Plickers

I found another awesome app/website that you can use if you don't have clickers but would like to get immediate feedback from your students.  

At my previous school, I had SMART clickers that our school won at a LACUE conference and I would use them for review with my students before a test. 

I will write a grant in the future for the Activ Expressions but for the time being, I found an awesome alternative.

This is a FREE app and website that you are able to print up a code for each student to have them show you the multiple choice answer that they think it correct.  

I go around with my Plicker app and scan the student's answer (the answer should be at the top of card) and I get immediate results/feedback.

All you have to do it go to www.plickers.com

Sign up in the right hand corner of the site.

Once you log in, you can add a class and title it whatever you want.

I put an example class for you.  All you do is type the students first name or you can give them a nickname or number.  The card or the website will not show the student's name publically.  Press enter and it will automatically start making the cards.

After you are completed entering the students names, go to the top right-hand corner and click Cards.

This is what will produce for you to print up.  

                                

Unfortunately, I didn't have card stock at home to print the cards because card stock would be best.  You can also laminate the pages if you choose.

                                  

When you teach older students, using the original plicker card is great but it can be a challenge for the younger students.  I got this idea from Sharing Kindergarten.

I turned the card over and wrote their name on the back of the card.  I also labeled A, B, C, and D with different colors.  The students will be able to hold the card and easily see if they have the correct letter at the top so I can scan it.

When you open the app, you will be able to type in a question(you don't have to type every detail.) You press what the correct letter is and the app does the rest.

Only the teacher can see the names/nicknames in the top left hand corner.  Also, you can also see in the right hand corner how many answered the questions.

I hope that you will be able to try this app with your class.  Please comment if you want to add how you use it in the classroom.

Touchtronic Letters and Numbers

I was on Instagram and noticed 
Creativity to the Core posted about this neat app.  I decided to look it up and I am really excited about getting this for my classroom.

The apps are 

They are getting awesome reviews....  The apps introduce numbers, counting, matching and simple sums with Touchtronic Numbers - the first 3 D tactile math resource to interact with the iPad. Includes numbers 0-9 and 6 equation symbols, color-coded with numbers in purple and equations in orange. The supporting FREE apps (available from the iTunes store) includes games and activities for teaching number recognition, counting and place value. Touchtronic Numbers comes in a handy storage bag. 

 Touchtronic Letters combine the physical and digital worlds of learning. Includes 26 letters color-coded with consonants in blue and vowels in red. The supporting free App (available from the iTunes store) includes games for teaching letter recognition, phonemic awareness and word building. There are also exciting animations which reward children as they complete each different level.

The apps are free but you do have to purchase the letters and numbers but I think that they are a reasonable price.

Click below to send you to the price link

Touchtronicnumbers

Touchtronicletters

They also sell them on Amazon as well.

FlapJack Educational Resources

I have been a subscriber to FlapJack educational resources for sometime now but we all know how hard it is to really take the time to watch videos.  Tabitha Carro is a 4th grade Spanish immersion teacher but she has helpful tips for ALL grades.  Her videos are step by step and she has a lot of awesome ideas that she shares.  Here are a few of her videos (they are on youtube so you might have to watch them at home)

                                         

Please subscribe to her videos!  She has awesome tips!

Click on the picture above to send you to her TPT store!

www.flapjackeducation.com

Stellaluna

The first book that I am going to blog about is Stellaluna!  I read this book to my first graders every year.  

(Click here to send you to Amazon)

Knocked from her mother’s safe embrace by an attacking owl, Stellaluna lands headfirst in a bird’s nest. This adorable baby fruit bat’s world is literally turned upside down when she is adopted by the occupants of the nest and adapts to their peculiar bird habits.

There are a lot of awesome resources on TPT for Stellaluna..I am attaching a link to one of the FREE Stellaluna graphic organizers.

50 books a child should read by the age of 5

I went to Books a Million today and I saw this awesome display.  I had an idea to blog about each of these books.  If you have anything that you would like me to add to any of these books (ex: TPT product or website) message or comment me!

Hello Crayons app

I just saw a post about this awesome app and I wanted to share.  

Hello crayons is a free app but if you want extra colors etc., it does cost but you can definitely use the free version and be happy with it!

The neat thing about this app is that you can use it for digital storytelling.  You can also use Educreations in conjunction with Hello Crayons.  You can also have students work on their spelling or vocabulary words.  The possibilities are endless with this app for early childhood students.  There are 3 other similar apps (color pencils, chalk, paint)

Check out this video below for a presentation about the app!

Awesome FREE apps today!

Our school has a subscription to Reading eggs and these apps are a part of their program! The picture shows 4 apps for there are 5 free today! Just go to the App Store and search: Eggy and they should all pop up!  My students love the eggs and the program! Check it out!

Our 3rd Skype visit with a children's author

We just visited on Skype this week with Brianna Caplan Sayres.  She had so much fun with my students.  She asked them a lot of questions and they had a blast.

(sorry, excuse my finger in the way of the camera lol)

(click on picture to head to Amazon)

She read..

to the class and Brianna wore a crown just like Tiara Saurus Rex!

Stay tuned to our readers theatre with a 1st grade class through Skype!

Another awesome Skype visit with an amazing Children's author

On a previous post, I talked about my first author visit through Skype with my first graders.  I set up an account on Skype in the classroom

I picked a few authors and I began getting emails from them.  This is our second Skype.

It was with Paul Czajak and he is the author of:

Monster Needs a Costume

(click on picture to head to Amazon)

and 

(click on picture to head to Amazon)

and

Our class was so excited because he read his 2 new books that wasn't released yet!

This has been an awesome experience for my class.  They are asking published children's authors questions about writing books.

LOUISIANA BLOGGERS!! WE NEED YOU!!

We would love for you to join us for our 1st annual Louisiana bloggers meeting.  Click on the link to bring you to the survey.

Can't wait to meet ya'll!

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