various different resources on Storybots to help kids learn about letters and various songs including printables to help students learn their letters and videos with songs about each letter.  The printables and videos would be great practice or great station work. However, the most fun thing on the site is Staring You, giving you the ability to create videos by inserting your (or your students') head.   Then they are actually in the video!   All you need to do is upload a picture and play the video.   This site is worth checking out... as our their alphabet videos.  

If you'd like help using Storybots in your classroom, please ask!

Science Casts: While the World Didn't End Yesterday

NASA is so sure the world won't come to an end on Dec. 21, 2012, that they already released a video for the day after.

App of the Week: American Revolution Interactive Timeline

American Revolution Interactive Timeline

What is it?
This award-winning, graphically rich timeline, developed by The American Revolution Center, a non-profit educational institution working to build The Museum of the American Revolution, offers information and access to rare treasures from the Center’s collection that will be displayed in the new museum.  Designed specifically for iPad, the app offers beautiful imagery, video, and information through an interactive, zoomable timeline showcasing artwork, weapons, clothing, objects, and manuscripts from the Center’s collection. Image captions and video podcasts provide an overview of key milestones of the American Revolution.


Who is it good for?
5th grade for your American Revolution Unit.  This would work great with your Airserver too!

Want to see it in action or need help figuring it out?  Let me know and I'd be happy to help!

Air Server

Today, I introduced at team meetings Air Server, an amazing application downloaded on to your computers that enables you to stream or mirror your iPad onto your computer.  With my PTO teacher stipend, I was able to purchase licences for all of our computers that are connected to the SMART Boards.   This is an amazing alternative to a dongle to project what is on the iPad onto the SMART Board.     At the conference I attended a few weeks ago, they also had another use for Air Server, a document camera!   Simply use the camera app on the iPad while connected to the Air Server, and you have a portable document camera.  

I also received feedback today that people would love to see a little more about apps shared on a regular basis, so I will be trying to share more of our new apps on a regular basis.   Please become a subscriber to my blog to get these delivered to your inbox!  Simply put your e-mail address in the "Follow by e-mail" box in the upper right hand corner and click submit.  It will have you put in a fake word to make sure you are a human being.  You will then be sent a test e-mail to confirm your subscription.  Simply confirm, then you'll get my blog entries in your inbox!   If you need help, just ask!

Google Docs in Education

Since our district is going Google, we are trying to promote Google and all of the amazing apps that it offers for our students and teachers.   I just ran across this article on Pinterest, and thought it was worth a share.

There are so many ways to use Google Docs!   Let me know if you need my help and I'll walk you though it!.

Virtual Math Manipulatives

Last week, I spent a day and a half at a Math Common Core training with Math teachers K-5.   It was great to learn more about the math standards, and to "play math" with our consultant, Kristen Clegg from the Dynamic Math institute.   I had been in two previous trainings before with Kristen, however, this one was unique as there was no internet!    Kristen really likes the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives which has several applets for you to interact with, and had a desktop version to share, however, we've had some issues with the site working properly on our apple computers.

At a conference that I recently attended, I learned about another great manipulatives site by McGraw Hill.   There are a variety of manipulatives for K-8 that are very dynamic and easy to use.  I love that you can pull in rulers and such as well.  Once done working, you have the option of printing out what you worked on as well - which would be great for a station!    See below for an example.

If you are interested in learning more about this site or would like a personalized demo, please feel free to ask!

App of the Week: Educreations

Educreations

What is it?

Educreations turns your iPad into a recordable whiteboard. Creating a great video tutorial is as simple as touching, tapping and talking. Explain a math formula... Create an animated lesson... Add commentary to your photos... Diagram a sports play... With voice recording, realistic digital ink, photos and text, and simple sharing through email, now you can broadcast your ideas from anywhere.

Who is it good for?

This app can be used at all grade levels AND subject areas... in various different ways.

 TEACH WHAT YOU KNOW

• Help students with homework by working through an example problem.
• Put your lessons on the web so students can watch them before and after class.
• Tutor someone from afar.
• Showcase your video tutorials on educreations.com and share your knowledge with the world.
• Add your commentary to famous works of art.
• Diagram football plays, John Madden style.

