Ipad Buddy Project

Our class pairs with a grade seven class once a cycle in the computer lab.  Our buddies normally teach us things like logging on to the network, opening our wiki, and using wordle or word documents.  They also teach us how to use Spelling City and Mathletics.  Our computer buddies are VERY helpful!

This year I decided to use some of that computer time for our buddies to do an ipad project with us.  Since we have 5 ipads, 5 groups under the supervision of Mrs. Fisher are participating in the first project.

The project is called THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE AT ECOLE MCISAAC SCHOOL.

Prior Knowledge:  Our grade one class composed a list of all the important people that work with us in the school.  We also identified their job title.  This was part of our Social Studies unit.

Students were first taught how to use the camera and how to reflect on the pictures they took.  They were allowed to delete and retake pictures that they felt were not good.  Students then headed out to take pictures of the people from the list.  This is all that was completed during the first class.  

Our next steps include using the Pictello App to insert the pictures and create text to identify the people and their positions.  The completed stories will be viewed by the rest of the class as a Social Studies presentation.

Once the first group have their projects completed, another group of 5 will begin a new project.  The criteria for the project will be the same, but the project will likely have a different theme.  I am allotting 3 classes for each project.



 

Classroom Organization

How do you share a pod of ipads with another classroom, but always have the apps where you can find them and easy for primary kiddos to locate independently?

This is what we came up with and so far............ it's working for me!!!!!!!

I introduced 7 apps to my class in the first few days of school.  We previewed each one on the lcd and I showed them that they could all be found in the folder called September on the ipad.  These are the ONLY apps my kids are allowed to use during center time. The teacher I am sharing the pod with agreed that those are my apps for the month.

We also set the rule that if you are found in the other folders on the ipad during center time, you will lose the ipad privilege.

I have successfully used the ipads all week in my classroom with and without parent volunteer supervision and so far, so good!

This is how my home screen looks on my ipad.  Notice the September file at the bottom.  I also have Pictello down there (we are using it for a class project right now).

When you open my September folder, these are the apps you will find.  All students in my class also have a profile on either Teach Me Grade One or Teach Me Kindergarten.  They use that app during guided reading time when they are not reading.

All of the ipads in the pod are not set up identical, which is fine with me BUT they all have my September folder in the same place!

Using a Stylus

There are so many great apps to support letter formation and fine motor development and the kiddos love them.  However tracing things with your finger is a lot easier than using a pencil and does nothing to support pencil grip.  This summer I made it my mission to find styluses to be used for these kinds of apps, making the practice more meaningful!

My good friend Cynthia happened to find these at Best Buy.  The package cost $15.

I happen to be fortunate enough to have my own little soon to be first grader living in my house!  She was my  tester today.  We discussed how I should set up the ipad (post on that coming soon) and then she attempted to use the stylus.

What did I learn from watching her?  

• Well she still wanted to hold the stylus incorrectly.  I had to force the pencil grip.
• She had to press harder than she would with her finger and I saw her banging on the icons a few times before they turned on.
• Tracing letters is still tricky because there is resistance with the stylus.
• When playing letter school she was bending her whole hand really awkward to form the letters, perhaps she needed to be standing or have the ipad on a slant.

So now I know training is needed... like anything else in grade one!  Time must be spent showing them how you want it done and reinforcing proper usage.  Will it be worth it, I think so! 

 

Vocabulary Spelling City

One of my most favorite classroom websites now has a free app!  Vocabulary Spelling City!!!!  I was super excited to see that it was free and even more excited to see that all the spelling lists I had created on the website were accessible with the app!  All I had to do was search for my name and voila all of my lists came up!

The downfall I have noticed so far.... there are not as many games to play as there are on the website, especially since I prefer to use it for spelling purposes rather than vocabulary.  The kids can take the test and practice word by word or else play hang mouse (which is their favorite)!  All the other options are geared at vocabulary building using sentences which is a little tough at the beginning of grade one.



 

Photo Book

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Shutterfly allows you to customize your photo book just the way you want.

Cases... a must!

Little hands and a busy classroom could be a recipe for disaster, which is why I believe cases are a must.  I have survived a whole school year with 2 ipads (not in cases) in tact; but I always worried as the kids moved around the room with the ipads.

Our school recently purchased these cases.  I love them!  They are light, brightly colored  and according to the video very strong (I am not willing to test it on my own ipad!).

I have 2 in my room:  blue and purple.  I like that they are different colors so the students know which ipad has their profile on it etc.

 

I get a POD!!!!!!

So our school has 12 ipads and next year we are creating 3 pods of 3 ipads!  I am so excited because for the first term I get to use this pod every afternoon for the whole afternoon with my kiddos.  Plus I have my own 2 classroom ipads which I purchased for my class which makes 5!  Oh the potential of 5!


How do I plan to implement the pod?  Well I imagine I will be doing a lot of exploring over the summer but as of right now I have COMPLETELY rearranged my schedule from how I normally operate!  

• I am going to move my guided reading to the afternoon, the 5 ipads will be a center during guided reading time.  My plan it to create a profile for EVERY student on Teach me Grade One and have them work through the profile.  I also plan to use some spelling apps at this time and possibly listen to reading using books I have purchased!
• I also plan to use the pod during my Math /Buddy time.  Math Buddies is when both grade one classes mix up ability wise and learn through fun and games.  The lessons are tailored to enrich the higher level students and to support the weaker group.  They will get to use many of our great math apps during this time.

I am sure I will come up with many more great ideas over the summer, but today ?I was SOOOOO excited to get the news I just had to share it!!!