Great (free) customizable apps!

If you haven't discovered the awesome, customizable apps from developer Grasshopper Apps, skip reading my blog for today and go to their developer page in the app store (do a search for grasshopper apps, then click on the developer page link in the top right.) At this time they have about 67 apps, and it seems they add a new one pretty regularly. Follow the link to their website to sign up for their 'free the apps' program and they will email you when an app is temporarily free if you agree to leave reviews or give feedback.

Not only are the apps customizable (teachers-these apps can replace so many homemade and dollar store activities), but I love that they use high quality photographs. Most of the apps allow you to rerecord the voice overs, which already use a good voice artist. They also have build in the ability to add your own words, and pictures. My favorites are the little speller and little matchup. I have customized them for my daughter with pictures of her family and friends, sight words for my students, and more. While an app might target alphabet or sight words, with the customization option the app can work on almost any skill, only limited by your imagination.

Another great thing about Grasshopper apps is that they actively seek feedback and hope for favorable reviews. Without reviews, an app gets buried in the depths of the ill-designed app store. So they often make an app free for 24-48 hours, which I love of course.

When you get an app that you like a lot, I strongly suggest you go and review it on the app store. Not only does it help keep the app from falling into obscurity, it helps people who are paying for the app to know if it's a good one. I do recommend that if you have a problem with an app, contact the developer. They usually welcome feedback because they need to know what problems people are experiencing. If you leave a bad review and they fix the problem, go back and update your negative review... Developers put out a lot of money, and I want to be sure good ones like grasshopper stay around.

As a teacher, I scour for free apps to use in the classroom- 11 $.99 apps adds up fast, and next year I hope to have 24 iPads. My husband refuses to shell out more money on my classroom (who can blame him, really?) and to be ethical educational use of apps requires that you purchase the app for each device, while home use let's you have it on up to five devices. As a mommy I can justify buying a dollar app to use on my family idevices. When I find an app developer I appreciate I try to support them financially, and if I get their apps for free in my classroom, I try to always give feedback or a positive review.

I apologize for not adding photos to my blogs lately, I have been using Blogsy, and while it is great for iPad blogging, I am anxiously awaiting their update which will allow adding photos directly from my iPad. I did however use Blogsy's ability to use google images and found a few grasshopper pics online to add to make the post a little less boring.

Loving using my ipad2 for this end of the year project

Today I used my iPad to take pictures of my students profiles. I printed them out, aligned it with a black piece of paper, then cut around the profile. Next I glued the profile and picture to opposite sides of a blue page of construction paper.

In the past I used an overhead projector, a step stool, taped the black paper to the wall, made a 5 year old stand still (yeah right!) while I traced their profile, cut it out and glued it to the page. I will never do that again!

The picture above is from google images... I will add my own pic soon.

Teaching Tools: Dramatic Play Center

Last week I dreamed up a new (to me) dramatic play center. I try to change it every few months... Most recently it was a Veterinarian's Office. We went on a field trip to Country Pet Vet and the local Public Library- Naselle Timberland library. So it made sense to create a library next. Between the props I already had, and loans/gifts from both our school library and Timberland library, an awesome center was born.

I moved the bookshelves and cozy red chairs, repurposed the kitchen furniture (the sink is the book drop), and moved the iPad shelves back there too. I added the play phones, a cash register (to pay for overdue/lost books), a wait list form for the iPads, a shelving cart, a real barcode scanner, book placeholders, library cards, and of course lots of books. When I asked the kids what else we needed in the center, they said a computer (well, duh, Mrs. Holt).

I was slightly ashamed I hadn't thought of that sooner... And then I brainstormed a way to utilize Google Forms... It would be the K Library database! I kept it simple, librarian name, borrower name, item checked out (iPad or book or other) and time (we've been studying telling time). I put the link to my form on www.tizmos.com/kgrade . Yesterday was the first day they used the center and it's popularity surprised me!

The Google Form works great, the kids had a blast, and technology was integrated on the request of the students more than me. How awesome is that? Plus, the kids are handling the check out of ipads for free play use, not me.

