Teaching Gadget: Splashtop Remote

So, here's an app that turns your iPad into a great teaching gadget- your own computer! I have only used it for two days and already I love it!

The good news is, for those of you attending Mobile2011 next week, Splashtop's developer is giving away the app (2 at EACH session!) so you may win your way to the app for free.  If you don't get one for free, it is an app well worth the $4.99 price tag. 


We all know that one of the biggest drawbacks to the iPad/iPod/iPhone is the lack of flash support.  Well, with Splashtop Remote you can use Flash based sites from your iPad/iPod/iPhone!  Eureka!

Look at these screen shots taken from my iPad while I used www.starfall.com and www.tumblebooks.com, and down below, a student is using www.spellingcity.com- three of my favorite websites that did not work before on my iPad.   Awesome as my daughter would say!

 Now, I am still figuring out Splashtop's advanced features- I'll be sure to update as I figure out more ways to use it...  I am sure there are untapped depths to the app... and yet, if all I can do is access my favorite ECE sites AND my documents from my iPad...

Well, for $4.99 ($1.99 for iPod), it's well worth it!  If you are going to come to my session @mobile2011, I will be using my iPad with Splashtop Remote during the presentation instead of being tied to my Mac and 2 attendees will get free copies! 

To use Splashtop you download the app on the iPad/iPod/iPhone, and download the free application onto your computer.  In just a few steps (I did it Tuesday am in just minutes) you connect to your PC and you can access anything from your computer via your iPad/iPod/iPhone.    The smaller screen with touch is a little difficult for me to adjust to, but it has gotten easier every time.  Above, a student is playing Hangmouse on SpellingCity.com  Then he passes the iPad to his next classmate so they can take a turn.

Beth, you asked about the iPad and interactive whiteboards... here is a great way for students to interact from the carpet/tables with what you're doing on the board!

Publishing Student Work

Last year I coordinated our school's use of the Student Treasure's book publishing program. We had students illustrate and write on special paper and sent the class project in to be bound and reprints made.  The end result was great; the process was a little painful.  It was  a little difficult to manage the pages- one child would illustrate the back of another's writing- mess up, rip, or smear it (and all three happened of course) and both students had to redo...  AND kindergarten handwriting can range from illegible to gorgeous, and they had to write, copy, then trace over with a marker... It was worth it, but a little challenging and most had to be done 1:1.  And I could not fathom doing it with this year's crew and no aide during writing.

So, while ordering the packets for our building, I noticed on the order form that they have an ONLINE publishing program (Beta) and immediately signed up.   So far I am very impressed with the site.  The teacher enters student names then the software assigns pages to the child as well as a logon and password (easy too- first name initial and last name- I'd be sholt) and common word passwords such as colors and other easy words.  The students can only change their page.  I, however, can see the whole book from my page.  The students will type onto the page- it saves automatically and prompts before closing- and can manipulate the text color, font and size.  Teachers can load images (I will scan student artwork and/or photos) and students can insert them or clip art.  Multiple student images can be placed.  Our second grade teacher has decided to try it too- she felt the first try, with children typing their writing up, went well.

Publishing allows them to see themselves as an author/illustrator and gives them an authentic reason to write- how amazing!

There is a referral program- if you plan to try, please send me your email- if I refer you and you end up publishing I will get a $50 card to spend on my classroom.  If you refer other schools, you'll get one too!

Here's the site:  http://www.studentreasures.com/

Teaching Tools: Montessori Apps

Two of my favorite apps to use as teaching tools in my classroom are based upon the Montessori Approach to education.  For those unfamiliar with Montessori, I've copied some information from http://www.montessori.edu below my review of the apps.


One that I have found very useful is the Hundred Board: Montessori Approach to Math ($2.99).  My students chose to play this one even during free choice time when they can choose from any app on the iPad.  


It takes the place in my classroom of number board and 100 tiles.  If you can imagine the difficulty of organizing 100 number tiles for each student (and what to do with the set when they lose one piece!).  More importantly though, is the vocalization of each number as it's selected, and the child is unable to place a number incorrectly.  In the last update they added the choice to sequence the numbers with "control" meaning the numbers are displayed to help students pick the next number.  The numbers can be placed by ones, evens or odds.


The same creator (Rantek Inc.) made the Roman Numerals! ($1.99) app in the same format as the Hundred Board.  The student can pick to go from 1-100 by ones, or evens or odds using Roman Numerals.  I would suggest this app for grades 3&up.


A new app, to me, that I will use on a regular basis is ABC Sequence ($1.99), which is similar to the previous apps, in that the student will put the alphabet in order, using capital or lowercase letters.  The letter name is announced "G is for giraffe" when the child selects it.


The Montessori Teaching method is evident in these apps - "Teach by teaching, not by correcting  Instead the child's effort and work is respected as it is. The teacher, through extensive observation and record-keeping, plans individual projects to enable each child to learn what he needs in order to improve."  -www.montessori.edu  All of these apps do not have sounds or graphics that indicate the child made a mistake, nor do they move on to the next question without allowing the child to find the right answer.  Instead the incorrect choice is minimized and the child tries again.


