Thursday Throwdown (Apps A-Z: NoteLedge)

The countdown is on, 5 days until I officially must return to work! Today, is the first day we can go work in our classroom...YAY! You know where I'll be in a couple of hours. You can follow me on Instagram @rolandteach to see pictures of my classroom as I work to get it ready. 

Today, I am linking up with "I'm Lovin Lit" for her monthly Throw Down Thursday Linky. It's all about ways to make learning interactive. I'm going to share how I made this biography poster iPad friendly. 

Have you used this poster? You can order the poster size from scholastic or download it here, and enlarge it for your students. Last year, I wanted my students to complete this poster, but I knew they wouldn't want to do it unless it was on the iPad. So, I created this poster...

I assigned an app to each section, except the read all about...it includes a website. Students were assigned a famous historical figure. They had to research the person and complete each section above. Here are the apps that I had them use and the link to them in my A-Z app series: 

Pic Collage: Students used this to create a collage of pictures of their person. They had to include the person birth and death date along with why the person was famous. I have not written up this app in my App A-Z series yet, but you can download it here.

iMovie: Students used this app to create a movie about the person's life. They could create a project or a movie trailer. 

Morfo: Using a photo of the person students recorded a quote they were famous for saying. 

NoteLedge: This app allows students to add an audio recording (I talk more about this app below), to tell a life lesson they learned from their famous person. 

Kids Doodle: Students created a movie of 5 words that describe the person. 

RedLaser: Students created a QR code that list all of the resources they used. 

In the Final Fact section I allowed students to present it however the wished. I'm always amazed at the new things I learn when their free to choose. 

Newspaper Generator is not an app. It is a website that allows you to create your own newspaper article. Students used it to write a newspaper article about their person. 

After all projects were complete, students saved them to their camera roll, and placed them in an app called NoteLedge. It is a note taking/ presentation app. I like this app because several projects can be inserted onto one page. Once students had all of their project inserted into NoteLedge they were ready for sharing. In NoteLedge there is a presentation mode. This was used as students shared each part of their project with the class.  

I was very pleased with how well the students' projects turned out. If you are interested in the worksheet with the apps on it just let me know, and I will email you a copy. I'm looking forward to making more of my worksheets iPad interactive. How are you making learning more interactive for your students? Visit "I'm Lovin Lit" to link up or find other ideas. Have a great school year. I'm headed to school to work in my room:)!

Apps A-Z: OverDrive

With a few weeks left of summer how many of you have gone into overdrive? I know I have! Don't you wish there was an app for that?  Today's  app in my Apps: A-Z series just happens to be  titled  OverDrive, and if you like to relax with a good book then, this may just be the app that helps you kick the overdrive feeling that tends to take over many of us teachers during this time of year. 

OverDrive is a digital lending library that allows you to check out e-books from your public library. I've been using it for about two years now and love it! It is so convenient. I can check books out with my library card, read them and return them all with the click of a mouse. If I forget to return it, no worries it will be automatically turned in for me. Overdrive does need to be the management system for e-books your library uses. However, if your public library doesn't use OverDrive or the book collection is not appealing to you, you may want to look into becoming a non-resident member of another library. OverDrive also manages libraries for schools. Our school district does not use OverDrive. Have you used OverDrive? Does your school use OverDrive? 

Earlier this summer I had the chance to hop aboard the Digital Bookmobile powered by Overdrive! The bookmobile travels the US helping people learn to use their digital library no matter what device they may have. I was amazed at all of the different devices; some I hadn't heard of! Visitors were encouraged to bring their own device or use one of the many devices on the truck. Click here to see if this Digital Bookmobile will be in your area any time soon. You can also search for libraries using OverDrive in your area. 

When the Back-to-School overdrive feeling begins to takeover turn to "Digital Overdrive" for some R & R:) Have a great day!  

Saturday Snapshots with Apps A-Z: Morfo

What a great week I've had! I'm just days away from returning to work:) But until then I'm savoring every moment of summer I have left. It's Saturday, and time to link up with Miss Nelson's Saturday Snapshots. 

Here are my pics from the week...

We've had some beautiful weather! 

I honored National Ice Cream day (7/21) with ice cream nachos for dinner. 

I took my son to his first MLB. We had a great time! At each game KC Crew members select kiddos out of the crowd to receive a special gift...and my son was selected by one of the crew members. He received a towel, mini foam finger, and I was able to snap this picture of him and the KC Crew member that selected him. 

I enjoyed a hot fudge sundae while at the game.  I had to honor National Hot Fudge Sundae Day (7/25) somehow:)

We WON!!! Kansas City Royals 7 - Baltimore  Orioles 1 

I hoped you enjoyed my snap shots! Be sure to head over to Run! Miss Nelson's Got the Camera to share your snap shots or view others. 

Apps A-Z: Morfo 

Next, I want to talk about the next app in my Apps A-Z series. Today's app is titled Morfo. This app allows you to bring your photos to life, take a look. 

This would be a good app for teaching personification or point of view. Students could also use the app to create book talks. Last year, I used the app to get students interested in the next chapter of a book. Take a look below. 

