Finding Apps

Ten Marks-

Ten Marks allows students to work on math concepts at their level. It is an interactive alternative to Accelerated Math.  I prefer using Ten Marks, because the students are excited and engaged since they get to use a device. Also, we have so many issues with the Accelerated Math scanners this is a cheaper alternative because no scanners or scan sheets are required.

Number Bonds Blasters-

Number Bond Blasters allows an opportunity to practice math facts with number bonds. This game goes along with our math curriculum (Engage NY) and helps students fluently add, subtract, multiply and divide their facts. I use this as an alternative to timed tests. Students are able to practice their facts with out the pressure of time tests.

Thinking Blocks-
Children are able to model and solve word problems. This also is aligned with our math curriculum and helps students interact with the tape diagrams.I have used this app to introduce a new part whole model lesson, and students use the app during math stations to reinforce the lessons being taught.

Student Response System

Socrative and Infuse Learning are both student response systems to assess student learning. They both have multiple options for assessment questions and provide immediate feedback. I like how you can draw a response on Infuse Learning. In addition, Infuse Learning allows you to upload your class roster. I think I can see myself using Infuse Learning more in the classroom for students to show their work with drawings especially in math since we have a huge emphasis of showing how and why you got your answer.

Assessment Time

Single Question Activity

5 question quiz

Socrative can be used to improve use of assume to because the results are immediately provided. I think students would be more excited and engaged in assessments if they are able to use a device.the only drawback I can think of would be relying on the technology to work correctly. 

Results:

Evaluation Time

How can an app selection and evaluation process be used by you or your staff to select the best apps to support your needs?

I think this would be helpful to put on a shared Google Doc file for staff members to evaluate apps and give other teachers reviews and ideas how they used the apps in their classroom. There are so many apps out there it is hard for teachers to know what will work best for their class. Evaluating and sharing your reviews will cut down on the amount of time teachers put in to searching for new engaging apps to use.

Guided Access

Guided access is very helpful in disabling students to have access to another other app on the device. This will also come in handy to set a timer on the iPad and the enable Guided access to lock them in on the designated app. When the timer goes off that means they need to transition to the next station or activity. I think it also will help students from accidentally clicking on an advertisement or closing out of the app. I can't foresee any limitations or issues with using Guided Access. 

Text-to-Speech

I used Dogonews to try out the Speech-to-Text tool. I highlighted the text and clicked speak. This would be very helpful for students who do not read at grade level. I could put documents on the iPad and they would be able to have the text read to them. For instance, some students need tests read to them. When you have several students that need this accommodation this tool would be very helpful to manage this feat. Another way this could be used in my fourth grade classroom would be for students to revise their writing pieces. They would be able to hear their writing and have access to make corrections as needed to make their writing sound better. In addition, we could use this feature  for close reading activities. We read a selection three times to gather more details and information after each reading. This feature will allo students to have the text read to them as well.   

Speech-to-Text

http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=nWhRD72

Teacher Tools

Group maker

Groupmaker would be beneficial to randomly populate groups for seating arrangements and collaborative working groups. At times I struggle to make sure each student isn't always sitting worn the same group of students every time we switch seats. I think I would allow students to randomly select students for a chance to show us what they know. This would also alleviate the worry of always calling on the same person. 

Power Teacher

I chose Power Teacher because I am able to take attendance without having to be in my classroom. I also enjoy this app because I have a mobile record of contact information for each student. This will come in very handy.  Unfortunately, students wouldn't be able to use this app since they would have access to student information and grades. 

Teacher Tools

Group maker

Groupmaker would be beneficial to randomly populate groups for seating arrangements and collaborative working groups. At times I struggle to make sure each student isn't always sitting worn the same group of students every time we switch seats. I think I would allow students to randomly select students for a chance to show us what they know. This would also alleviate the worry of always calling on the same person. 

Power Teacher

I chose Power Teacher because I am able to take attendance without having to be in my classroom. I also enjoy this app because I have a mobile record of contact information for each student. This will come in very handy.  Unfortunately, students wouldn't be able to use this app since they would have access to student information and grades. 

Class Dojo

I use Class Dojo regularly in my classroom. Unfortunately, like many tools I start of great at the beginning of the year, but slowly start to slack on using these tools. I love the messaging tool Class Dojo offers. I have kept in contact with many parents using this tool. I also like how parents can get instant notification  when their child receives a positive or negative. I think Class Dojo is extremely beneficial and motivating for most students. 

Remind

I had great intentions to use this app at the beginning of the school year. Unfortunately, I didn't stick to that plan once the year got under way. I had a few parents who had trouble logging on so I didn't want to have to still send out several different reminders using different tools. I think it is a great too. To use when you have 100% or close to all of your parents signed up. 

Schoology

I have used Edmodo in the past, but didn't get very many students participating. I think I will try it again this year since I've been exposed to different ways to use the tool, and more of my students have access to devices. I think both would be great to provide a platform where both students and parents could have another way to communicate and monitor their child's learning. I would probably use Edmodo more at this time because I am more familiar with the set up. I think Edmodo looks similar to Facebook. Therefore, I don't think parents would be as intimidated to try yet another form of online communication. 