The beauty of most of the apps produced in the Montessori Approach is their simplicity. 
The 100 board, ABC sequence, as well as the Geography app are powerful applications and ideal for classroom use.  The following apps are beautiful and simple too, and may be found useful in preschool or special education classrooms.  A Montessori Approach to Vocabulary focuses on common vocabulary objects; a shadow of an object is shown for the child to guess the object, then the photo can be shown and the word can be pronounced aloud.   A Pre-Language Exercise- Opposites shows two opposite words (big & small) and a picture of objects that are opposite in size. Brown Stair and Pink Tower asks the student to follow a plan to recreate a tower/stair combination by selecting the next smallest or largest piece in the pattern.  Both my 2 year old and 7 year old were happy to play through the levels.

"Montessori (pronounced MON-tuh-SORE-ee) education was founded in 1907 by Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman in Italy to become a physician. She based her educational methods on scientific observation of children's learning processes. Guided by her discovery that children teach themselves, Dr. Montessori designed a "prepared environment" in which children could freely choose from a number of developmentally appropriate activities. Now, nearly a century after Maria Montessori's first casa dei bambini ("children's house") in Rome, Montessori education is found all over the world, spanning ages from birth to adolescence."  www.montessori.edu



I have purchased 100 Board and sampled the lite versions of Geography and ABC sequence.  A developer for Rantek Inc, shared codes with me so that I could review the above mentioned apps.  Thank you!

Another favorite Montessori based app created by another developer (L'escapadou) is Montessori Crosswords ($2.99)- the crosswords are great for spelling words from simple CVC to long vowels and compound words, but I especially like the movable alphabet for use in my making words lessons.  


Most of these apps have a lite version for you to try before you buy!  So go ahead, try them!

Customizable App: Kidimedia

Have you visited the http://www.iear.org/ (I Education Apps Review) site yet?  I have enjoyed being a member of the site, on which educators review apps and developers look for feedback on current and upcoming apps.  Through the site I contacted one of the creators of the Kidimedia app (their site is www.kidimedia.com) and was given a code to try it out.  My review of the app is long overdue, so here it is!

Kidimedia app currently costs $1.99

What excited me about this app was that it is customizable.  You can go to their website, upload your images, and create an activity that you designed!   While it works without an internet connection, while connected the games are almost limitless.  They have made several updates since I first tried it and they have made some major improvements!

Kidimedia offers multiple, well developed features all in one handy app, with up to three difficulty levels:

Lily's puzzle- "Look it's me!"

Jigsaw Puzzles-  My daughter loves this one, especially the pictures of our family I have added using the website. 
Connect the dots- I like this one a lot- you touch the next number and the number is read aloud.  Once the dots are connected the matching image comes up, after the child is prompted to guess what it will be and given time to think.
Stamping- Choose a backdrop, then decorate with adjustable stamps.
Sliding Window- touch a square to reveal a part of the picture underneath.  Try to guess the picture.
Shades (match outline of an object to it's picture)
Memory- classic game- and one I look forward to customizing- I'd like to do sight words and such.
Ordering- put images in order- such as the life cycle of a caterpillar.

Counting down before revealing the picture.

Sorting game (matching pairs such as A-E & a-e or 1-5 & the correct number of objects, or colored keys to colored locks).

For the price, the many activities are wonderful, and the fact that you can customize the games to fit your child or your curriculum makes it perfect for education!

Teaching Tools: iPad as a Reading Group

Group A on left using iPads, Group B on right reading books.

For the past 4 years I have had a leveled reading group time in my classroom with groups of 5-8 children working in small groups with myself or an aide or volunteer.This year with my large class size I was depending on a high school helper to lead one group until one day she withdrew from our school... which left me with 12 students in my reading group. 12 is way too many for a small group so I have felt doubly blessed by having the iPads available.

So now, I have half the group use literacy apps on the iPad while I meet and read with the other half. Then we switch. The result: 6 students getting 1:1 feedback support and practice (from the I Pad!) on reading skills while I provide the other 6 with feedback, suport and practice reading leveled books.

Sorry, my embeded video was bad... Here is a link instead...

Some of the apps I use (replacing worksheets/puzzles, etc. that the kids would have to do independently and not have feedback on while they are working) are Make a Word, Montessori Crosswords, Starfall ABC, Louie's Letter Challenge, Teach Me K and 1st grade, ABC Reading, and Pocket Phonics.

In past years I've had similar issues (not enough helpers to have small groups) so I have had to spend a lot of time making meaningful materials to use in centers, interrupting the group I'm in to monitor students who should be working on their own, and worrying that the activities I had students doing weren't "good enough." I cannot believe how easy it is to use the iPads as a center, how excited the kids are to use them, and that I so very rarely get interrupted by an iPad user.

No iPad list- writing on paper instead of using the iPad

So what if kids are "playing around?" Put them in the "no Ipads for __ days list." During times you would normally have the student use an iPad have them do the assignment "the old fashioned way." Trust me, they will not be repeat offenders.

great sites for mobile technology users

I have found so many great websites that provide support for those using technology in education.  one i have learned a lot from is Tony Vincent's www.learninginhand.com

Tony will be presenting at the Mobile2011 conference too.  i suggest going to www.mobile2011 to the list of speakers... the organizers have provided links to presenter's pages; you might find something helpful.

i am writing this from my phone... I will add more sites to this list the next time I am near my computer.