So I ask you, how can technology be incorporated into other dramatic play center themes?

Two funnies to share: When my kids go to get a book to read during non-free play times, they just have to scan the barcodes. It's like they can't resist.

Today one child was busy shelving books (we had reading buddies, so most books got checked out) and I overheard her saying "I am tired of putting these books away, but I have to. I need to earn more money."

Free Apps

Teachers are notorious for spending tons of personal money on their classrooms. I am no different. I try to balance this by searching for dollar deals, repurposing things, and begging. When all else fails my personal budget takes a hit.

Since November, when the iPads first found their way into my classroom I've been on an app spending spree. I am learning moderation (says the woman who burned through $20 dollars just this week....) and also have begun the search for bargain apps.

Don't get me wrong, I think developers deserve to earn a living from their hard work... I buy apps that have great reviews or fit a need. Apps can cost a lot to develop, and I want to support developers of quality educational apps. Ways you can support developers- leave reviews (be honest, not brutal). If you have a real complaint, try contacting the developer before ripping their app apart in the review section. They can't fix what they don't know about and they can't erase your review... Even after they fixed the bug.

That said... I can't afford to pay for apps for each iPad in my classroom. Even with the volume purchasing program, even with picking a handful of favorites. I am having to be careful about which apps I use in class so I that am ethical. If I buy a game for my own kids, or a utility for me, I only use it on my families 4 personal devices. For the class iPads I will primarily use free apps. I am picking a few great apps to purchase through the VPP for next year... Hints are that I might be getting a 1:1 setup next year.

To increase the effectiveness of my iPads on a limited budget, I need to find GOOD free apps. Here are suggestions for how to do this:

There are some free apps that actually help you find free apps... Such as
Free App Genie
Appbzr
AppTracker
Free App A Day

Still some trial and error here but it beats slogging through the app store.

Because I am addicted, I do usually check the education category of the app store every couple of days to see newbies and look for freebies.

Another good way to find apps that are free for a limited time is to look through the top charts section of education (and other sections, business and games often have good Ed apps... Good freebies often pop to the top.

Belonging to www.iear.org or following #iear, #ff, #edapp on twitter helps too. They often share when an education app is available for free.

I try to post when a good app is temporarily free... But usually only for ones I think are too good to be missed.

When you find an app that you really like, be sure to go to the "developers page" link in the top right of the apps description. Some developers have free and paid apps, and chances are you'll like more of their apps.

Don't be afraid to try a lite or free version... And do buy the full app if you really like the lite version. Be sure to read reviews though...

Lastly, be sure to get apps when they are free... They will always be free to you, even if you delete and reload. An app might be free on day, and full price the next. Be a savvy shopper. Unless you have a big iTunes budget, In which case I am always accepting donations. :)

iPad use during reading group...

It was brought to my attention from one of the fabulous creators of ABC Pocket Phonics (and Dot to Dot Number Whiz) that the video link I'd included in my iPad as a reading group wasn't functioning properly so I thought I'd use my new friend, Blogsy, to try to fix it. I will go and update the original blog, but for now, here is a more recent clip of a student using ABC Pocket Phonics during my reading group time- he had just finished reading/writing with me and was practicing letter writing and sounds and blending words on the iPad.... And another try at using the original clip the first one with my students using iPads during reading groups. Cmon Blogsy, be a pal and talk to YouTube for me. I really want BOTH links to work. (update: YouTube is still not playing nicely, so if you'd really like to see the original video, follow the link below...)

Blogsy

Blogsy (currently $2.99) is an app I found recommended on one of the tweets I follow (my favs are: @ipodsibilities @tonyvincent #iear #mlearning #edapp #slide2learn #mobile2011). I am always hesitant to spend my iTunes money... My darling husband doesn't want to support my app addiction so I have to make the cards I smuggle into the grocery cart last as long as possible.

