iPad Management and Tips Resources
Have a new iPad or want to know some more tips on setup or management tricks?
I have a Pinterest board with 75 resources for you. Click here or the image above.
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Apr
15
Feb
28
Making a Website an App Icon on the iPad
Have a great website you want your class to visit on their iPad and wish you could make the link an app on your iPad? Well you can and it is very simple. My favorite website is Wonderopolis (read more here) so the images in this post show you how to add that site but it will work for any website.
1st- Enter the website name you want in the Safari browser. Then click the icon with the rectangle and arrow (image above)
2nd- click add to home screen (image below)
3rd- Type the name you want displayed on the icon (image below)
4th- Click “add” and the app icon will be added to you iPad
Pretty easy right? I know many great websites are flash-based and not useable on the iPad. Well of course there is an app to fix that. Read about the Puffin app here.
Feb
18
Documenting Reading and Writing with Doodlecast App
The more I use Doodlecast Pro ($2.99) the more I like this app. My favorite app for recording audio on a screen has always been Educreations (Free) because of the simplicity of the app. The two things I think Doodlecast offers over Educreations is the ability to have multiple pages and the ability to export the videos directly to the camera roll. I love that the iPad gives me different ways to document things that are happening in the classroom. I plan to use Doodlecast Pro in this way and share the results with parents at our last conference. Here are a few ideas I had app…
Reading: I wanted to document the kids reading their decodable books or leveled readers in a different way than just a simple video. My goal was for the parents to be able to see the story, hear their child’s voice, and know where their child’s eyes were looking. So I took a screen shot of their readers and added those pages to Doodlecast. Then as the kids read the story I asked them to touch under the word just like we do during our reading groups. I think this does a great job of documenting their reading. As I get more and more reading samples I plan to make a library of videos that the class can use as a reading center. I know they will enjoy reading along with their friends. (example below)
Writing: I basically did the same thing as the reading example except this time I took a picture of their journal paper. I like this idea even more than the reading one because I think it will give great insight into their story making process and writing ability. I wish I had done this at the beginning of the year to document their growth. Next year I plan to make one writing sample each month. (example below)
*I decided to leave in the “made with Doodlecast Pro” at the end of the video for these examples. I will be removing that part of the video with iMovie before saving the final product for my class or parents. I will make a separate post soon showing how easy that process is
What other ways do you see using this app for writing or reading?
Jan
15
The Research Center
I have always had some form of form of research in my classroom but a few years ago a changed happened that made the center something special. The improvement can be blamed on our class Twitter account. Yes, tweeting is what makes the research center so powerful in my room. It was nothing I planned and really just evolved on its own. Most of our first tweets were with friends from Canada so I put some books about Canada in our bookshelf. The kids actually would fight over who would get those books each day and I was taken back by how interested they were in these non-fiction books. I quickly realized their interest had something to do with the fact that other kids were “leading” the discussion. Naturally I decided to capitalize on that interest. Curious about how to tweet with your class? Start with this great post.
Here is how it works: We have twitter friends all around the world (see map below) and those classes tweet about what is happening in their room and about their learning. We have seen tweets about howler monkeys, batik, migration, snow, golden eagles, hurricanes, life cycle, pumpkins, growing plants, eggs, squirrels, pacific salmon, butterflies, horned owl, killer whales, Japan, Canada, Indonesia, and the list could go on. Each week as we read these tweets we write down topics or words that we are interested in knowing more about. I simply write them down on a sticky note that stays right next to my computer. Then on Friday I read the list to the class and they vote which one they are most interested in. The topic with the most votes becomes our research center for the next week and I find as many books as I can on the topic. Simple as that. Every week this center is one of the most popular because their friends have tweeted about the topic. I believe strongly that “where interest lies, learning occurs” and this center is a great example.
The Job: In the beginning of the year the kids look for their favorite pictures in the books and write the words on that page. As the year progresses they are asked to look for facts and summarize what they are seeing and reading depending on their ability. It is very easy to differentiate in this center. The main thing I am concerned with is that they are excited about research and understand that they can get information from books. I use this paper for the center-> Research Journal
Here are some ways to collaborate with other classes around the world – Global Collaboration in Kindergarten
Here are a few other ways our global connections have led to learning in my class- Armadillo Experts, Making A Book About Texas
Jan
14
Blame Game
CC Image Courtesy of Calgary Reviews
This post has been cross-posted on the Kinderchat blog as part of NaBloPoMo
If you are on the Twitterz and hang around Kinderchat at all you have probably seen #blameMatt a time or two thrown around by my friends there. A while back I suggested they all try a new app and told them they could blame me if it did not work out. That concept stuck and I have been blamed for many things since. Tired of hearing about the fiscal cliff, upset that the Canadian penny failed, or frustrated trying to convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius… yep #BlameMatt.
It is of course almost always done in jest but blame is an important topic. I think the blame game is the second most important predictor to success in the classroom (relationships being most important.) Todd Whitaker sums it up perfectly in his book What Great Teacher Do Differently: “Good teachers consistently strive to improve, and they focus on something they can control: their own performances… Great teachers look to themselves for answers, while poor teachers look elsewhere” This concept has to be part of EVERY aspect of teaching. Not just lessons but also behavior, classroom management, relationships with kids, relationships with parents, relationships with colleagues, schedule, planning etc. When I was a new teacher I was not very good at this and I got sucked into the blame game often. I have improved a lot but still have a long way to go. Have you heard someone say ”kids these days (insert negative comment)…” I have and I think these statements undermine real progress.
The past two years I have strived to focus on controlling the environment instead of the child. Changes have included removing rewards from the class, focusing on relationships, removing all but one rule from my class and reaching out to parents more. My classroom resolution this year is to continue this growth towards always looking at myself first when things are not going well. I know lessons will fail, parents are not perfect, my ideas will not always be supported, testing will frustrate, and there will be kids that push me to my limits but I can not control those things. I can however control my response. I have to always remember the most important thing is that the kids enjoy coming to school and that they are having fun. I am confident that when that happens the learning occurs.
If you are looking for a space full of wonderful teachers that are always self reflecting, asking difficult questions and pushing themselves and those around them, look no further than Kinderchat. The space is full of good friends, great teachers and of course the perfect place to #BlameMatt
Dec
29
Top Posts of 2012
Here are the top three posts on my blog this year…
Apps We Use In Kindergarten - List of apps I actually use in my class, I will be posting an update to this list soon.
Just Dance Video Mix- My class loves these, easy to see why it is a favorite. Great for inside recess or just to get the kids moving.
These three posts didn’t make the top lit but they were my favorites…
Making Books with StoryBuddy App- This post is about more than the app, it also showcases the power of having a global classroom. I am still in awe that my class connects with classes as far away as Japan.
I Lied, We Do Have Treasure- This is a follow-up to my Reward Free Year post. Curious how a Kindergarten class works without rewards Take a minute and check out my thoughts.
I Want Parent to Know This- One of the first emails I sent to my parents this year. I was tired of seeing the condescending lists others were posting. Teaching is about relationships and we have to work to build those relationships.