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"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke

Monday, May 13, 2013

"App"solutely Awesome K-8 Apps for your iPad!

Carrie Johnson from Minnehaha Academy shared with her best of list from the "Best Use of iPads, iPad Apps and Other Technology Tools to Increase Student Learning (Grades K-8)" conference. Her are her notes along with mine:


Tiny Tap - Could be used for any grade level. A way to create personalized games for kids on the iPad
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tinytap-moments-into-games/id493868874?mt=8

Reading Timer (Scholastic) - A fun and functional reading timer to use throughout the year.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scholastic-reading-timer/id520196131?mt=8

Speakeasy - Good for timed readings. When you sync your device to your computer, it will put all the recordings into iTunes.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speakeasy-voice-recorder/id284652710?mt=8

Kid’s Journal - Can make a writing journal for every child, which can be exported.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kids-journal/id528173573?mt=8

Toontastic - Especially good for students who have a hard time initiating writing
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toontastic-free/id404693282?mt=8

Seven Little Words - Played with my fifth graders. The adult version was challenging...the kid version was easy, but they liked it.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/7-little-words/id431434152?mt=8

Word Warp - is a challenging anagram type of word game in which you try to form as many words as you can out of the six letters you are given before time runs out.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/free-word-warp/id291374609?mt=8

Stick Pick - "can of sticks" with student names on them.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stick-pick/id436682059?mt=8

Tools4Students - graphic organizers.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tools-4-students/id472911218?mt=8

Skitch - can import pics and draw on them, also has a map feature where you can zoom in and then can annotate on the map.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skitch/id490505997?mt=8

Some resources:

Tween Tribune - Reading Material http://tweentribune.com/

Read Write Think website - http://www.readwritethink.org/

Kid Blog - http://kidblog.org/home/
Give all of the kids the secret code at the same time, they will set up their blog under your class. We saw examples of lower grade kids blogging.

Infuse Learning - Similar to Socrative, but capable of doing more
http://www.infuselearning.com/

Best of the Best: Top 100 Web Resources for Educators!

You know how you go to those conferences and the workshops that are always packed are the ones like "50 most awesome websites" or "100 totally fantastic links"?

Well we go again. At an iPad in Education workshop we got the Top 100 Web Resources for Educators. And it is worth clicking through. This link was shared with me by my colleague Mary Jo Severson from Minnehaha Academy.

Gobble it up here: http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listteacherde1.html

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Atlas Obscura - discover curious and wonderful places!

Beautifully laid out website with a database of curious and different places to explore like miniature cities, glass flowers, books bound in human skin, gigantic flaming holes in the ground, bone churches, balancing pagodas, or homes built entirely out of paper. The list goes on. Check it out at www.atlasobscura.com

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

"Subtext is a free iPad app that allows classroom groups to exchange ideas in the pages of digital texts. You can also layer in enrichment materials, assignments and quizzes—opening up almost limitless opportunities to engage students and foster analysis and writing skills."

Click to see 1 minute video:
http://www.subtext.com