AS PROMISED- more helpful sites: 
http://wiki.canby.k12.or.us/groups/ipodusergroup/
http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/mobile_learning.htm


if anyone is reading this  is from WA, I just heard of a training coming up in May that includes a new iPad in the price (700) of the training, and walks you through setting it up and finding apps for the iPad.  Let me know if you want the info.

Mobile 2011

Only two more days to register for Mobile Learning Experience 2011. Spread the word! http://mobile2011.org

I encourage you to check out the site, agenda, and come to Phoenix.  I'll be there.  I'll be presenting.  Although I am not sure if that is an incentive or a drawback for some.  

WASA Conference

Today I presented "A Digital Age Classroom & Tools You Can Use"at the WA Small Schools Conference.  For those attending, I want to give you some of the resources I mentioned.

Canby School District has some data collected about their 1:1 ipod program: http://wiki.canby.k12.or.us/sandbox/groups/ipodusergroup/weblog/6a110/attachments/daa48/ipodachievementdata-20092010.pdf?sessionID=ce76f4bd163b934541fb3d7467215dd5e7e7fd34

I showed you my colleague's site on how to use iPads in HighSchool: Ipads In The Classroom

This is another site that has great info about tech; and some specific info for schools using iPads on a large scale:  http://learninginhand.com/ipad/

www.atomiclearning.com has technology tutorials and lessons

To get to my tizmo's page go to: www.tizmos.com/kgrade (has links to spelling city, googledocs, and more.)

storybird.com

I use the mimio interactive whiteboard in my class: http://www.mimioconnect.com/

Some of the iPad apps I mentioned were:  Montessori 100 Board,  Montessori Crosswords, Starfall ABC's (and their awesome website www.starfall.com), Louie Letter Challenge, Make a Word, Rocket Math, Park Math, Mathboard, Montessori Approach to Geography, Teach Me K and 1st, Tales2Go, Talking Tom, Tap to Talk, Dragon Dictation

A couple of sites I didn't get to: http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=63074 has resources for tech savvy teachers, and http://ieducationappsreview.ning.com/ is a site for educators to review apps, and lastly, some software I use to assess students; http://www.esgisoftware.com/ESGI/  -I love the reports I can generate from this program.

Some of the info I shared:


 "Three principles from brain research: emotional safety, appropriate challenges, and self constructed meaning suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach to classroom instruction teaching
is ineffective for most students and harmful to some." 
Teach Me Teach My Brain – A Call For Differentiated Classrooms - Carol Ann Tomlinson

Do not waste teaching time with technology; enhance teaching with technology.

improve traditional learning activities by:
1.)  saving time.
2.)  allow for differentiation to meet each child's learning needs.
3.)  motivating reluctant learners.
4.)  make learning fun.

Technology is NOT going to go away, and we are in the midst of a major sociocultural quantum shift. These technologies are revolutionizing the world our children will live in. So our task is to balance appropriate skill-development with technologies with the core principles and experiences necessary to raise healthy children.”
Modern technologies are very powerful because they rely on one of the most powerful genetic biases we do have — the preference for visually presented information. The human brain has a tremendous bias for visually presented information. Television, movies, videos, and most computer programs are very visually oriented and therefore attract and maintain the attention of young children. The problem with this is that many of the modern technologies are very passive.
The technologies that benefit young children the greatest are those that are interactive and allow children to develop their curiosity and problem-solving and independent-thinking skills.
ECT Interview: Bruce Perry Discusses the Effects of Technology on the Brain


Thank you for attending the session and asking such wonderful questions and sharing your own experiences.

Newer apps that I like :)

Before I share the new apps list, I want to say a HUGE thank you to all developers who offer free apps that are quality and educational.  Teachers often spend so much of their own money on the classroom- and I am no exception.  Money is tight everywhere, but enough so in my household that I have had to really reign in my classroom spending.  My own children have needs, and I have bills to pay, so justifying spending money on apps for the classroom is really tough.  And yet, they are so amazing for the children to use.  So THANK YOU for giving to young children by making such amazing apps and giving them away.  And thank you too to the developers who ask only $.99 versus $4.99 or more and those who make lite versions for us penny pinchers to try before we buy. 

And K.B., the ones with a AVA next to them are for you!  Well, for Ava, and all other adorable preschoolers out there! Theses are ones Lily loves and I like to see her play.