FEATURES

• Record and replay your voice, handwriting and drawings

• Add text to any page

• Add photos from the iPad camera, Photo Albums, Dropbox or the Web

• Animate images by dragging them around while recording

• Pause and resume recording anytime

• Create multiple whiteboard pages

• Undo and redo your actions

• Choose from 10 different ink colors 

CCSS ties

This app would be great a great way for students of all ages to work on their Mathematical Practices in relation  to the various standards for their grade level. 

Click here for the Student Friendly Version of the Mathematical Practices. 

           

Primary Colors Video

I had dinner with a dear Art teacher friend of mine last night who reminded me of this video I shared with her last year.  She played this video when introducing Primary Colors in her primary art class and the kids left singing the song while working with the colors.  Apparently, they even were singing the class and were able to identify the colors when they were in music as well.   Needless to say, it's a good share...   Enjoy!

Record MP3

On Wednesday, I attended a conference geared towards primary students and using technology.  In the coming weeks, I'm looking forward to sharing many of these awesome resources with you.

Record mp3

This site allows you to record your voice or your student's voice.  It then turns the recording into a web address which you could turn into a QR Code that can be scanned on iPads, Smart Phones, etc. or you can keep it as a web address to share with parents.

My mind is racing about how to use this in the classroom!   I've spoken with a few teachers about these ideas...

• Recording a reflection on a piece created in art, then posting a QR code that can be scanned to hear the artist's reflection - OR even about an art style/concept learned in class and how they applied it in their piece.
• Recording a student's singing to be shared
• Recording a student's fluency passage 
• Recording a student reading a piece of their writing
• Recording directions to give to students... or homework!

The possibilities are endless!  Do you think you could have a use for this?   Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!  If you'd like help integrating this into your classroom, please let me know!  I look forward to sharing a sample in the future.

App of the Week: Barefoot World Atlas

Barefoot World Atlas

What is it?

Barefoot World Atlas is a magical interactive 3D globe that invites children to explore the regions and countries of the world, discovering hundreds of fascinating features and immersing themselves in the rich wonders of our planet. 

Who is it good for?

This is an interactive atlas for the digital age. This engaging and educational app vividly communicates how all parts of our world are interconnected and reveals some of the ideas and initiatives that are helping to shape a sustainable future. Young children will delight in playing with the 3D globe and exploring its features; while older children can delve deeper to discover a wealth of facts and insights including live data for every country from Wolfram|Alpha.

CCSS Connection?

Click on your grade level for the CCSS connection. 

1st grade

2nd grade

3rd grade

4th grade 

5th grade

Want to see more?

Click here to see a  3 minute demo on You Tube of Barefoot Word Atlas or click here to see what kids are saying.    I’ll will be doing a demo of Barefoot World Atlas on Tuesday morning at 8:20 in the LRC.  I’d love to see you there!!!  If you can’t make it, contact  Coach Caroline if you’d like to set up a time for me to show it to you.  

           

There's an App for That

How many times have we said that.... Sesame Street has a funny video...

App of the Week: Base Ten Fun

APP OF THE WEEK:  Base Ten Fun 

What is it?

Base Ten Fun utilizes base ten blocks as virtual manipulatives to help children with place value, number sense, counting, addition and subtraction. This app focuses on the one’s, ten’s and hundred’s place using cubes, rods and flats as manipulatives. 

Who is it good for?

Base Ten Fun includes three practice modes and a fun BINGO game. The practice modes and the BINGO game are highly customizable to meed the needs of a variety of learners.   It really provides some visual help for those students who need to interact with the manipulatives. 

CCSS Connection: Numbers and Operations in Base Ten

For specific standards, click on the links below:

• Kindergarten
• 1st grade
• 2nd grade
• 3rd grade
• 4th grade
• 5th grade would use this more for a review of previous grades' standards if needed.

Want a demo or to try it in your class?   Let me know!  I'd be happy to help!

New Goals

As a Coach, I feel like I don't often get to share the awesome resources, projects, and other such things that I encounter on a day to day basis.  My goal for the rest of the school year is to share more here... in hopes to reach more people.  If you see a something you'd like more help on, please let me know!