iPads in Kindergarten LiveBinder

Here are some of the LiveBinder's I've created to accompany my seminars- they have lots of information and links to sites that focus on using technology in kindergarten, with an emphasis on iPads for both the beginner and advanced iPad user.  It's something I hope to add to as I find more resources, so I hope you'll bookmark and come back often!  Let me know if you find it useful or have links you think I should include.

Teaching with Technology in Kindergarten LiveBinder

Awesome Apps Livebinder

 Digital Kindergarten LiveBinder

















NCCE Session Teach Connect Learning with Social Media

NCCE Workshop NCCE Wiki- Magic of iPads

Come see me! Presenting in a city near you...

I am excited to announce I am going to be presenting in Portland, Oregon at the NCCE 2013 Conference (National Council for Computer Education) http://www.ncce.org/2013-home-page.html February 28th, 2013 on:
How to Teach, Connect and Learn with Social Media (1 hour session)
The Magic of iPads in Early Childhood Education (3 hour workshop)

I'm also scheduled to present for the Institute for Educational Development http://www.iedseminars.org/ on Using iPads and Other Cutting-Edge Technology to Enhance Learning and Teaching in the KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM on the following dates:
Phoenix, AZ- February 4th, 2013
Denver, CO- February 5th, 2013
Boston, MA March 4th, 2013
Detroit, MI March 5th, 2013

I really hope if you enjoy and learn from my blog that you'll try to come to see me in person and let me share my knowledge and enthusiasm for using technology with you!

Getting Started with Twitter

Twitter is: Professional development, collaboration, and community like no other!

So you want to Tweet but don't know where to begin?  

Here's a great place to start- Hundreds of Education Related Hash Tags are available from http://edudemic.com/2012/06/2012-twitter-hashtags/

Hashtag (#) 101

Use the # before your most important words or phrases (no spaces)

Click on a #word to find  other posts with the same hastag.

#’s can be in the beginning, middle or end of a tweet

Popular Education Hash Tags

#edchat – Education, worldwide 

#kinderchat – Kindergarten teachers unite! Mondays at 6e/9p

#edtech – Use of technology in education.

#edapp or #iosedapp – Educational apps

#slide2learn – iDevices and learning

#mathchat – Mathematics

#scichat – Science

#engchat – English

#artsed – Arts in education

#musedchat – Music

#eltchat – English language teacher

#SSChat – Social studies chat

#ntchat - New teachers

#spedchat – Tuesdays at 8:30 e/9p special education chat

My Favorite People/Companies to Follow:

@TCEA Tweets when apps are free!

@Kristy_Vincent Tech Integration Specialist- often tweets from conferences about tech

@happycampergirl of the #kinderchat hood

@learningmurd of the #kinderchat hood

@Matt_Gomez of the #kinderchat hood

@NAEYC The National Association for the Education of Young Children

@hechternacht of the #kinderchat hood

@iPodsibilities shares tech news and ideas

@ipadSammy follow his iPad!

@tonyvincent my favorite tech guru

Twitter: Source for Professional Development, Community and Authentic Teaching Opportunities

I tweet, therefore I am?  Not at all.  I try very hard not to tweet what I eat, where I am, or what I am doing unless it might be beneficial to someone.  Specifically the 200+ people who follow me (which means they receive my tweets in their timeline).  Thanks by the way, if you follow me AND read my blog!  Sometimes I tweet about something funny or interesting.  Mostly though, I tweet to communicate with other teachers and for professional development.  I LOVE that it is short and concise- 140 characters does not take much time to read over.  I may check my Twitter account several times a day, or I may go a week without checking in.  Many of the 1,156 times I've tweeted (thus far) have been conversations with people who follow me or the #kinderchat hashtag.  Tweeting is a bit like instant messaging all your virtual friends about a topic- and then some of them reply.  Anyone following you or the hashtag can see and take part in the conversation.

If you're clueless about Twitter check out this tweet/link:
Ben Sheridan ‏@B_Sheridan

Blogging : For Twitter newbies: "What’s a # mean on Twitter and what is a Twitter “Chat”?" Shout out to #kinderchat http://goo.gl/OFpO7

Here are some of my tweets from #kinderchat past- I like to think of the #kinderchat as a station- everyone tuning in is for some reason interested in K and most are experienced educators.  When I am facing a dilemma, a frustration, or want to share a laugh... I go to my #kinderchat peeps.