Could you see yourself using this app in your classroom? If so how? 

Thanks for sticking around to hear about Morfo. Have a great week! 

Apps A-Z: Puppet Pals & Puppet Pals 2

I can't believe it's Friday already! Only one more Friday left of summer:(and I'm sure I will be spending it in my classroom:) I'm so excited to get into my room, so I can get my creative juices flowing. Right now I have about a million ideas, and I am having a hard time deciding on this and that. Hopefully that will all change once I step into my classroom.

Until then I'm going to try to wrap up my Apps A-Z series; something I wanted to complete before the summer was over. Today's app is Puppet Pals. Puppet Pals is a free app I like to use when teaching plot, retelling or summarizing. 

Below is a student's retell of the Paper Bag Princess. 

Have you used Puppet Pals in your classroom? I would love to hear your ideas for using this app, or perhaps you've used Puppet Pals 2. 

Puppet Pals 2 was released last year. I  personally have not used this app with my students, but I've observed them using it, and I have played with it myself. It is a lot of fun! I like that the characters in Puppet Pals 2 have move-able legs and arms. Both apps have in app purchases of characters and settings. Purchasing a feature in one app automatically transfers it to the other app, if available. These are definitely two apps worth checking out! 

Apps A-Z: Downloads HD Lite

Is student access to YouTube blocked in your district? It is in ours. I understand why, but at they same time there are so many useful videos on YouTube. There is a solution to this problem, and it's called Downloads HD Lite. This FREE app allows you to download videos, save them to your camera roll where you are then able to share them by email (if they're not to large), save to Dropbox, or upload them to Edmodo.  Awesome, right? Take a look at how it works.

1. Using my regular browser to find the desired video, I copy the link. 

Next, open the Downloads HD Lite app and Paste the link into the address bar of the browser in the app. 

**When I first started using this app I tried searching in the app, but didn't have much luck. 

2. Press the play button. When the video begins to play you have the option to: open, download, or copy. You want to select download. 

3. You are given the option to name the document. After naming the document the download begins. 

4. Once the download is complete you will find it in the files folder (downloads are fairly quick, but if not you can check the progress in the downloads tab.) 

5. From your files folder you will have several options for sharing. I like to save the videos to my camera roll or Dropbox, and then upload them to Edmodo for student use. 

Since this is the Lite version you are only allowed to save seven videos, but once they have been downloaded and saved you can delete them from the app and add more. 

Let me know what you think. 

Don't forget...

Back-to-School Bargains.

Apps A-Z: Kids Doodle

Kids Doodle

Sometimes, it's nice giving students the freedom to use apps of their choice to complete an assignment. I learned a lot by doing this. Kids Doodle is one of the many apps I learned to use by watching my students.

Kids Doodle is a very simple app to use. It allows you to draw using one of several pen types; you are allowed to select the pen type, but not the color.  Drawings are done on a blank canvas or a photo from your camera roll. Drawings can be saved as images or made into a video. The video allows you to see exactly how the drawing was created. Students enjoyed creating videos and then using them in other apps. 

This will be one of the first apps, along with the camera, that I introduce my students to. Students will take a photo of themselves (they love to do this), then use it in the Kids Doodle app. Once the picture is in Kids Doodle, students will write a short sentence about themselves on the picture. They must include their name in the sentence. Students will save a photo and video to their camera roll, that they will share with the class. I think this is a great way to start putting names with faces! What do you think? Have you used Kids Doodle in your classroom? 

Example of the project: 

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Apps A-Z: Grand Prix Multiplication

Do your students need practice with their multiplication facts? If so, Grand Prix Multiplication is an  app you will want to add to your collection. Students answer basic multiplication facts, as they race to the finish line in this fun multiplayer game.  

Your name is not saved, so each time you login you must create a name. 

Private games are good for allowing students at the same skill level to compete against each other. 

Customizing content works well for students just learning their facts, or students struggling with certain facts.

Overall, Grand Prix Multiplication is a wonderful app for review or practice. Check it out! 

You may also want to check out these similar apps:

Jet Ski Addition 

Island chase Subtraction 

Drag Race Division

Apps A-Z: Edmodo

Edmodo

One of the most used apps (also web based) in my classroom this year was Edmodo. Edmodo is social learning for schools. It allows teachers and students to safely interact online with teacher controlled social learning. Students refer to it as,"Facebook for schools." Here is a video students created about Edmodo:

On Edmodo teachers can...

1. post assignments. I liked having student turn in assignments on Edmodo. Students are able to upload documents, pictures and video. It was a quick way to see who had and had not turned in an assignments. Once graded students can view their grade. 

2. assign quizzes. Quizzes are easy to create on Edmodo. It will even grade your multiple choice and true false quizzes.

3. award students for academic achievement. Creating badges and awarding students is not one of the features I've used, but I know other teachers have and students like receiving badges.

4. post questions for discussion. Edmodo is great for discussions! Teachers or students can post questions and others can respond. 

5. invite parents to join. Parents can join your Edmodo class. This is nice because it allows parents to monitor students activity, check grades, and receive notices. 

