Technology

       I recently tried using QR codes as part of a literacy center in my classroom.  My students loved it.  I created an organizer with the headings past, present, and sentence.  Students had to find a QR card with the present tense verb on it.  They wrote the word, changed it to the past tense, and scanned to check their answers.  Students could then make adjustments as needed and then used the word in a sentence.  I really liked that students were able to get instant feedback to check their answers and make adjustments as needed without my help.  This is something I plan to continue using in my literacy centers.

       This week, we have been learning about graphing.  Students were expected to take a survey of the class, tally the results, and turn the results into a table, picture graph, and bar graph.  I had two students in my class use the iPads to create their project since there are two iPads available.  The used the app Educreations.  Each page included a different part of the project.  After completing the survey and graphs, they went into the hallway to record the steps they took and explain each part of the process in detail.  I was then able to go back and listen to what they did, share it with the class, and their parents.  The class enjoyed hearing the steps they took and relate to similar steps they took.

Technology

            Last week, my students interviewed one another and wrote about that friend.  To incorporate technology in this project, I had the students each create a page with the app Educreations.  They took a picture of their friend, wrote a fact about that person, and recorded themselves reading the fact and introducing the friend.  Once the class was finished, we watched the “book” on the screen.  The students were so excited and proud of their work.  It was a fun way to incorporate technology in my classroom.

            A new app I have tried in my classroom is called Number Run.  My students are very excited about this app as part of our Math Stations.  In this app, a character runs on journey through a world.  There are facts along the way for the students to answer.  The facts become more challenging as the students move through the worlds.  It is quickly becoming a favorite app in my classroom.