However, the app recommendation came at the same time I was feeling guilty for not blogging recently... I don't care for posting from my phone or iPad, both of which have supplanted my need to be on my computer constantly. Since my computer has been neglected lately... So has my blog.

When I saw the reviews saying I'd enjoy posting from the iPad... Well I felt like I had to try it out... For you, dear followers and guests... I have appreciated the recent comments from readers- it helps me to feel motivated to actually log on and write.

So- this is my first attempt at posting from Blogsy. So far, it has met my expectations. I like that you can pull images over from google image search, Picasa and flicker. It was really simple to google the Blogsy icon, and pull it into the page, above. I will certainly be posting more from Blogsy (cute cute name!). I am much more likely to post if I can do it comfortably from my ever present iPad. My arms are always full, I love that my iPad fits in my purse (yes, it was a requirement for the last bag I bought!) and rarely bring the Mac home anymore. I am trying out the features.... Notice, 2nd para. Centered, 4th para bold.

I added a video of my daughter from two years ago to test out the ease of adding YouTube video ... You judge how it turned out, but it was super easy to add. I call it the torturing lily video... We put a ribbon on her head... She did NOT like it one bit.

FREE apps from Every Day Math for teacher appreciation week!

Check them out and download them all while they are free. A huge thanks to Every Day Mathematics for recognizing teachers! Monster Squeeze is great for preK-1, and I think Tric Trac is fun. The other games work on addition and subtraction and addition and division. Quick before the week is over...

WA and CA iPad2 trainings- iPad included in class cost!

If you are interested in using an iPad in class but don't know where to start you might look into these trainings, where for about $700 you will get a new iPad2 AND get support from opening the box to actually using it in your classroom.

current CA trainings

WA state trainings

I think these would be great for teachers new to iPad technology. I am attending one in May myself, mostly because I had PD money and want another iPad for my classroom.

If you go to the CUE site they actually have an agenda on there so you know what you'll get from them- or your school could hold your own, using your iPad knowledgeable teachers.

Reading resources on the web

Friday night my colleague (3rd grade teacher who is blessed with my oldest this year) and I are presenting technology based Reading Resources to our K-6 families. We worked together on a list of our favorite websites and I looked for reading apps for older kids way too much over the last week. The result is a pretty decent collection of recommended resources from two National Board Certified Teachers! Unfortunately the hyperlinks didn't copy... Here is a link to her page (which by the way has some great math links too) until I fix it on here.


Reading and Writing Resources

Starfall - Starfall has games, books, word families, poetry, etc.

Storyline Online - This site provides an on-line streaming video program featuring Screen Actors Guild members reading children's books aloud.

Timberland Library - This site links to the kids section of Timberland Library. Through this page, you can access Tumblebooks, comics, magazine, book lists, etc.

Waltke’s Web - A Tennessee teacher’s website that has spelling words, activities, etc that are part of our reading series.

Award Books - Caldecott Award winning books

ReadWriteThink - International Reading Association - Parents guide to after-school activities.

Roy the Zebra - Reading games

We Give Books - Read books from the free digital library and We Give Books gives books to children who don’t have them.

PBS Kids - Reading Games

Storybird -Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories you make to share, read, and print. Read them like books, play them like games, and send them like greeting cards. They’re curiously fun.

Wacky Web Tales- Mad libs that are geared for grade 3 and up. A great way to practice parts of speech.

Funbrain - Reading - Mad Libs Junior - Mad libs that are more structured. You choose from a pre-formed list of nouns, verbs, etc.

Word It Out - Input words and they will be transformed into a word cloud.

Fun with Comics

Check out this comic I made at pixton.com... then go make some of your own! Warning this is a lot of fun. I could imagine doing this with SOME kindergartners... but it would be great for 2nd & up (and for making your own to get a point across.)

Best Apps for Education

I am experimenting using GoogleDocs as a way to put information about apps I've tried and recommend in a format that easy to view and update. This is a work in progress. Please see my Archive or Pages for apps I've previously recommended until I transfer all the apps into the form. I will be updating the spreadsheet with my recommendations as time permits. I hope to make it sortable by price, rating, and grade level soon.