I have re-posted my previous list of favorite apps further below, but first, here are some newer ones for you to try:

Newer Free/Lite Versions

iTalk (use to record students reading and playback)
PhotoTouch ABC (asks child to identify letter, customizable)
PhotoTouch Sight Words (asks child to identify words, customizable)
ABC Magic Reading by preschool university (segment, blend words) I am not sure if this was free or not.  I might have bought it. But it is a very good app.
Dr Kids Lite (mixed feelings, this version has A-D.  I like the format and features a lot.  I would buy the full version, except I really don't like the accent for my class (English I think?- well I like the accent, but not for teaching American children phonics) and it's 5.99 (pretty steep considering I'd have to buy for all my iPads).
Whiteboard
Learn to read Z is for Zebra (ABC names, sounds)  AVA
my alphabet coloring book (simple, but well done)  AVA
Alphabet Zoo (cute cute cute)  AVA
Blobble Write- is really good for a free handwriting/letter formation app.  AVA
ACE learning combo pack (letters, animals, sounds) AVA
Long Division (great for 3rd and up) by Power Math Apps
Stack the Countries
Geared 2 (a slightly educational game that requires careful placement of gears.)
4 in a row  (aka as Connect 4)
caboose (patterning)

Flick Kick Field Goal Kick Off (fun game)
Ping Pong (fun, not educational)
Sand Slides (another just for fun game)
Mad Skills MX (was free on FAAD when I got, another fun game)
iassociate2 (this is for me- for fun and to try to exercise my brain)
Geared 2 (a slightly educational game that requires careful placement of gears.)
4 in a row  (aka as Connect 4)

Apps I previously recommended:

* app is free or has a lite version

Multiple subjects

Teach me kindergarten, (also teach me toddler and first grade)  only $.99 cents each

*ABC letters (mathaliens- also has shapes numbers)

*iplay and sing AVA

*dtdnumwhiz

ABC magnetic land  AVA

*Feed Me! 

*Doodlebuddy  AVA
*Puppet Pals
Drawing Pad  AVA

For literacy/writing

*pocketphonics 

*iwritewords (there is also a spanish version)

make a word

*Montessori Words

*Time Reading

StoryBuddy

StoryPatch
*storykit 
*tales2go (free for a limited time, definitely a great app!)

starfall ABC's     AVA

*magnetic ABCs 

*Alphabetworld

ABC magic

*ABC tris

*ABCmaze

*word magic

*abc phonics

*alphabet tracing

*play and learn

*ispelling

*madlibs
*shortwords

*RF Alphabet

*sightwords free

*wordfamilies

Books
*A-Z books (like the leveled readers website) has one free book levels aa-j
*alphabelch
*interactbooks
*Teddy'sDay

*Toy Story

*ireadingstoriescollection

*astorybeforebed

*ibooks

*feelings

*the grouches

*HumptyDumpty

*Dictionary (curious george)

*Read Me Stories

*jingle

*big secret

*Storychimes (multiple stories)

*Bookster

Animalia

*Meegegenius

Pop Out Peter Rabbit

Dr.Seuss ABC

Xmas Tale
*going places
*TTiptoes (tale of timmy tiptoes by b. potter)
*what's that you're eating?
*iReading HD17
There are also several Dr. Seuss and Miss Spider's lite versions available.

Math

Park Math 

*123tracer
counting (great for counting to 20 practice)  AVA

*Freddy Fraction
*acemultiply
*timestables

*Numbers (montessori)

*Mathtrain

*Make shapes

*Mia

*animals count

*sticker shop (money)

*Lets do math

*Math ninja (the kids LOVE this)

*times tables

*lets tans

*undersea math

*math circus
*kidsmath
*mathboard addition
*timestables
*clockmaster
*pizzamath
*fraction reducer
*acemultiply

Puzzles (my daughter loves these)

*Shapebuilder  AVA

*tozzle  AVA

*Anispy

Misc

*ForestFriends  AVA

*Animal match

*audio note

*idiscipline

*dragon dictation

*live notes

*ASL
*going places
*Free App a Day- 

Science/Social Studies

*NASA

*USA Free

*GoSkyWatch  AVA

*GoogleEarth
*speed geo lite
*Dinosaurs
*Wacky Safari free
*stack the states
*BrainPop

Games

*solitaire

*pocket frogs

*mx mayhem

*Talkingtom  AVA

*talking roby

*labyrnith

*cut the rope  AVA

*blowfish  AVA

*waterslide

*rollercoaster

*trace (super dorky illustrations but I love this!)  AVA

*square-off

*game room

*checkers
*snowboard
*chicktionary
4inarow
*canknockdown
*jellycar
*toyshop

iPad 2

I love the iPad.  I've wanted to buy one for my family since they came out.  When our school started using them I begged and pleaded and whined until I got 5 to use in class.  Then I got 5 more (well one is on loan from another teacher- I'm hoping she'll forget!)   I use one as my "Master" iPad- I try new apps, use it to record kids' reading, the students use it, I use it a lot myself, and yes my daughter loves it too.   But it's not mine.  I want my own iPad because I don't like using school property as my own.  When I let Lily use it I feel guilty.  I try to tell myself she's a future student... but that only helps a little.  I feel guilty putting on apps I enjoy. 

So, I am sitting here, at midnight, wondering how I can get my hands on an iPad 2 next Friday.  I just watched the video of Steve Jobs presenting the iPad2 and am a little worried about how much I want one. I guess I am just a big kid.  I am trying to convince myself that paying the wonderful woman who cares for my daughter while I teach isn't that important, or surely we can skip one car payment or...

