iPads in the Classroom - 4 APPS

APPS that you can use in the classroom:

Green Screen (DoInk)
      TUTORIALS of using App

STEPS:

*Click +

*2nd line add image or video for green screen

* 1st line add personal picture or video

HP REVEAL (Aurasma)

Tutorial of how to use the APP

You need to create a teacher login to use and a channel to keep all your Aurasma videos.

ChatterPix Kids

Kids take a picture of an object and draw a mouth on it.
Then they record their voice on the picture.
They can add filters and stickers.

Toontastic 3D

Makerspaces in the Library

This school year we have started creating makerspace areas in our libraries. We have a Primary and Intermediate Libraries. We had the kids color the sign above to decorate our spaces. Our makerspace areas are still a work in progress.


@Intermediate building:

Drawing

• Poetry 
• Origami
• Make your own bookmark/Color a bookmark
• Drawing
• Collaboration Crosswords
• games
• puzzles
• Symbaloo created with Library links and Typing practice links

Poetry Creation Station

Origami and Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Drawing - Notebook Wall

Crossword Collaboration

@Primary building:

• Poetry
• Markerboards
• Drawing
• Puzzles
• Games
• Lite Bright
• Maps with velcro animals and words
• bookmarks
• coloring books
• coloring pages
• legos
• Symbaloo with Typing practice links and Library Links

Connecting and Communicating with Students

These are all great tools you can use in your classroom to connect and communicate with students. 

This gives all students a voice!

Padlet:  a free application to create an online bulletin board that you can use to display information for any topic. You can add images, links, videos, and more.

Ways to Use Padlet with Students

Lino: It is a place where we can interact with students in the classroom and outside of the classroom. It is a sticky note process but pictures and videos can be added as well. Students can use this for themselves too.

Different ways to use Lino in your Classroom

AnswerGarden: It is a feedback tool. Use it in the classroom as an educational tool or brainstorming tool. Post it in a tweet or you can embed it on your website.

Ways to use AnswerGarden with Students in the Classroom

TodaysMeet:

Ways to Use TodaysMeet in the Classroom

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY

Bringing Technology to the Library

Part of my job is to help in the Library. I love to find ways to bring technology into the library. Our students were listening to the book Snowflake Bentley and when they were done they created snowflakes online. They had so much fun and we didn't have any paper mess to clean up. They went to Make-A-Flake & Snow Days to create their online snowflakes.

We are currently getting ready to create some things using IPads and Chromebooks with 4th, 5th and 6th graders.

4th grade will be using iPads & the app Toontastic to create their own stories.
5th grade will be using iPads & the app iMovie to create a book trailer of one of their favorite books.
6th grade will be using their Chromebooks & creating a book trailer using the Powtoon website.

Each group will be planning first and then creating.
I found several planning pages to go with each of these.

Toontastic Planning Pages: 

• Planning the Plot
• Toontastic iPad Activities
• Toontastic Resource 
• Toontastic Storyboard

iMovie Planning pages:

• Book Trailer Planning Pages

Powtoon Planning pages:

• Brainstorming
• Powtoon Planning Sheet
• Powtoon Storyboard

Last Year we created Imovie Book Trailers with 5th and 6th graders. You can view them on my youtube channel

10 Ways to Communicate with Parents

Communicating with Parents is very important in the success of our students plus the teacher & parent relationship. When I taught 1st grade and Computer Technology I really started to realize how important this was because I was a parent myself.

Parents want to know what is going on in the classroom and what there children are learning.
They love receiving positive messages either by phone, email, or a note home.
They like to receive photos of their children working and learning as well as having fun while at school.

How can schools and teachers COMMUNICATE better with parents?

There are so many tools available for us now as teachers and educators to communicate better with parents. There are NO EXCUSES!!

1. Email
2. Write notes home
3. Send notes/letters in the mail
4. Make a phone call (BE POSITIVE)
5. Hand out small rewards and certificates to display what the child has done!
6. Remind (use this to sent quick messages, attach files, voice clips)
7. Bloomz (send quick messages, updates, or photos)
8. Website (create one through the school or another site like weebly or google sites)
9. Symbaloo (create links for students to use at home and share with parents)
10. Using your school's Learning Management System (we use Canvas and Google Classroom)

Taking Adventures While Staying in the Classroom

Last year we had Google Expeditions visit our school and grades 3-6 took virtual field trips all over the world. We loved this experience so much and wanted to be able to use it in the classroom.

Using the Cardboard and Goggles to take a Virtual Field Trip!
















This year Google Expeditions released it to be compatible with APPLE products. We can now use them with our IPADS as the teacher takes them on a virtual field trip. Our school has IPAD buckets to check out for teachers to use. So far this year I have taken kids to museums, North Pole, under the water, and so much more!

These students took a trip to the North Pole.










These students were looking at different animal bones in a museum.







You can view over 400 Expeditions that are available: Click Here

You can go to this page and see lesson plans that correspond with some of the Expeditions: Click Here

Google Expeditions

Download the Free Apps Clicking the links below:

Android

Apple

TECH NINJAS

This school year we went 1:1 Chromebooks with our 5th and 6th grade students. I wanted to be able to empower students to teach others about the Chromebooks. Tech Ninjas was born!

I created this symbol from the settings wheel and transformed it into a Tech Ninja.

How did I choose Tech Ninjas?
I created a form and bookmark to pass out during Library time for any student who was interested.

How often do we meet?
We meet about 3 Mondays a month at Lunch time.

What do we do in Tech Ninjas Meetings?
I teach them tips and tricks. They are required to teach them to their classmates and teacher.
I have taught them how to do specific things to help their classmates when needed.
We have worked with Ipads and apps that they can use with their classmates and teacher.

What is the job of the Tech Ninja?
They are to be helpful to their classmates and teacher when a problem arises in the classroom.
They are to teach tips and tricks to their classmates.
They are to attend meetings to learn more information and ask questions or tell us what problems are occurring in the classroom.

We had T-shirts made and dog tags for each Tech Ninja.
Dog Tags: Need Help? Ask a Tech Ninja!
Shirts: Electric Green with our Tech Ninja Symbol with #TechNinjas on the front of the shirt.

I have had great compliments and feedback from Teachers about the Tech Ninjas and how well they are doing.