Every Monday night at 9ET/6PT  a bunch of kinder teachers gather round the world wide web and share ideas, resources, frustrations...  During the school year there are scheduled topics- theses tweets from me were on using tech with kinders.


@i_teach_K Handwriting practice on iPads- if you gotta do it, it might as well be fun. #kinderchat

@i_teach_K tweeting w/kiddos= meaningful reason to read and write #kinderchat

[re: skype play and twitter with kinders] @i_teach_K increases communication skills and teaches manners... The kids LOVE it, good enough reason there #kinderchat

[re: skype play and twitter with kinders] @i_teach_K helps children consider others point of view, learn about culture and geography in meaningful ways #kinderchat 

@i_teach_K I like StoryKit, free for drawing, adding text and recording them speaking about it #Kinderchat 

@i_teach_K Instead of whiteboards we write on iPads with sketchio #kinderchat 




I love Twitter for professional development.  If I'm following someone it's becasue I trust their judgment and value their opinions.  So when someone tweets about an article, I can trust that I want to read it.  I don't subscribe to professional magazines (who can afford to, really?) and don't have time to search for articles.  Yet on Twitter I can find articles and websites that are amazing and timely.  
Matt Gomez ‏@Matt_Gomez

New guidelines for tech & young children by @NAEYC and @FredRogersCenter http://ow.ly/1HPGDK #kinderchat #ecetechchat #edtech

Jon Samuelson ‏@ipadSammy

Think Share Teach: Teaching in the one-iPad Classroom | @scoopit http://bit.ly/ygn4YL blog post of things you can do with the lone iPad.

 

One  of the best ways for free professional development is to follow a conference hashtag such as #iste2012 or #mobile2012 or #naeyc12 - attendees tweet quotes, key ideas, resources and links... which you can digest in the comfort of your comfiest chair while they sit in a cold or hot, crowded conference room on hard chairs.  
Good Teaching nuggets
‏@Kristy_Vincent

I don't look at the app and try to teach it. I teach math and find an app that goes with it. - Go @ipadSammy !! 

Katherine Burdick ‏@iAppleLearner

From Graham of Learning Without Frontiers on QR Codes "just because it's digital doesn't mean it's good ;)" #mobile2012 

Twitter also is a GOOD source for free apps/websites

Tony Vincent ‏@tonyvincent

45 of these 60 educational iOS apps are free: http://tonyv.me/60a60m (via @ComputerExplore & @iPadSammy) 

TCEA ‏@TCEA

New free iOS app BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week is fun for students in grades K-3: http://bit.ly/KXsTc6

Through Twitter I found out about Daily Five- which revolutionized my literacy instruction this year.  My kids BEGGED for Daily Five time.  
Heidi Echternacht ‏@hechternacht For your reading pleasure: archive to tonights #kinderchat re: #daily5. Enjoy! http://ow.ly/6MuhO #kinderchat

And Symbaloo and the AWESOME #kinderchat mixes
Matt Gomez ‏@Matt_Gomez

Here is the link to the #kinderchat @symbalooEDU webmix of youTube songs to get them moving http://ow.ly/8UEZD

AND Wonderopolis
Jon Fines ‏@Mr_Fines

BTW @Wonderopolis is brought to you by the great people at @NCFLiteracy http://bit.ly/wmH2sQ #kinderchat

And my classroom families LOVED when I discovered how to use Facebook to connect and share daily what we were doing in class
Heidi Echternacht ‏@hechternacht

RT @Matt_Gomez: I use a closed group for my class FB page. Little more info here http://ow.ly/629wi #kinderchat

Resources too great to miss
Matt Gomez ‏@Matt_Gomez

Kids loved that THE author was rdg it RT @happycampergirl: The Kissing Hand B&N online storybook: http://ow.ly/6hbJf. #kinderchat

AND 
Tweeting is not just for adults- get your kinder kids involved next year- as I tweeted ealier it is a way to connect them with the world, give them authemtic reasons to read and write, an audience, and expose them to culture and diversity AND timezones!  
Great blog post about tweeting with kinders

more re K and tweeting

Another about tweets in K

Kathy R. Cook ‏@kathycook1

Guide to using Twitter in K-8 Classroom http://langwitches.org/blog/2011/08/27/guide-to-twitter-in-the-k-8-classroom/

Lastly, the laughs on Twitter are awesome when it's humor you totally get becasue it's from the kinder-universe:  Hint- look at the picture in the link!
Matt Gomez ‏@Matt_Gomez

Sometimes play is awkward http://ow.ly/i/nmvs worst part "Mr. Gomez you are the one on top" ... I changed tables after that #kinderchat 

 

So,  if you've been hesitant to join Twitter... I hope you'll dive in and discover it's amazing opportunities for connecting, learning, and especially teaching!  Follow some of the people I copied the tweets from @matt_gomez @tonyvincent @hechternacht @mr_fines @tcea and definitely check out #kinderchat on Monday nights or anytime for great kinderworld inspirations!