6. send out reminder notes. A helpful tool for students and parents.

7. chat with students. One of the groups I set up is strictly for chatting. The kids love this, and it keeps them from making comments within our class group that are not related to the subject.  In fact the last day of school one of my students posted, "Ms. Roland please don't delete this." I will leave it up at least through summer.

8. differentiate instruction. Teachers can create groups within groups. Great for guided reading!

...And so much more. To get started, create an Edmodo account. Then Download this handy reference on "How to Edmodo," and begin using Edmodo today. 

"How to Edmodo"

Apps A-Z: Doodle Buddy & Doodlecast Pro

Doodle Buddy and Doodlecast Pro two apps that I would never have thought to use in my class; if it had not been for the creativity of my students. 

Doodle Buddy 

My students really enjoyed being able to use Doodle Buddy to paint, draw, scribble and sketch. I just saw it as a white board with annoying sounds. Yes, sounds. There are funny sounds paired with the stamps in the app. I found them to be rather annoying or students were annoying me with them. Needless to say I stopped using the app. It wasn't until students were giving an assignment in which they had to illustrate their own pictures, and not just google images (which they love to do) that I saw how beneficial this app was. Students still googled images but placed that image in Doodle Buddy, traced it, then removed the image. After removing the original image they then colored in the traced image and saved it to their camera roll for use in another app. Some students still preferred to free hand. Below are some student drawings using Doodle Buddy: 

Free hand Drawing

Traced image 

Free hand drawing; with stamped flames from app

We will definitely google images less and illustrate more. 

Doodlecast Pro

Doodlecast Pro is also a whiteboard app (so I thought), but instead of just drawing it takes it a step further and allows you to explain what you’re doing at the same time. It records everything that you draw and say. Great for math class, right? My thoughts exactly. So, again it wasn't until students were given the freedom to select the app of their choice for retelling a story. That I saw how this app would be beneficial in the classroom. There are lots of uses for this app in any classroom across a variety of content areas. This makes a great app for flipping the classroom! Which I plan to try during the 2013-2014 school year. Below are some videos created using Doodlecast Pro:

Apps A-Z: Common Core Standards

Common Core Standards

Common Core Standards a MUST have teacher app! Our district, like most, has made the move from state standards to common core statandards. Learning a new set of standards can be difficult, especially if you've taught from the same standards for a number of years. This easy to use app helps ease the transition putting all of the common core standards at your fingertips. It covers math and languge standards for grades k-12. This is an app I referred to weekly, sometimes daily, as I planned lesson and tried to understand these new standards.

Apps A-Z: BrainPOP

Today's app is BrainPOP; one of my favorite resources! BrainPOP has several short animated videos, covering serval content areas, that can be used to support your lessons. The videos also really engage the kids, and they LOVE Moby (the robot character that  is in every video)! Each video has a quiz that can be used, as well as, other resources. Videos are common core aligned. The BrainPOP app can be found in the Apple, Android, Windows, or Chrome markets. You do have to have an account to view all of the videos, but there are lots of free videos, and they have a featured video each day. Below is today's featured video.

 

Brainpop in the Classroom

In past years I've used BrainPOP during whole class instruction to introduce a concept. This year with the 1:1 iPad initiative I was able to individualize the videos kids watched. One of our units involved students writing biography reports, so I had students look at the 66 famous historical figures brainPOP features. Students selected three of these famous people, watched the videos and then decide which they wanted to further research. This process worked out really well, and the kids enjoyed it. They also learned a lot from the short videos they watched, and the biography projects that were presented at the end of the unit. There are numerous ways to use BrainPOP in the classroom. How do you use BrainPOP in your classroom?

**BrainPOP tip: Register as a BrainPOP Educator for lots of other resources like lesson ideas, searchable standards, Mixer, a tool that lets you create custom BrainPOP quizzes. Plus so much more!

You May also like BrainPOP Jr., or BrainPOP ESL.

Coming Soon, Apps A-Z!

It has been a busy, yet successful school year. As the 2012-2013 school year winds down, I'm excited about getting back to blogging! Beginning May, 23rd, I will start blogging on a regular basis again. First, on my agenda will be "Apps A-Z." The past two years I've had the opportunity to have iPads in my classroom. Over the course of 26 days, I will share many of the apps I have used or have seen my colleagues use in the classroom. Below is a list of the many apps I will discuss:

A--Aurasma
B--Brainpop
C--Common Core
D--Doodle Buddy
E--Edmodo
F--Follett Digital Reader
G--Grand Prix
H--Hyperblast
I--iMovie, inspiration, iCard sort
J--Jet Ski
K--Keynote, Kids Doodle
L--Lite (Downloads HD Lite)
M--Morfo
N--NoteLedge
O--Overdrive
P--Puppet Pals-Puppet Pals 2
Q--QR Codes
R--RedLaser
S--Strip Design
T--Trading cards
U--USA Today Education
V--Voice Recorder
W--WebDav
X--X-ray (Photo Booth with Pic Collage)
Y--You Can Handle Them All
Z--Zapd