There's an App for that! Week 6

I teach third grade and have three iPads in my classroom.  We use apps all the time during reading and math centers.  I chose to pick apps that can be used during math class for this blog.

1. Monster Squeeze

-Number Recognition (6 options 0-10, 5-15, 10-20, 15-25, 20-30, mixed)

-Can be a one or two player game

-The player(s) try to guess the number on the number line by clicking it. The game tells the player

if the number they picked is larger or smaller that the secret number.

-The player who picks the secret number is the winner.

-This game talks the players through it by giving great directions!

-Children can easily work on this by themselves.

We used the numberline for EVERYTHING in third grade.  This is great to start the year out to make sure students are familiar with it.  It can also be used with strugglers who are having a hard time with numbers.

2. Top-it Addition (0-10)

Adding; Greater than and less than

Can be a one or two player game

The player(s) each get two cards.

Each player then finds the sum of their cards.

After each player finds the sum,

they must figure out which sum is greater.

Players get points for correctly answering

their question and having the greater number.

 This app is great for anyone who needs practice with those basic math facts!!

3. Beat the Computer

Multiplication 0-10

One player game

-The player is given a multiplication fact with the objective of "beating the computer."

-Twenty seconds is given for each fact. Points are given based on how many seconds are left.

I use this app for multiplication practice for my third graders! The enjoy it!

 

4. Equivalent Fractions

Recognizing equivalent fractions

One Player Game

Players match equivalent fractions on cards using the pictures and the fractions.

                  A big, new skill in third grade is equivalent fractions.  This app helps students with that skill!

 

My Overall Review: All of these apps had great instructions, good feedback for wrong answers, and were engaging. I would recommend them all--get them when they are free.  McGraw-Hill puts these on sale for free all the time!

On google reader, I am following Seomra Ranga.  This site post apps that are useful in the primary grades.  I have enjoyed discovering new apps through this blog!

Jennifer

Instructional Software Week 5

Instructional software can provide an instuctional advantage for students.  Not only are students learning, but they are usually having fun because they enjoy working on the computer!  Every class in my school has computer time every week.  During this class, students work on some type of skill through instuctional software.  There are many different kinds of instructional software that can be used and we'll take a look at some examples of each.

Drill and Practice- I teach third grade.  In math, we learn multiplication! Students must become fluent with the multiplication facts before moving to fourth grade.  There are many websites and instruction software that can be used.  On free one is from the Resource Room.  This site had many different options for students to practice multiplication facts and gives them feedback on how they've done.  This resource could be used during math centers or computer lab time.

Tutorial- Tutorial Programs walk students through a lesson and actually teach them the concept.  A tutorial program we use at my school is Riverdeep.  This program allows me to assign modules to indivdual students or the class.  Riverdeep gives interactive instuction on the skill and allows for practice.  Students enjoy this program.  This program is used during computer lab, center,s and for RTI for reteaching. 

Simulation- In third grade, we study the human body.  During this science unit, we compare animal bones to human bones to see how they are similar.  One thing we do is dissect an owl pellet.  Most of the students really enjoy this; it is great to see them get into it so much!  To use during centers, or for those students who are absolutely terrified, we do have a virtual simulation of dissecting an owl pellet.  The website is here.  This is exactly what we do in class; dissect an owl pellet and but the bones back together!

Instructional games- Instructional games have many uses in the classroom.  It may be a quick one that can be done during a lesson on the SMART board, or it may be a longer on done for review of a test.  Instructional games are also used daily in my classroom on the computers during centers.  I use them for every subject!  On game we like to play is classroom Jeopardy.  This is not an online game.  We have the jeopardy classroom package.  Each child gets a controller and has an electronic scoreboard.  The game is displayed on  a screen.  It is played just like real jeopardy-- with daily doubles, final jeopardy, and everything!  Here is the website to learn more about it. 

Problem Solving- In order to succeed in the 21st century world, students need to become excellent problem solvers.  There are some great problem solving software games that can be used to help inhance this skill.  One is Mind Benders.  This game presents puzzles for students to solve.  There is a story to read and students must use their problem solving skills to get the answer!

Integrated Learning Systems- A perfect example of integrated learning systems software is the new program the state of Alabama purchased, Global Scholar. This software provides math and reading practice for students.  A test can be give three times a year to see how each student has grown.  You can look at each standard and see where a student needs more work.  More work in that area can be assigned and the student can work on it during centers or computer lab time.  This is a great resource the state of Alabama purchased for its teachers and should be used by all! 

While reading A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet on Googler Reader, I came across a great use of software for science teachers.  There is an interactive lesson that shows the effects of drugs on mice linked to this blog.  Mouse Party is the name of the software and would be great to use with high school students to show to effect of drugs! 


Jennifer

Week 4 Blog- Clickers in the Classroom

In my first blog, I mentioned how much I love using technology in my classroom!  I have and use a SMART Board, iPads, computers, and CPS clickers.  Today, my blog will be about using clickers in the classroom.