Tell me how you use it in your professional life and say hi on twitter: My accounts are @i_teach_k or @tweetsueh

Connected Science: Science Project, Wiki's, Google Docs, and Skype

I LOVE my Twitter PLN (Professional Learning Network) #kinderchat !  We have been doing some exciting things this year!

My class has joined  Kindergarten classes from Canada, US, and New Zealand to find out if eggs are the same around the world... We are conducting a simple but fun science experiment.  More information can be found here, Eggciting Experiment Wiki, on the procedures and observations with the kids.  There are google docs embedded in the page that we have used to document the project. 

Today my students skyped on the iPad with a K class participating in the project from Vancouver Island, British Colombia- a couple of my students showed their eggs, and her students shared theirs.  The children had a great time sharing their observations.  I love skype play for the converstions and sense of wonder the children have.  They discussed the time (Vancouver BC is in the same time zone as us) weather (they had rain too) and even recess.

Digital Natives have taken over!

Last year, in December I posted my first blog... I thought I'd reread it tonight and decided to repost it.  (Does that break some cardinal rule of blogging?) New stuff appears at the end-I promise!

From 12/16/2010---Digital natives are taking over my classroom!

My students, all 25 of them this year- active and loud, quiet and mild, boys and girls... LOVE technology. They are truly "digital natives." They do not shy away from new experiences- in fact they beg to be the first to try! When I run into a problem- and there is almost always going to be a problem with something when you have 25 bodies watching and waiting on you- they are often the ones to help ME figure out the problem.

My husband is the "computer guy" for our district. I was on the internet back when it first started up... and I am not THAT old, but it makes me feel ancient. So much is changing in our fast paced digital world that even a self-professed tech lover like me married to a techie feels lost facing new technology. Recently I was faced with using an iPad for the first time. I clearly recall the uncertainty and feeling of stupidity I felt not knowing how to work the thing. I couldn't figure out how to close the "apps." I know you might feel the same way when facing newfangled technology- so I hope this blog can be a little help to you. And I hope you'll share your experiences with me.

My reward for being the most tech-savy (or most gullible) teacher in our elementary building is that I often request and get new technology first. Our tech goals included starting to use interactive whiteboards... which of course arrived just days before school started. So I jumped in using it the first days of school and had lots of "uh- what do I do now?" moments. One day when it just WOULDN'T work and I really, really, really needed it to- my students began to threaten revolt- a 5 year old said to me- "I think it's unplugged Mrs. H."

Teaching with Technology Rule Number 1. ALWAYS check the power cords first.

Computer Tech's- even when they have to come because they are married to you- DO NOT like being rushed down to "fix" a problem that involves an unplugged cord. And, don't forget- cords usually hook up to the wall & the machine. Check both before you call for help!

Why are today's children "technology natives?" You and I (assuming you are in your 20's at least!) grew up along with the current technology. Today's kids are born into a technological world. For adults, computerese is like a second language- for the little munchkins I teach- it is natural and normal.

So, in my classroom I capture the minds of my little ones through any means possible- and increasingly, through the use of technology. Some teachers resist technology, saying "They need a break from being "entertained" and that the old instructional methods work just fine."

Consider- a few decades ago microwaves were new technology. Is there a house without one on your block? Would you not use your microwave because it doesn't cook the way people did for generations?

A hundred years ago, cars were new. Unless you have an Amish community nearby I doubt you know anyone who doesn't use a vehicle of some type to get around.

I am committed to staying current to meet the needs of my learners. Are you?