I had planned to buy one as soon as the second gen came out, no question about it.  I viewed it as a reward for becoming a National Board Certified Teacher on the first try.  I didn't spend my Christmas or Birthday money gifts.  I thought that by Spring we'd be financially steady.  I "need" one for the two upcoming conferences I am presenting at- really, I'll be the only one who doesn't have one...  However unforeseen expenses have used up all discretionary funds. 

So, ok, I guess there's no iPad2 in my immediate future (although I did suggest to my husband that we cancel our cruise and get iPad2s instead.  He did not appreciate the sentiment.)  I am trying to tell myself to be grateful to have health, my family, a job, a home and so much more.  Perspective people!  BUT, I still really want the new iPad2.  Enough whining for now I guess. 

So how would I utilize the 2nd generation iPad in my Kindergarten classroom?
1. Camera (to take pics of kids, kids to take pics, kids to record their creations- lego, blocks, etc). 
2. Video (kids can read to themselves and playback, kids could facetime other students in other schools,  video presentations, record directions for playback)
I use my camera a lot in class and would love to use the new iPad instead.
3. LOVE the new garage band app (for the kids) and iMovie (for me). 
4.-6.  Thinner, lighter, faster!!!
I am sure I will find more reasons to need the new iPad.  I hope you can get one too.  Someday.

Getting Started with iPads

Check out this helpful site, created by a colleague of mine, about using iPads in the classroom- high school and kindergarten.   Jon Tienhaara is the assistant principal and 9th grade math teacher at our school and has been the one carrying out our iPad implementation project.  His site has a video, and step by step info on getting your own iPad project off the ground.

Ipads In The Classroom

Thanks for sharing Jon!

Teaching Tools: Math Facts

In my classroom I focus on friends of 5 and 10 (all the ways to add up to 5 and 10).  I use Park Math and a couple others (I reviewed them already here http://digitalkindergarten.blogspot.com/2011/01/teaching-tools-math-app-park-math-and.html) to teach K math skills.

In my role as a mommy though, I have a second and third grader who need to practice their math facts for fluency.  I have found several apps that meet my definition of a Teaching Tool and those are:

1) Rocket Math, Free (and worth buying full version for $.99- which I just did after convincing myself of how great it is!)

41 launches and only 2 medals?  My toddler has been helping me!

Rocket Math (made by Stack the States and Stack the Countries developer Dan Russell-Pinson) takes place in, you guessed it- space.  The player builds a rocket (many design options to interest kids and make them think about physics as well) and attempts to launch it into outer space.  You purchase parts when you solve math equations (chose from easy, hard+,-,x,/) to earn money.  If you successfully craft a rocket that can make it into space (not easy for the non scientific minded like me) you earn a medal depending on how well you know math subjects like money, odd/even numbers, patterning, etc. 

Fun Math!

Features: Up to five player profiles, ability to work out a problem on a scribble pad, great graphics and a really fun balance of math, creativity, science!

Rocket Math meets my criteria for
Teaching tools should improve traditional learning activities by (4.75/5 star rating):
****   1.)  saving time. (replace flash card time, on multiple subjects, with this practice- however kids could spend a lot of time fiddling with their rockets rather than the math- my suggestion would be to make them earn a certain amount of money before they can create or modify a rocket)
*****   2.)  allow for differentiation to meet each child's learning needs.  (Can choose from 5 (free version) 8 (full) missions when rocket is successfully launched- such as money, time, shapes... and add,subtract, multiply, divide to earn money) and 6 levels of difficulty.
***** 3.)  motivating reluctant learners.  (My 7 1/2 year old chooses to play it on his own even with non-educational games on his iPad).
*****4.)  make learning fun. (I think it's fun too!)

Others to check out- my husband says I need to clean my house and get off the blog, plus my child is out in the snow and I haven't heard from him in a while and we all know how dangerous silence is! so I am not going to go into detail... yet.





2. Long Division Drills by Power Math Apps (3.75/5 stars)- not extremely motivating, but good practice 


3. Times Tables (4.0/5) good drills along with modeling of how multiplication works.  Again, try the free version but I think it's worth buying.


4. Math Circus- (4.0/5)   not a practice app, but rather it has short clips that teach about multiplication and various strategies that can be used.  I make my son watch it (HE LOVES TV) when he struggles to multiply his 7's and 8's.  


5. Math Ninja (4.5/5 stars)- FUN!  throw ninja style weapons at robots who are attacking- earn more weapons by completing math drills- add,subtract, multiply, divide.  My favorite feature- if you get the answer wrong, it tells you the correct solution and you type it in.  I HATE (bad me, I'm trying to not use HATE! but we are all adults here right?) apps that simply move on to the next problem.  Free version available, but of course I ended up buying this one.

Interview Questions

I haven't posted for a while- sorry, sorry!  I can hardly believe the first 2 months of 2011 are almost over already.  I don't have anything amazing to share tonight, but I thought I'd post my responses to some questions I was asked about using iPads/tech in K.  

1.  How has the iPad changed the way students learn in your class?

The iPad allows for greater differentiation of instruction with immediate reinforcementwhen I can't be alongside a student.  They can move at their own pace more readily, and kids are less aware of what they can and can't do in relation to other students.