Link to the webpage form of my "Apps for Education" spreadsheet which includes an iTunes link to the app, the price (at the time I entered the info), suggested grade levels, subjects covered by the app, and my informal rating of the app.

Click *here* to suggest an app to be added to my list. I reserve the right to modify or delete your suggestion if: it's a duplicate, or I really don't agree with your review.

view the page from within the blog:

Teaching Tools: Rhyming

The ability to rhyme has been identified by researchers as strongly related to a child's success in reading.

I encourage you to check out these two apps that meet my definition of a Teaching Tool* to use with 3-6 year olds as a way to learn and identify words that rhyme.

One is free for the month of April: What Rhymes by ABA.

I like the real pictures. If the child chooses incorrectly, the name of the item is announced and the child can try again. When chosen correctly both items (flag, bag) are named and the next rhyme comes up automatically.

Dora's Rhyming Adventure costs $1.99 and is a pretty good app for the price, especially if your child, or students, likes Dora.

A picture is displayed in the middle of the page and named (CAT) while six words rotate around it. If you touch the pictures they are named (nice scaffolding support) or you can drag the ryhme to the middle. The word needing to be rhymed and instructions are repeated after a little pause too. The child's goal is to collect 9 tokens for correctly completing each rhyme. Then the child can play a fun little game at the Grumpy Old Troll's tollbooth (using a slingshot and aiming coins into the coin machine.)

Although it's called a rhyming adventure, it does also have beginning, middle and ending sound matching too. So really it's 4 apps for the price of... $1.99.

Lastly, one of the best ways for children to develop rhyming is to read nursery rhymes and books with strong rhyming and picture support like those by Dr. Seuss.

So, be sure to check out Goosed Up Rhymes and the Dr. Seuss books like Green Eggs and Ham available in the app store too. There are lite versions available for you to try before you buy.

*Teaching tools should 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.

Free (special) education apps by ABA during April

April is Autism Awareness month, and the ABA app developers are offering their apps for free! While most are probably best for special education purposes, they would also benefit children needing to practice vocabulary development, like toddlers and ESL students.

If you don't have a twitter account yet, you should consider trying it out and following some educational technology or iPad sites; it's a great way to learn about apps that are new or free for a limited time. Or search #edapp to read previously published postings.

iPads in Kindergarten? YES!

I'm a little surprised by how many negative articles I've come across this week about the school district in Maine that is going 1:1 with iPads with their new group of kindergartners.

Yes, iPads belong in Kindergarten. I've been working with young children since I was 12... I started teaching in Early Childhood Education when I was 20. I used technology as a child- record players as a very young child, BETA and VHS VCR, Prodigy internet, CD players... yes I'm that young. I used computers in my first teaching position with preschoolers. I have always welcomed new technology.

NEVER have I seen technology like the iPad that is so perfect for young children or the classroom. It's durable (and frankly, my kindergartners treat our iPads better than the high-school kids do), intuitive- they use it instinctively and more proficiently than many adults!, and such a powerful teaching tool in one small package.

Yes, the teacher still needs to carefully train the students on proper care and use of the iPad- just as they do of markers, playdough and paint. No, the iPad will not replace the teacher- after all it's their duty to decide what the child will do with the iPad, which apps are best for each child and how they will be used or not used throughout the day.

The iPad is simply an All-in-One device for kindergarten, much like the AIO printers have been to offices.

The iPad is a library, a writing center, access to the world via FaceTime and email and internet, a listening center, a math manipulative, a science book, a workbook, an art station, musical instruments and so much more.

With the littlest learners, teachers have to be everything at all times- mother, instructor, nurse, musician, artist, emergency responder, all the while planning and preparing lessons that engage kids who've just stopped taking naps (and those who fall asleep at the tables), meet a wide range of developmental needs (kids who should be in preschool and those who are ready for first or even second grade), reassure parents.... I could go on and on and on. Most importantly, kindergarten teachers are expected to teach kids skills that used to be expected out of first graders while maintaining developmentally appropriate practice- and for most kindergarten classrooms- in HALF a day!