A year later... I feel like I have conquered iPads, Macs, and apps.  I have mastered the interactive whiteboard- well, at least when it's plugged in!  I haven't been posting like mad on here because I feel like everything I've been doing is old news.  It helps me to realize that while it's old to me, it's not necessarily to you, dear reader.  Since moving to my current school I've had an in-class tv/vhs/dvd, a document camera, a projector, a desktop or laptop, and access to a computer lab or a few computers for student use.  Most recently I have had a Macbook, an iPad2, 1:1 student iPad1's, the interactive whiteboard, a rolling cart of Macbooks (shared with 5 other classes) and now a new iMac lab in the library. I LOVE love love the technologies I am blessed with in my district.  I know they make my job easier in as many ways as they complicate it.  I find new ways to use those technologies frequently.  

Some of the more exciting ways to use technology MOST teachers have access to I've found in the unlikeliest of places: Twitter.  I was having a hard time remembering when I discovered the power of Twitter so I looked back on my tweets and my first one was 1/14/11- I gave a shout out to Darla Wood-Walters, a conference speaker I was enjoying that day.  At the same time I was getting involved with Mobile2011 and I think I started my tweeting because of their site... thanks Tony Vincent and Katherine Burdick!  My first posts were clunky- I had no idea what to do!  I played around (what better way to start) on Twitter from January-August and then it happened... I met #kinderchat  

For those unfamiliar with Twitter there are 3 key components: #,@,140.  You have the #hashtag... this is a way to help others find your posts regarding a certain topic or to emphasize sometimes.  For example #kinderchat is a search term you can use to find posts by other Kindergarten teachers on twitter- we even have a weekly meeting (Mon@9ET), a wiki (and THAT'S another blog for another day!), and many collaborative projects.  You can do a search for #kindergarten #teaching #edchat #spedchat #pukealert (ok, K teacher humor!) and pretty much anything you can think of.  Twitter can be entertainment, a waste of time, social networking at it's worst- or you can use it as a tool to reach out and connect with like minded individuals, professionals, around the world.  I don't follow any celebrities- although I am thrilled to follow @tonyvincent (of www.learninginhand.com and www.mobile2012.org) @gailandjoan (The Daily 5 and CAFE authors) and @matt_gomez @bluskyz @happycampergirl @mathmurd @hecternacht (of #kinderchat fame) to name a few.  The @ sign is your way of saying "hey, Sue!" in the Twitter world if you @i_teach_k I will get a notification that you wrote to me.  Thanks, in advance by the way.  It's a way to get specific people in on your conversation.  Otherwise you only broadcast to your followers.  I only follow K teachers, some K/ECE related companies (@sesamestreet @pbsteachers @literacycounts @naeyc) and a handful of others.  I don't want a lot of junk posts in my box... it's too much to wade through.  Lastly, 140 refers to how many characters you have to use in one post.  That includes spaces and punctuation!  Which is why Twitter may be responsible for eliminating the 2 spaces after a period rule, amongst other writing/grammar rules.  [Hi, my name is Sue and I have taught kindergarten for 6 years. I have been married for 10 years and I have three children; 9, 8, and 3. See?]  [140 characters].  It's a blessing and a curse.  You have to be concise.  You only need a moment to grasp the gist of the tweet.  You HAVE to be concise.  You only have 140 characters to make your point. As the queen of run on sentences this has been a challenge for me.

If you have internet and an email address you can tweet.  More importantly, you can follow.  If you choose wisely, you can follow inspiring educators and create the best, free, and convenient Professional Development or Professional Learning Network that you can find.  Start here http://www.cybraryman.com/edhashtags.html for a list of educational hashtags or this page which has A LOT of info about Twitter http://www.cybraryman.com/twitter.html 

I promise to post soon about how Twitter has changed my classroom this year... for the students, my teaching methods, and even my attitude towards teaching K.  Through #kinderchat I have found amazing ways to connect with kindergarteners and their teachers from around the world.  I have an easy, interactive way to communicate with families.  My students have meaningful reasons to read and write DAILY and so much more.  Today I heard the voices of several teachers I've been talking with on Twitter since August for the first time.  It was amazing...  I never would have met these people in WA, or even at a K conference.  Nor would I have found so many ways to integrate technology into the classroom so easily, naturally, MEANINGFULLY and engage and excite my students at the same time.  So, I repeat, yes, for the third time...

I am committed to staying current to meet the needs of my learners. Are you?

How do you stay current?  Get new ideas?  Mentor and share your knowledge?  My answer: @i_teach_k anddigitalkindergarten.blogspot.com