2.  Using the iPad in Kindergarten, do you see the students' age being a concern?

Actually, the age and development level of kindergartners make iPad's  ideal for them.     Young children instinctively reach out to touch items that catch their interest, and the simplicity and intuitive design of the iPad makes it easier for young students to use than any other technology I've used in the classroom.

3.  Does the iPad make any aspects of your teaching easier/more difficult?

The only "difficult" part of using the iPads is not having enough- they are a coveted item and finding ways to share them fairly is an extra challenge.  I could use them for even more parts of our day if I had a class set and wouldn't have to track who has had a turn, etc.

However, the ways the iPad make things easier is definitely worth all the times I'm asked- is it my turn yet?    There are several apps that have replaced using hundreds of manipulatives- which take valuable time to pass out and manage.  For example- instead of passing out 8 letters to each child for a making words lesson, I simply have them go to an app and pull up the needed letters.  This takes about 30 seconds versus several minutes (and no clean up).  Occasionally I need to occupy part of my students for brief periods (such as when I am working with a small group and another student needs assistance) I can direct my group to work with a specific app and know that they are working on a needed skill rather than waiting for me to return.  The portability of the iPads is wonderful too- throughout the day they might be on the floor with a student, at a table, go down to the library, the hallway, or even the gym.  The kids can carry them too. 

4.  How do you see the role of technology influencing your class in the future?  I think technology will influence all classrooms more and more in the future, and I welcome it in mine.  I consider using technology to do things that have been done "the old fashioned way" akin to using a microwave instead of a stove or driving a car rather than using a horse.  The old way works just fine, but there are definate benefits to using computers over handwriting for some projects, or an app instead of an worksheet.  Of course, new technology shouldn't be automatically considered superior to old ways- after all, if I want butter melted quickly I use the microwave.  If I want to bake a cake though, I need to take the time to use the oven for the best results.  My role as a teacher is to determine the best way to meet the needs of my students, using all resources available.

too much technology?

RANTING AHEAD, avoid if you're looking for useful info.  I said before this is a bit of a diary, so here is a post I wrote back in December but never posted.  Today I'm a little cranky so I'm not as positive as I usually try to be!

I read an article yesterday about parents fighting the increased use of technology in the schools.  I have a co-worker who believes that kids are entertained too much and chooses to eschew the use of technology in her classroom for the most part.

I obviously feel differently both as a parent and teacher.  I have no idea how to use an abacus and feel that a calculator is a better way to compute numbers (AND YES! we need to teach and know how to do mental math, but c'mon... for more than shopping and garage sales, more often than not I'll use a calculator). There is a benefit to doing things the way they have worked for years- such baking cakes in an oven, not a microwave.  Yet, I often choose to microwave items that I need quickly or aren't any worse off by using it.  I think there should be balance in everything and that as a teacher it's my job to meet the needs of my students- and for these digital natives, it's teaching digitally when paper and pencil isn't meeting their needs as effectively as I could hope.

Using an iPad to practice skills we'd otherwise teach using worksheets or flash cards is FUN and entertaining!  Why is fun bad?  Maybe it's the ECE teacher in me; but let's let kids have fun in school.  Why bore them to sleep?  My son bought a Brooke's Reader, second year book recently from our local Friends of the Library that is over a 100 years old.  He likes reading it, but the difference between that reading text and the current second grade ones are huge.  Would we go back to using black and white texts with a small font and few illustrations?  Why should technology be ignored because it's new or fun?

I agree with the parents in the article that kids get too much "screen time"  but I don't think that using computers in class for educational purposes should be considered screen time.

Teaching with technology rule number 2, restated.  Do not waste teaching time with technology; enhance teaching with technology.

I consider choice time in my classroom to be playtime; an opportunity for kids to develop social skills, make their own decisions, and a reward for all their hard work during the day.  I let them "play" with any of the apps on the ipads or any of the computer games and websites.

I have gone back and forth internally about whether to have 'fun' apps- ones that don't teach or practice skills on the ipad and computer for use during choice time.  The fun side of me won- I let the kids choose from toys and learning activities in class during this time- why should the ipad/pc be any different?  I do however have the rule that kids can't watch other kids play on the ipads/computers.  They can have a partner to play a two person game, otherwise children use the computers/ipads individually.  I think watching a friend play is similar to watching tv.

I don't think students should be playing with technology during teaching time.  If older students are using ipads or computers during instructional time they should be using them to take notes or practice the skills being taught, not messaging friends or playing games.  (Although I admit to doing both during boring conferences and meetings.)  I think teachers need programs (and they exist, but I am not familiar with them) that let them oversee student's ipads/ during class-time to eliminate off task behaviors related to the technology.

GAK: an Integrated science, math and technology lesson

     I haven't made gak all year.  How did that happen?  Gak has been a staple in my classroom since 1998 since I was introduced to it at the Cooperative Children's Center in Seattle. Yet, here it is, almost February and my students haven't touched the magical stuff.
     I had promised myself and a student that I would make it this week, and by Thursday we'd had a holiday (Thank you MLKJr!), a tired day (thanks to a busy weekend, and a board meeting) a late start (no thanks to you icy roads) and then it was Thursday AM, my chosen mobile mac lab morning.  So- I had a choice, mac lab or GAK?

