Coding with OneSpot Erasers

We all know that the OneSpot at Target is always filled with these fun erasers, and as a teacher it is difficult to pass them up.  There is always something you can use them for!  I love using them as a math manipulative, but this friends, this I am excited about!

How about block coding with them?!?!
The arrows make the perfect movement codes and the stars can be used for any movement your kiddos choose.  You can also add in other erasers for a variety of movements.

Little man is obsessed with DinoTrux right now, so we made a code for his Reptool to eat all the ore on its way back to the garage.

You can grab this coding template here.  There are two templates available, one lets you add additional codes.

Do you code with your kiddos, or have a love for the OneSpot erasers?  Leave me a comment below, I would love to hear from you!!!

Flocabulary

I have found another great resource: Flocabulary!  This website houses songs and videos that cover all content areas.  My kiddos love the grammar songs.

I love that there are so many content areas and topics available.  Even more exciting than a site packed with great resources is a site that is easy to use.  The content areas are easy to access and topics are super easy to find once you pick your content area.

I love that I have been able to use Flocabulary to introduce new topics, but also use it to review with my kiddos.  

Grab this link to try Flocabulary out for a FREE 75 day trial.

Mom Life: My Favorite App

As a new parent, I feel like all I do it try and capture every moment.  Therefore, the amount of pictures I take is crazy.  I have learned that having a smartphone is a blessing and a curse.  You can take pictures at any time, but they enter the blackhole of the digital world and you never look at them again.  Yes, some get posted to social media, but we all know that the mass majority never make it out of your digital device, until you need room for more pictures.
I found an end to my digital madness and downloaded the GrooveBook app.  Have you checked it out?!?!   Through this app, I can access my pictures and pick up to 100 pictures each month.

Every month is then beautiful documented and organized!  The pictures are turned into a photo book.  The best part is that the photo books have rip and share paper.  I can pull photos out to send to family members, or I can switch out framed photos.  The BEST BEST part is that these books only cost me $2.99 a month.  I can't ask for a better deal!

If you use my code GODESA10 you can get your first GrooveBook for free.

Happy Picture Taking!!

Sparking Student Motivation with QR Codes

While many teacher have been using QR codes for awhile now, I was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon.  I was fearful that they wouldn't work, cause more of a problem than be helpful, and take away from the learning itself.  I don't know what changed my mind, but I am grateful for it.
QR codes have transformed both literacy and math centers in my classroom.

 Students use codes during their listening center.  Each code links to a different story that is read to them via YouTube with Safe Share.  I purchased these amazing book codes from Lawen Christianson.

 Students also use QR codes to self check some of their centers.  Here students worked on determining if numbers were in the correct order.  They recorded their answers and then checked their work using the QR codes.

Here is another literacy center where students used picture cards to determine which short vowel category each picture fit in.  They recorded each word in the proper group.  Last, they checked their answers using the short vowel QR code.

I am amazed by how engaged my kiddos are.  Of course there were a couple of hiccups, one of the iPads kept dropping off the WiFi, a couple students needed a bit more guidance, but overall the outcome has been AMAZING!  If you have the technology available, I highly recommend using QR codes in your classroom.

How do/would you use QR codes with your students?

Be sure to swing over to Head Over Heals for Teaching to see what other teachers are doing to Spark Student Motivation.

Don't forget to head over to Instagram for a chance to win my favorite things giveaway!

We LOVE our iPads

My kiddos are truly enjoying the iPads that were donated by Chevron.  They get used the most during centers, as they are one center that students must complete during the week.

The apps that are getting the most use are...

I have been fortunate to find a ton of apps that my kiddos are using for free.  Be sure to download the app - AppsGoneFree.  Everyday they post free apps, some are great and some are not appropriate, but it is an incredible resource.

What are some of your students' favorite apps?

Tried A Few New Apps

My students and I are beyond pumped that our DonorsChoose project has finally arrived.  I am incredibly grateful for Chevron's help in funding this project and placing superb technology into my students' hands.

In preparation for the use of these iPads, in my classroom, I have been testing out new apps like crazy.  Here are a few of my new favorites:

Apps Gone Free does not always feature kid appropriate apps, but it is worth having and checking out regularly.  I have scored some great productivity apps, interactive books, and more.

Math Museum is one app that I found through Apps Gone Free.  This is by far my new favorite fact fluency app.  Players make their way through the game collecting numbers and applying them to different facts.  The best part is that it can be differentiated for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division skills.

I recently had the opportunity to review Spellyfish's up-coming app, short /i/.  These apps are perfect for short vowel spelling practice.  Spellyfish isolates each sound making word formation practice ideal for beginning readers.

What apps are you using with your students?

Transitions

I don't care how long I have been teaching, transitions are the most difficult part of the day.  I want my kiddos to have down time to rejuvenate their minds, but I also want them to stay on task.
I typically use music during transitions or a repeat after me.  My kiddos have come to enjoy Disney songs and cartoon theme songs as they move from one place and activity to the next.  However, there are times when I feel that I need to keep my kiddos focused on the specific learning taking place.  This is when I use my repeat after me.  These chants and phrases range from repeating directions, to vocabulary, ABCs, Zoo Phonics, counting, and PBIS reminders.  This technique is limitless, yet there are times when noise and voices are the last things we need.  It is at these times I quickly get my iPad and open up The Quiet Game.  This app is a digital version of an oldie.