The iPad IS a MAGICAL device for children- and their teachers. It can be tailored to provide learning, practice, and reinforcement of activities at EACH child's own developmental level. It gives teachers more TIME- the device turns on quickly and most apps literally in seconds. It reduces the need for multiple CD players, computers, flashcards, and many manitpulatives.

Most importantly to me is the instant feedback the children receive as they work. Take the Montessori 100 Board app for instance. I used to pass out a 100 board and 100 number tiles. The tiles would get mixed, students would be missing certain numbers, one bump and the tiles would get knocked off and the child would cry and have to start over. I would try to get around to children to help and correct- but often I would arrive to find the child had numbers upside down, a 35 in the 53 spot, and no clue what the name of the number was. NOW, with the iPad- they simply tap the app, and begin working- with all the tiles, with the number announced as they touch it- thus teaching the number name. It doesn't let the wrong number be placed, and has various levels of difficulty for the varied needs of students.

I hope that more and more districts see the value of a device like the iPad. I hope the people speaking out against it would stop being jealous and try to actually consider the difference that could be made in just one child's life as a result of an iPad.

In my classroom, children who could care less about behaving so they could play at free choice time CARED and changed their behavior when I announced that they wouldn't have a turn on the iPad if they had misbehaved.

The kids CHOOSE to do the learning apps during a time when they could play with anything in the class- even over "noneducational" apps.

And while they use the iPads, I can speak 1:1 with a child, I can work with a small group on reading or writing or math skills. I can actually teach children- not just monitor more than 20 5 year olds, pass out materials, try to differentiate, and catch when kids don't pick the correct answer.

Yes, the iPad is MAGIC and it definitely belongs in Kindergarten.

Teaching Tools: Google Docs Gadgets

I am very new to using Google Docs, but found this nifty gadget within the spreadsheet options... a word search. Maybe it's not super exciting to you, but I thought it was fun. You simply type in the words into cells and highlight them, go to insert gadget, pick the word search one (or one of many other fun options) Then you copy into an HTML page...



and this one is a word study gadget:

Free Everyday Math Apps through Sat the 16th!

A nice benefit of being a member of a group like IEAR is getting an email like the one below- I've only tried Tric Trac so far (and I liked it, simple addition to 10 game but strategy is applied) and - but I am excited to get and review these apps.

Be sure to check out iear's site for app reviews and a great community of teachers, developers and more dedicated to finding and improving the future of education apps.
Sue

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IEAR - I Education Apps Review - Grassroots Education Community
A Community Effort to Grade "Educational Apps".
A message to all members of IEAR - I Education Apps Review - Grassroots Education Community

If you are a fan of McGraw-Hill's Everyday Mathematics program or just want some great math games for the iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone you'll be interested to know from April 13-16 EIGHT of their math apps are FREE on the iTunes Store.


http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mcgraw-hill-school-education/id413312889


Enjoy! And feel free to write-up an app review for your favorite Everyday Math App and share it on iear.org or post it in a forum here on the iEAR Community Ning.


~Judith Epcke

iEAR Ning Community Facilitator

Visit IEAR - I Education Apps Review - Grassroots Education Community at: http://ieducationappsreview.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

I love mistakes!

After all, mistakes are often the stepping stone to finding a new solution to a problem. So, I want to fess up to making a mistake on my blog! I try to be transparent to my students when I make a mistake (and I even make mistakes on purpose sometimes- although it's not necessary to pretend- I make enough naturally!) so they see how I react to a challenge.

On the right you may have noticed links to some of my favorite sites... yesterday I was doing a recording of my screen to use in a presentation for the mobile2011 conference and realized that I'd entered .com instead of .org on one of my favorite sites. So, I want to give a little attention to this site- even though it's not "digital" per se, I use it regularly.

http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/ so I fixed the link- it should work now!