Well, I decided on a whim to combine them.  Usually I have 23 kids, usually I have a high-school aide or a volunteer at 10 am.  Well, this day I had 11 kids absent thanks to many viruses and bacteria floating around our school.  And my student helper was not available.  So, I decided I could handle a science lesson, 12 kiddos AND the mac lab on my own.  Was I crazy?  No.  It went great, or well as great as any activity with 5&6 year olds can go.  I introduced the materials, water, borax, and glue.  I asked the kids about the substances and we discussed whether any of them could be played with.

I asked the kids to go to their computers and log on, then go to Pages and type up a prediction of what would happen when we combined the materials.  Most predictions were that it would be gooey, sticky, gross or even explode!  (I bet he thought the borax was baking soda and maybe we would make a volcano.  Or he didn't trust my science abilities.  When we cooked gingerbread cookies I did set off the fire alarm and caused an unplanned K-12 fire drill.)

Then, I began to measure out the materials and we combined them (letting the kids help).  They watched in amazement as solid and liquid and heat caused a chemical reaction to make a new substance. 

Then, I of course let them play with the amazing blobs of gak.  Afterward, they added what gak really felt like to their documents and took a picture using Photo booth of them with their gak.  (I actually clicked their photo as I didn't want gak on the keyboards- too risky)

We had fun; we did science, math, and used technology all in one hour and it was relatively painless!

I challenge you to share one of your great but simple lessons with me now!

For those of you who haven't experienced GAK yet (really???)  add literature to the lesson and read Dr. Seuss' Bartholomew and the Oobleck- it's really not gak in the story but close enough.  Oobleck receipe first (no heat necessary)  It also acts like a liquid until pressure is applied.  It is messier than the gak though, really.

Oobleck Ingredients:

• 2 parts cornstarch
• 1 part water
• food coloring (optional, as could stain clothing and skin)

Gloopy oobleck
Most liquids' viscosity changes because of temperature. But non-Newtonian fluids' viscosity changes because of pressure. Scientists haven't decided yet what makes oobleck behave like this.

Gak Receipe

Mix thoroughly in bowl A

• 1 1/2 cups very warm water
• 2 cups Elmer's glue
• food coloring (optional, as could stain clothing and skin)

In a bowl B, mix thoroughly:

• 1 1/3 cups very warm water
• 2 level teaspoons Borax

Mix the contents of the two bowls together kneading until it is fully combined. Discard any remaining liquid.

iPads vs. computers in the K classroom

I use a lot of technology in my classroom.  Yet, you may have noticed most of my blogs are about my new iPads.  Prior to getting the iPads I used 3-5 computers in my classroom on a regular basis.  My students primarily used www.starfall.com, www.tumblebooks.com, kidpix, and a phonics program on CD. Occasionally I would have them use Word.

I used them during literacy centers (1-2 students at each PC) as an independent center and the kids could use them during playtime).  When I first got the iPads I assumed I would continue to use the computers too; and I have, a little.  However, the iPads are so easy and quick to use that I find I dread the start up, logging on, finding the website/right program, etc. involved in using the laptops.  I still use the mobile Mac lab about twice weekly with my kids so they are still getting experience using computers.

Pro's for iPads:  very mobile (one of my reading groups carries them down to the library on a regular basis) and kids can sit on the carpet, at a table or ? with them.  Starts up in seconds, easy to navigate between programs.  Little to no issues- if they should work they do.  If a kid goes to the wrong application they just press the home button to get back to the choices.  Touch screen- much more intuitive for the little guys.  Using apps rather than websites reduces the chance of kids clicking on a link and going off into internet never never land.   Apps are relatively cheap or free.  Durable; no keys falling off the keyboard.

Con's for iPads:  Cleaning the screen (sanitizing?)  The folders all look the same and my emerging readers can't tell them apart sometimes.  Printing is challenging for me, as well as how to save their original work easily.  Individual profiles are not possible, except for within certain apps.

Pro's for PC/Macs:  They don't cause as much attention or excitement.  Or is that a con?  My volunteers are familiar with them.  The macs have a camera and video built in.

Con's for PC/Macs:  Time to start up and log on.  There is no syncing, so you have to update each computer.  Update, registration and pop up windows confuse my kids.  For some reason the keys like to fall off (or maybe they are being picked off).  Caps lock and number lock confuse the kids.  Programs are costly and internet sites are sometimes hard to navigate or have links to pages I don't want my students on.

The iPads have definitely won out for me as far as ease of use, and the high number of apps that specifically meet my needs.  Instead of just hoping kids will play certain activities within a site or program I can have them use an app to target a skill.  Plus, they are FUN!

Using websites with kids? you need Tizmos.com

I have been focusing a lot on iPads, I know, but this is for you laptop/desktop teachers out there!