Just like The Quiet Game we played as children, this app challenges the silence of those playing.  My kiddos love trying to set new records, and I love how quickly they transition from quiet to their necessary task.

What techniques/strategies do you use to transition your kiddos?

ClassDojo

Last fall, I was granted the use of an iPad for district research.  I was very excited for the learning that was about to take place with its use, but overwhelmed at them same time.  I decided to search on Pinterest for app recommendations.  Pinterest never fails, which is how I learned about ClassDojo.

ClassDojo is an interactive behavior tracking system.  It allows you to track and monitor student's individual behaviors as well as the whole class.

Once you add your class or classes to the site you are good to go.  I have found that starting each day's attendance on the website and then tracking through the app allows for the greatest usability.  I love the ability to apply my custom points to one, several, or all students.  An even better function is the random button.  This function helps you to switch up your participants and tracking (think of it as pulling sticks).

ClassDojo not only allows you to review the behaviors collected, but you can also share the data with parents and students.

Do you use ClassDojo?

DonorsChoose

*****UPDATE***** My project was FULLY funded my Chevron!!!!!!!

I did it!  I finally posted a project with DonorsChoose.org.

It sounds crazy, but my dear firsties do not have working computers to use in our classroom.  Once a week, they get time in the computer lab, yet the games and activities they are playing are not differentiated to their individual learning.  I am requesting 5 iPad Minis with cases and headphones to differentiate math, literacy, and language practice for each of my kiddos.

I'm asking for donations of any size to help my kids. For the next week, any donation you make to my project will be doubled (up to $100). If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your donation will brighten my students' school year, and you'll get photos and thank yous from our class.


Here is the link to my project:

iPad Minis for Oregon First Graders

To have your donation matched dollar for dollar, enter the match code INSPIRE on the payment screen. This awesome match offer lasts through October 12, 2013.

I appreciate any help with this project! 

Have you ever had a project fulfilled through DonorsChoose.org?

Management X3

Establishing routines is one thing, but sticking to them and a system that works is crucial.  For myself and my kiddos it comes down to the following three:
1. Whole Group Behavior Management

For whole group management, I use Deirdre Eldredge's behavior charts.  Her pack contains such a fabulous variety of charts.  Right now, my students are working toward a glow stick dance party.  In years past, I would let the students choose their reward once they had hit their goal, but with her charts it is fun to know what we are working toward.  The class can earn a lightbulb if they receive a compliment from another staff member, if everyone follows directions the first time they are given, or if I catch everyone working their hardest.  They get so excited when they earn a bulb.  I can't wait for their first celebration! 

2. Individual Behavior System

I use a vertical clip chart for individual student behaviors.  Each day, my students come in and move their clips to "Ready to Learn."  This single act allows me to know who is absent.  Students then move their clips up and down depending on their behavior.  If a student is on "Outstanding" at the end of the day, they receive a good phone call home, or an outstanding note to take home.  Very seldom does a student make it to contact home for the negative reason, but if so a call is made and a school punishment is discussed between myself and the parent(s).  

*You can find this chart in my TPT store.  I used Autumn Zaminski's adorable chevron paper to create it.*

3. Individual Behavior Tracking

I use Class Dojo to track and collect data on my students' behaviors.  This incredible app/site is free and insanely easy to use.  I love that I can share the data with my kids' parents, as well as have it for necessary meetings.  The kiddos also love that they can create their own avatar.

These systems work together and separately, but ultimately they are what holds our class together.  What type of management system(s) do you use?

Show Us Your: Tech Tips (Five for Friday edition)

Today's Five for Friday is double the fun with two link-ups and back to school technology ideas.

 

I am a one iPad classroom, but I have not let that stop me.  I have learned that placing the iPad under my ELMO allows for it to be used whole class (I seriously need an Apple TV setup).  I have 5 favorite apps that I use constantly.

1. Class Dojo - This app is a fabulous classroom management tool.  It allows you to track positive and negative behaviors for whole class and individuals.  The greatest part is that the behaviors are stored and can be shared with parents or used for student support data.  One thing, I have learned is that you have to sign into the webpage to monitor attendance, but the app is useful for on-the-go tracking.

2. GoodNotes - I love the versatility of this app.  I use it for my CCSS checklists, student notes and conferencing, reading articles and adding notes, and so much more.  The free edition allows you to have a small number of notebooks.  Yet, the $5.99 I spent on the full edition was well worth it!  I HIGHLY recommend this app.

3. Endless ABC - My students cannot get enough of this app.  It supports: vocabulary, sounds, spelling, and letter-sound correspondence; plus it has the cutest monsters.  Even better is the fact that it is free and updated with new words all the time.

4. Sushi Monster - This is a fun game for practicing addition and multiplication apps.  I love using this app whole group.  I allow students to work with their table groups to determine which sushi (facts) the monster needs to be fed. 

5. Common Core - MasteryConnect did a great job constructing this app.  I use it daily for TPT creations, lesson planning, and research.  It has a simple search feature, and contains all of the appendices from the CCSS document.

I would love to hear about apps that you use with your students.