Relector

At the end of last year I was introduced to Reflector as another tool to create videos for the purpose of flipping my classroom. I wirelessly connect my iPad to my MacBook and then record my lessons by screencasting in QuickTime. I used this a handful of times this past school year. This year I plan to continue its use. I would also like to try using Screencast-O-Matic. It serves the same purpose as Reflector, but I like to explore what's available and am always more than willing to share my findings!

For $12.99 a year, Reflector connects your iPad to your computer screen. I often use this when I want to model a strategy using an app on the iPad. I do tend to jump from app to app when modeling for students. This not only models the strategy, but how to efficiently access and use the device.

Below is a portion of an old lesson using Reflector. I was able to switch from a PowerPoint (presenting the relevance of the lesson) to the iPad (modeling a pre-writing strategy using  Explain Everything).

The Need for Strip Designer

If there is one app that I am most excited about my students having access to this year it is Strip Designer. Below shows exactly why my kiddos have a need for an app that will help them create their own comics. With books series like Diary of the Wimpy Kid, Big Nate and even Captain Underpants (blahh) my first grade boys have been inspired to create their own comics!

This is created in Explain Everything- this looks better than I could do!

This kiddo became very frustrated after trying some digital creations.

I have one student who is truly a gifted comic creator!

I have explored Strip Designer for only a short time, but discovered it goes beyond creating comics. I love apps like Strip Designer because they allow students to use their creativity to create unique presentations that showcase their learning and understanding!

Student Email

As the school year approaches I find my self organizing folders from last year (both paper and electronic). An entire new world of typed communication began when my first graders learned how to use email at school. One way I used email was to check for conceptual understanding of a skill or strategy taught. I would often place an open ended sentence frame at the front of the room for them to complete and send to me in an email. I was shocked when I learned that email opened a door for my quietest students to connect with me. I already knew this subgroup of learners were bright, intelligent and learning. I just had trouble tracking their conceptual understanding each day. My orally confident kiddos always make my job of assessment easy :) Providing students TIME to type and then writing them a RESPONSE\ were key to capitalizing on this communication and assessment tool. The kids needed time to type a well thought out email and their communication was reinforced by receiving an timely email response.

Here are a couple screenshots of first grade academic response emails:

Here are a couple sweet emails students sent from home. You know you are in the digital age when...  first graders are sending you emails filled with kind words instead of handing you hand drawn pictures.

ISTE Top 5

Oh my goodness. I went to the coolest educational conference ever! Three words: innovative, inspiring and overwhelming. There were so many ideas that I gained and I feel like I was only exposed to the tip of the iceberg. I am sure over the next year I will share plenty of ideas through implementing them in the classroom, but for now I will give the top 5 highlights of from the conference.

#1  Twitter is the new PD. I am now following so many amazing #edtech and #flipclass leaders on twitter. I am constantly checking out the links they tweet. My favorites to follow are Adam Bellow, Steve Dembo, Hall Davidson and Leslie Fisher. There were so many #edtech geeks in one place during the conference that #ISTE was trending on Twitter during the conference.

#2  We met Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams. They began the flipped revolution. Although I have already read their book (Sarah had her copy signed) we learned oh so much more! My main take away is that flipped learning personalizes learning for each student.

#3 We presented to a large crowd and they listened. Well... Sarah and I were invited to present with our technology coach and trainer. They are amazing and so well known in the ed tech community. They are two of the most humble educational leaders I know and look up to both of them so very much.

#4 One of the many different web based resources I picked up was infuse learning. This was presented by Leslie Fisher (talk about a million ideas provided in an hour-holy cow!). With exceptional wireless infrastructure in our district I am able to use this student response platform with my 1:1 iPad class. The best part- students can draw a response. So, so cool!

Teacher Site: This is where you go to create your assessment.
Student Site: This is where your students go to take the assessment by typing in a quick code. 

#5 I met Moby! The vendor floor was crazy. I mean it all makes sense really- think about how many schools are in the nation and the technology needed to support everything in those schools.  To think that schools have no money- lol. I do believe it is imperative that we not allow, but mandate that STUDENTS are given the opportunity to immerse in the ever changing technology devices that our society depends on everyday. In my opinion there is no need for one administrator to have an iPhone, MacBook, iPad and iPad mini. Technology needs to be in the classroom not offices. Our students are the future and they will be driving the way to innovative change for all of us.

All in all it was an amazing experience and one I hope to do again! Now I need to put some really innovative pieces together so I can go back!

#iste13

We have arrived!

Quick E-Mail

Digital fluency is a huge part of incorporating iPads into a first grade literacy classroom. Learning anything takes time and practice, practice, practice.  I value  time spent on students exploring and playing around with the presentation apps. I consider it to be unstructured inquiry at its finest.  With that said, I am always trying to find creative ways to access content based learning through 1:1 technology (this has always been my ultimate goal with having the iPads). Today's activity is a great example of using them within a content based lesson.  I had students send me a simple e-mail! It allows for me to check for understanding of the comprehension lesson, provides typing fluency practice, and spirals back to what they have already learned about sending an e-mail.  Even better is I can access these documents from anywhere.  You can generally find me sifting through these e-mails via my phone the night before the next lesson.  These give me immediate feedback on where I need to take my students next.  Below are some sample e-mails from my sweet students.