There are many sites that offer you the ability to create a homepage with your favorite sites. I chose to use tizmos.com because: 1) it was free 2) it was easy for me 3) it is easy for the kids (each link is represented by an image of the site's homepage).

my public tizmos is found at www.tizmos.com/kgrade   You can make your own, or use mine.

So, on my student's computers I make this the homepage, or on the macs I have put it on the bookmarks bar.  (Delete all of apple's bookmarks by using the two finger click, then chose delete).  Then when I want my students to go to a new site, all I have to do is update my tizmos (copy and paste a link, that's all) and they can easily find it at school (and home too) even if they can't read yet.

Oo-ooh! Your name's going in the No iPad box!

So I don't have a catchy name for it yet.  I am open to suggestions.  But for now it's simply a rectangle on my board that says No iPad.  There is a name in it.  He who shall remain nameless decided to break the sacred rule of iPad use during learning centers.

"Thou shall only use approved apps (ie. those on the dock) during learning times."

I think it speaks highly of how much the kids love the ipads that I have had them since October and they haven't tested me on the rule.  One other time two little munchkins got off task but it was one of the first iPad uses independently and the expectation had not been pounded into their brains yet.

So, my little darling decided to play around during learning time, just a few hours after I had spent a little while going over new apps and reminding them of our few but sacred rules.  No, he wasn't playing Angry Birds or Blowfish or JellyCar.  He was actually happily playing another educational app.  BUT IT WASN'T on the Dock.  So his name is in the no iPad box.  And he is not happy.  For those of you worried this might happen in your class, rest easy.  This is the same child who choses not to listen 75% of the time, and oh so politely looks you in the eye while he ignores your request to ABC because he would rather XYZ.  We all have one of these occasionally.  He's a sweet, smart and stubborn little guy... but I promise you he will NOT test me on the iPad rule again.

So, his friends will be getting their turns on the most beloved objects in our classrooms next week while he gets to learn with the good old fashioned methods.

Teaching Tools: Digital books

Last week I was obsessing over whether to include AlphaBelch in my books folder on my classroom iPads.  If you have an iPad/iPod be sure to download this book for your kiddo's or just for a good laugh (It was free when I got it in Dec).  If you don't have an iPad/iPod check out these sites for great books on the computer- wegivebooks.org, tumblebooks.com, storylineonline.net

Now, back to belches.  Or, rather AlphaBelch.  It has great colorful illustrations, reads aloud only if you push the ABC button on the page (it doesn't highlight the spoken word) and yes, it's all about animals A-Z that BURP!  I know, I have the sense of humor of a five year old.  Every page has another button to push that has the sound effect to match the belching animal.  Have you ever wondered what a butterfly or elephant burp would sound like?  Wonder no more!  My boys (7 & 8) and my daughter (almost 2) all love it.

So why was I obsessing you ask?  Well... how would my students respond to this book?  Would they just play the gassy sound effects over and over when they were supposed to be reading?  Would any chance of learning take place with such an appealing distraction available... And, biggest worry of all- what if someone (parent, administrator, board member walks in just to hear burping sounds erupting from this prized and dignified piece of technology?)  Yes, obsessing.

Then I gave it up.  My priority is captivating the minds of these children and encouraging a lifelong love for literacy.  If a belching book is the gateway to reaching those goals, then so be it.  After all, my favorite "real" or "paper" book to read year after year is No, David.  And the kids LOVE it too.  It's always the most read book on the shelf.  Which pages do you think they go to over and over?  Yep, the nose picking and naked bottom running down the sidewalk pages.

So, I now have two "Books" folders on my Dock, full of fun, engaging and yes, sometimes irreverent titles.  Most I've gotten for free, a few I bought (marked with an * below).  I'd like more but my husband would rather have a date night than more apps for my classroom.  Go figure.

I let my kids read out of the book folders during the time before the bell (when I have them reading "real" books, or when they finish work early).  I have stressed that they can NOT play any games associated with any of the books- reading only.  Usually I insist iPads are to be used by 1 person unless playing a multiplayer game, but I let them read together on the iPads,

Try these books:
AlphaBelch
Teddy's Day
Going Places (special ed app, but a great little story too)
Tommy Tiptoes
What are you eating?
Toy Story* (I got it when it was free but I am not sure if they still have the free version.  Worth it though!)
Pop Out Peter Rabbit*
Feelings
The Grouchies
MeeGenius (multiple books in app)
Read Me Stories (multiple books in app)
Seuss ABC*
Tales 2 Go* (free subscription through 1/15/11 then $30.  Has audio only, but many titles to listen to).
Bookster
Animalia*
Miss Spider Tea Party, etc...books *  (have lite versions to try as well as somewhat expensive ones.  The ipod version is only $.99 though)
StoryBoy books- lots of free books
Storychimes has lots of books... although they tend not to be my favorites.
there's a Humpty Dumpty app too...
And lastly (for now) A Story before Bed.  Their books are a little simple and mostly traditional tales/songs but the appeal is you, or a guest reader, or the student can record a video of them reading the books.

Mobile Learning Experience 2011

All the cool teachers and tech geeks will be here:

http://mobile2011.org

April 6-8th, 2011 in Phoenix, AZ.

 See you there, I hope!