Edmodo

Productivity

The positive aspects of digitalizing, annotating, and storing paper documents and notes "in the cloud" would be that you wouldn't have to worry about students losing their documents or research for a project.  The negatives would be that if the technology isn't working properly, which generally happens a lot, then we would lose class time to work on research papers and assignments. I haven't used these apps yet in my classroom. My class uses Open School ePortfolios to display and store their writing pieces. 

IBook PDFs

I think using PDFs with iBooks in the classroom would be extremely beneficial. If I had all 

my in class documents uploaded and saved as PDF files in iBooks students could grab the iPad and reprint the materials they may have misplaced.  In addition, PDFs in iBooks is another great option for struggling readers or even as a test taking accommodation since you can change the settings so that if you click on a words or set of words the iPad will read the words to you. This would be phenomenal for the special education students I have in my room for science and social studies who need all tests read to them. I have one student in particular that would benefit from this application tremendously, because not only does he need the information read to him, but he has trouble staying focused to complete any task. I think this would be more engaging to him and he may even put forth a little more effort and try his best.

Gutenberg ePub

I think there are many benefits of using digital highlights, notes, speak, and define options in an eReader. For instance, for those students who have trouble staying focused when reading "dry" material this is a great interactive tool to help them stay on task. In addition, I think using an eReader would be extremely beneficial for students doing research projects. They are less apt to lose their research notes and important information if it is all stored on the computer.  However, this may not be the preferred method of research for all students. Some have a hard time transferring and comprehending information from the computer. 

Run, Turkey, Run!

I created a book titled, Run, Turkey, Run! My class is writing turkey disguise stories, so I thought this would be a fun way for them to present their stories once they go through each step of  the writing process. I could see my class using Book Creator to present their writing pieces, presenting information on their state research project, and/or as a culminating project to show what they have learned from a topic being discussed.  I think having them create a book as a culminating science unit project would fall under the Redefinition level on the SAMR model since without technology their wouldn't be able to make an interactive book displaying their knowledge on a topic that has been discussed in class.

Turkey Trouble

I used Comic Maker to create my comic.  We are writing turkey disguise stories this month in my fourth grade classroom. I thought this would be a fun way for students to present a condensed version of their stories to read to their kindergarten book buddies. Creating comic strips would allow students the opportunity to tell their written stories. They could turn their written work into a comic like I did below. In addition, students could make a comic strip to explain a region of the United States that we are learning in social studies. They could write a comic strip and focus on using onomatopoeia. Lastly, I plan to have students take the following Calvin and Hobbes comic from our Science curriculum that shows misconceptions and have them create a new comic that correctly explains the incorrect information. I think using the comic as a new way to present your writing would fall under the Modification level on the SAMR model. Since, the Comic Maker app allows for significant task redesign.

iBooks

Free ePub Books

Here is a screenshot of my library page:

I think using the iPad as an eReader would be extremely beneficial for reluctant readers. Students are "plugged in" so much nowadays that I think being able to read with a technology device would engage and interest those reluctant readers. However, there is something about reading from a traditional paper book that gets the avid readers excited to read.

Choose Kind

For my digital storytelling I chose to take pictures and video clips from an activity my class did after we finished reading the book Wonder. We discussed the overall theme of book: Choose Kind. Then, students worked in groups to demonstrate an opportunity to do the right thing and to choose to be kind to others.

I think this would be a faster way for students to convey their ideas and information. Although the interactive puppet apps are fun and engaging I can see the focus shifting from the material being taught to the layout and design of their presentation. I could use image based story telling for students to present their writing pieces, present information about different cultures and/or regions in social studies, and retelling stories during reading/Daily 5.

Script:
Narrator:
After reading the book Wonder, my class decided to make their own examples of how they can be kind.

For instance, Gordy was having trouble with his math, so Lucas came over to help. He chose kind.

Madison and Brooke demonstrated the importance of being kind to someone. If someone forgets something it is kind of you to give it back to them instead of keeping it for yourself.

Alexis slipped and fell and Marissa came and helped her up instead of laughing at her.

Lilly and Alayssa were walking  and Lilly dropped her books, so Alayssa stopped to help her pick them up.

Reid was having trouble with his tablet, so Dominick and Emma came over to help show him how to use it.

Travis was walking and tripped over a chair and Ryder kindly helped him up.

Eden and Makenzie were carrying books, and when Landon saw how many books they had he came to help lighten their load.

Branden left his books, so Tristan returned them.

Toryn dropped her books and Melanie helped her out.

Tyler was having trouble getting his locker open, but Beau came to the rescue and helped him out.

Always remember to choose kind.

Check out my imaged based storytelling here.

Mental Images

I chose to do my digital storytelling with a mental image lesson. Instead of just reading the poem to the class and having them re-read it to their self I thought this digital story would be more engaging. I would love to have my students create their own digital story using their Thanksgiving themed turkey disguise stories we will be writing this week. This would be an excellent way for students to present their story. They would be able to express their writing in a non intimidating manner.

I could see myself using digital storytelling to teach new concepts in all subject areas. For instance, I could have a conversation between two characters and my class could mark where the quotation marks go on their own printed copy of the conversation. Students could also use digital storytelling as a form of assessment to show that they understand the material being taught in a non traditional format. 

Check out my digital story here

Script:

My mental image