Once I began using clickers, my world was rocked- ha!  IMMEDIATE feedback was now avaliable!!  I could quickly see that I needed to reteach something, that we were ready to move on, or that I had a few that would need some form of intervention.  I have used them for many different things in my classroom.

Verbal Option- the verbal option is great for when you have a quick question to ask, want to take a poll, or have questions already in a SMART lesson or PowerPoint.  The question is either already on the board or you ask it verbally.  The results immediately pop up on the screen.  If it's a poll or "voting," students can see how everyone voted.  If it's a question, we can look at the different answers and discuss why someone put what they put.  Hopefully, we can talk about how everyone got it right and move on! =)

Testing Option- This option displays results on your computer, but you want to have your projector off.  You can type in the answers to a test and then as studnets are taking the test (or when they are finish) they put their answers in.  As soon as the child presses enter, you know if they got it right or now-- how cool is that?!  It also gives you the percentage of students who got each question right at the bottom.  This is very helpful in learning about what you may need to reteach!

Testing Option on Screen-- Want to save paper??  Type or import your ExamView test into CPS and the questions will appear on the screen!  Students can read the question and answer it with their clickers and you've never used any paper!!

There are some other options to use clickers as well, but those are the three I use/use most.  I may use them in a test, to review vocabulary, or to ask an exit question-- the possibilies are endless!! 

I found the blog, Technology in Elementary Education on GoogleReader, and the author stated how research has shown that student engagement is up when using clickers.  I have also found this to be true.  I know when every student has answered a question in class and get an answer from everyone.  I don't have to pick one child to say the answer out loud-- everyone is involved!  This blog also references the immediate feedback.  That must be my favorite feature- I can quickly tell who needs help and NO GRADING FOR ME!!!! Click here to go to the blog.

Watch a quick video on using clickers in the classroom.

I really enjoyed this video, but it had the embedding option disabled.  Watch it if you get a chance!

Here is another video: Do clickers help sutdents learn?



Here are two pictures of some of my students using clickers!

 

 

 

 

Jennifer

Week Three Blog Post- Technology in the Classroom

I absolutely LOVE using technology in the classroom.  I am the "technology guru" at my school.  SMART Boards, iPads, CPS response clickers, Edmodo, computers-- you give it to me, I'll use it!  My favorite piece of equipment, right now, are iPads.  I only have 3 in my classroom, but we manage.  Our district is committed to technology an ALL students grades 7-12 have iPads and that will expand next year!  Too bad I'm leaving!  Anyway, my students use the iPad amost everyday.  It may just be taking AR test and responding to an Edmodo question, but we'll use it! Currently, we use iPads the most during centers.  I can find plenty of Apps (mostly free) that go along with what we're learning in language, math, science, or reading.  I think if I had more iPads, I would do more project work with them.  One of my favorite technology resources is TCEA.  This site is not free, but it's only $40/year.  I have more than gotten my money's worth on the free apps they post everday!  I can't even keep up with them they post so many.  There are many community groups you can join to get information about other areas of technology, as well.  Click on this to learn more about TCEA! (I promise I don't work for them and they don't pay me to advertise for them! =))

Here is a short video about a future classroom!  Some of it is already happening! It mentions plasma screen that rotate work and announcements insdead of boards outside classrooms!  I haven't even thought about that!




On Google Reader, I have been following the blog Seomra Ranga.  This blog post reviews of apps very frequently, mainly for primary grades.  The review posted today was actually of an app I've used in my reading centers this year!  Here is a link to the blog and you can check some out!

As I mentioned earlier, right now, my favorite piece of technology is the iPad.  Using this in the classroom allows me to individualize learning, monitor progress (some apps, such as Splash Math), and engage studnets.  I currently have a student who has trouble with fine motor skills.  The first half of the school year, he took his spelling test on the Spelling City app on one of the iPads.  He could stay in his desk, just like everyone else, and complete his test.  He did not have to go back to the computers to do this.  Splash Math is a wonderful app that has many math skills.  It will let you add up to five students at a time.  If you wish, you can get a weekly email report on the students progress!  My centers are based around technology.  We have the computers, SMART board, and iPads going.  I typically do not have to wonder if my students are engaged in what they are supposed to be doing-- they love it, so they are!!  I'm thankful technology is coming along to help us support different learning styles, intervention, monitoring, and just helping students have fun!!

Jennifer

Personal Blog

Hello!!
This is my personal blog that I started for a technology class I am taking at the University of West Alabama.  I am working on a master's in library media.  My class blog is pridespirates.blogspot.com  I have not updated it NEAR as much this year since I've been a little busy!! (Wedding, work, grad school, getting a house ready that's two hours away from me!!). 

I hope you enjoy BOTH blogs.  I'm not 100% finished with the layout of this one, so be sure to check back!

Jennifer Pride NORTHRUP =)