Show Me

One of my FAVORITE apps that I have found is the Show Me app. It has loads of potential and can be used for any subject. This is free app and you can use it to focus on productivity rather than playing.

The kids use this app to:
- Write Sentences
- Write Stories
- Practice Spelling Words
- Practice Words to Know
- Math Story Problems
- Math Equations
- Science Notebooks
- Story Telling
- Drawing

You will  need to create a free account using an e-mail address. To use Show Me log in using your e-mail address and password. You then tap the green plus sign to start a new show me. Tap the record button and start recording. Once you have finished tap done and save. You will then be prompted to name the video, select a subject and upload it. If you do not what to upload it you can tap skip.

Once videos have been uploaded you can go online and log in using the same information. You can then watch all videos and even share them by e-mail, download, or on a blog. I included an example of a students work below.

Show Me tends to get updated and change often so be aware. You may need to re-teach the kids once in awhile. I have found that the kids LOVE this app and sharing their work. They know how to log in on their own and upload on their own as well (I changed my log in in the settings menu to make it easier for them to type).

http://www.showme.com/

Google Voice

Last year I was lucky enough to attend a Google summit conference in Wisconsin Dells, WI. At this conference I attended a session that discussed the topic of Google Voice. Following this session I was filled with many ideas on how this could be used in the classroom. After a discussion with my administrator a co-worker and I were able to pilot the use of Google Voice in our first grade and third grade classrooms (the app had previously been blocked). 

To create a Google App account all you need to do it log in using your gmail address. It will then prompt you to create a phone number or use your own number. Create a new local phone number by typing in your zip code. You can also try to customize your number by typing in a word into the box on the right. For example you could get a phone number could be (555) 555-READ. Once you have a new number you will need to enter a phone number to link to your account. You will receive a phone call at this number to confirm your account. All you will have to do is type a couple number when you answer the call. Once your account is set up you are ready to go.

We used the Google app to create a classroom literacy hotline. In the settings menu you can create a custom message for callers to hear when they call. They can then leave a message for homework after the beep. The messages can be 3 minutes long total. The messages will also be transcribed for you. I have not found these useful as kids voices are hard to understand. These messages can then be played back for kids or embedded on a website or blog.

In the settings menu you can also decide to have calls forwarded to your own phone so you can answer or set it to receive messages when you get a message. I did not use either of these options.

Some of the things I use Google voice for are:

- Read to me for 3 min

- Tell me your favorite book

- Tell me the character, setting, and plot of your book

- Practice your spelling words

- Read words to know

The kids loved these assignments and it made their nightly reading HW more fun. :)

Organizing Classroom Links

If you are looking for an easy way to organize your classroom links there are two websites that you might find useful. These websites are called Stich.It and Sqworl. Stich.It links the websites you choose together with a navigation bar at the top of the browser. You will see two arrows that you can click to navigate between as many sites as you wish. Below I have included a link to the website and an example of what it will look like when complete. To create a Stich all you have to do is copy and paste the links you would like onto the page and click Stich.It. You can then copy the link and share it with your families and students. A sqworl account works more like a homepage for your favorite links. Each link that you add will get its own box with a short description underneath. The nice thing about the sqworl page is that you can see a small image of what the website looks like before clicking on it. I have mine numbered so I can tell the kids what number website to click on. The URL is also short. However, it does consist of random letters and numbers and can not be changed.

Stich.It

Click here for an Example

Sqworl

Click here for an Example

1st Grade Typing Practice

While trying to decide what to do in the computer lab next week I started thinking, should we be working on typing practice in first grade? In previous years we would go to the lab and the kids would do their best to find the correct key and I would do my best to help them find them. However, with 22 kids and only one teacher it is very hard to show the kids where all the buttons are and what each of them do. This year I decided to take a photo of the actual keyboards they will be using to put up on the SMARTBoard. We will then do a brief lesson on the keys that 1st graders should know and use. Following the SMARTBoard lesson we will go the sites below to practice typing. I am thinking once a month would be a good amount of time to devote to typing (we get 25 minutes a week in the lab, plus the option to sign up for more time). To practice typing we will be using the games I have linked below. The following games practice the letters and numbers on the keyboard.