If you do art with elementary (and up too) kids you HAVE got to see this site. I have done her giraffe mural and countless other activities from here.

One way I incorporate using technology in my art lessons is to use google images to find art similar to the project we are doing. For example, when we made a Kandinsky mural, I showed students a lot of artwork by Kandinsky and some other modern artists.

Then I printed some info from a website and put it up along side our mural to let other classrooms benefit from our art and the history of modern art. I also printed mini-photos of some of his other work and put those up too.

Last week we were painting and one students' piece reminded me of Van Gogh's Sunflowers... so I connected and showed some of his depictions of sunflowers.

Help me learn how to use Google Forms!

Mobile 2011- finally!

I have been looking forward to this conference for a few months.  I may experience letdown after it's over- what will I look forward to now?  Oh, yeah- a cruise to ALASKA!)

ok, back to Mobile2011!  It has certainly lived up to expectations.  First of all, I really like the venue.  Phoenix is beautiful (and dry!  I LOVE Washington State but I am soooo sick of the rain rain rain this year particularly.) The Hyat Regency Downtown is lovely- and I have had great service so far from staff.  AND the catered dinner was very yummy!

After some bumpy internet access issues (you had to have known that since this is a techie conference that something wouldn't work!) we got up and going in the sessions. Tony Vincent is hilarious, and there has been some great sessions so far.  I learned about some new apps and have lots of new ideas for using technology in class.   I am not even going to try to summarize them because the team putting the event on has created a blog for attendees to post about the experience... with the incentive of a free ipad2 drawing at the end of the week, with good posts rewarded with extra entries.  SO, people are blogging their hearts out on there, and I have added notes from the sessions I have been to thus far!  If you go to the mobile2011 site you can access the blog, or here's the link:

http://mobile2011blog.posterous.com/  There are some really great ideas on here!

I will be sure to add some of the info over the next few weeks as I explore the ideas and apps more. 

More Montessori teaching style apps

I couldn't resist when I saw these apps by Montessorium were on sale for $.99, I believe they are regularly $4.99...  They have similar features to other Montessori Method based apps: neutral backgrounds so the focus in on learning, intuitive design, and the lack of negative sound for a wrong answer.  I greatly dislike (trying to eliminate hate from my vocabulary!) apps that ask a question and then moves on to the next when the child was wrong instead of teaching the write answer as well as those that have harsh sounds for mistake. My opinion is that these would be great for pre-k-1 and possibly 2 depending on the ability of the students.  Some children who struggle with phonograms in 2nd would benefit from Into to Letters (and alphawriter too, as they have the abcs, then phonograms for kids to pick as they make words)  The Intro to math is best for pre-k and K as it only introduces 1-10.  I would highly recommend it to K though as just the sequencing activity meets math standards.  The other activities will really help kids with understanding number sense for 1-10.   

Intro to Letters

intro to math

Intro to Letters is actually a great and deceptively simple app. There are many ABC apps out there and I can't honestly say which one I like best- they are so unique.  This one teaches letter sounds, correct writing form, and even has a feature where the child can listen to a letter sound, letter name or phonograms and then record themselves saying the sound.  They can play it back and compare their pronunciation to the "right" one- which is spoken right after their pronunciation.  What a great tool for students who struggle in speech.

Intro to math is super simple to navigate, I love the sound effects (I think it's a xylophone?) as the rods are reordered (from short to long), it has five activities on the main screen- but some of the activities lead into others.  I like the way one of them shows the numbers- counting each one aloud as it appears on the screen.  Then the child shakes the device and the numbers scatter.   Next the child is prompted to reorder the numbers.  Another activity shows the numbers, then asks the child to "tap on _"

Now Alphawriter is pretty cool too (I really love the phonograms!)  when you touch the placed letters the sound is pronounced.  I am going to try using this during my making words lessons (normally I use Montessori Crosswords) as it might be fun for the kids to write out a word related to a picture for a challenge after the lesson.  Hmm.  tough choice.  Maybe I'll let the kids pick the app during the lesson. 

Alphawriter