Cup Stacking Game

Balloon Typing Game

Super Hyper Spider Typer

Tweety Dance Fever

Background App- Pimp Your Screen

If you are bored of the standard iPad backgrounds of just looking for something new check out the app Pimp Your Screen. It can be found in the App store for just $0.99. There are backgrounds for every season, holiday, and some that are just fun! Below you will find a link to this app in the app store and some examples of their backgrounds. I also found the backgrounds that you can see on my iPad app post screen shots using this app.


Click here for the Pimp Your Screen App :) 

Pinterest in the Classroom

In the last year Pinterest has become one of the top resources used by teachers at my school. We fought to have it unblocked at school and eventually won the battle. :) We have found so many wonderful ideas and resources that are out there. Please feel free to browse my first grade boards to find some awesome ideas pinned by teachers from all over the country. If you are not familiar with Pinterest I suggest looking into it ASAP. It is free and easy to use!

First Grade- Reading

First Grade- Classroom Ideas

First Grade- Holiday and Seasonal

First Grade- Math

First Grade- Science and Social Studies

First Grade- Videos

Technology

QR Codes in the Classroom

At the end of the school year I decided to try using QR codes in my classroom. To try it out I created a QR code for each "word to know" or sight word from our reading program. I used a free website (www.qrstuff.com) to create a code for each word. I then downloaded the picture, inserted them into a word document, printed them, cut them, and laminated them. Next, I hung them up around the room. The kiddos then used my iPhone to scan them using the app called i-nigma. Once the word came up they had to say it and write in on their word work paper. This app is very easy to use and the kids loved it. I plan to purchase an iPod touch to use with QR codes next year. It will also work withe the camera on the iPad 2 and the New iPad. However, I personally can't justify using the iPad for them when there are so many other apps I want the kids to be doing at the same time. Next year I also plan to use QR codes for hidden math problems, comprehension questions, scavenger hunts, and much more. There is so much potential and I am very excited to see what else we can do with them!

QR Stuff Website- To Create QR Codes

i-nigma App (Free)

New and Improved Listening Centers

The first few years that I taught 1st grade I had a CD player to use as a listening center. To help increase my listening library I took advantage of Scholastic bonus point and coupons. Each month I bought the four books that came with CDs. After a couple years I got increasingly more and more frustrated with the hassle of CDs that are scratched and the space that my listening center took up. I decided it was time for a change. I now use iPod shuffles for my listening centers and could not be happier! I took each CD and "ripped" them to my iTunes account. I sorted all of my books by month and created a playlist for each month in iTunes. Now all I have to do is check the box next to the playlist for which month I want and sync my iPod. The kids then pick a book and hit the next arrow until they hear he title they are searching for. I have approximately six books for each month. To make it possible for more than one student to listen at a time I purchased some Belkin Rockstars for multiple headphones (also great for the iPad).

PS. I tried other models of MP3 players and was not happy with the quality and how complicated they were to use. For little kids the shuffle is easy and affordable.

iPod Shuffles

Belkin Rockstar

iPad Apps- My Favorites

I love all of the apps that are available and have maxed out on how many apps I can have. Now that I have had my iPad for over a year I have been able to narrow it down to a few of my favorites. I have also found that I like to have 3 pages that the kids can choose from. The rest are used for storing and organizing my apps. Below you will find the three pages of apps that my first graders were using independently by the end of 1st grade. I started with easier apps and slowly changed them to make them progressively more challenging. I am currently working on changing the kids iPad pages back to the easier apps. I will post those apps when I am done. I also included a list of my favorite apps. The price listed is what I paid and may have since changed. :)

App List- Google Doc

Math Page

Word Work Page

Writing Page