Princess Bob and the Dragon

Our second graders are learning about fairy tales, so in computer class we tackled a class-written fairy tale. We started with an 8 part sequencing chart.  I started it off with "Once upon a time in a land far, far away" and "And they lived happily ever after."  The kids took off with the rest. Once we were done with the text, they each picked one page to draw on Paint.  I saved them on flash drive and put them into a StoryKit book.

Enjoy! http://iphone.childrenslibrary.org/cgi-bin/view.py?b=abebu2z732xggp67usdx

In hindsight, I should have assigned pages to draw. Some of them are empty since no one wanted to draw the prince and princess at a castle (but they were very adamant that there needed to be smooching at the end.)

One Week Down

I'm one week into my new role and it's been a whirlwind.  I'm glad it's the weekend!

When we went into Christmas Break, my students had no idea what was happening.  That news got broken to them in an email the weekend before school started up again.  That meant that Monday was a day of talking through the process with my students.  They had a chance to meet their new teacher (Jessica) and introduce themselves to her.  Since Jessica wanted to see the iPads in action, we used Educreations and StoryKit for kids to introduce themselves.

Monday through Wednesday were used to transition Jessica into the role of the teacher in the classroom.  That meant that each day she saw more time in front of the kids while we spent a lot of planning period time talking through procedures, asking and answering questions, and getting her up to speed on everything behind the scenes.  I know I forgot how much they DON'T teach you in college about teaching. Jessica is going to be a great teacher and blessing in those kids' lives!

I also got to get some fingerprinting done for a must-have background check.  Never can be too cautious these days, I suppose. I had the joy of setting up and running a webinar in my room for a staff meeting as well.  

This transition time also involves meeting my new boss. Joe just moved here from Tennessee to become our new Technology Director.  We've spent a bit of time talking tech stuff, and I admit I've been lost for some of it.  There was one time I told him that he "might as well had said that last sentence in Russian." I recognized FAT32 and quickly got lost from there. I'm so happy to have Joe here getting our technology focused in one direction!

I also have a new office to move into.  The office is attached to the library, so it doubles as a library storage area, parent volunteer work space, and who knows what else?  My stuff was dumped in, and I'm trying to carve my niche into one half of the room. It took a week, but I have a computer set up, and the room looks livable.

By Thursday, I settled into my role of elementary computer teacher.  I had 4th, 3rd, and 1st graders that first day.  Today is Kindergarten, followed by 2nd grade.  I found a great web site for digital literacy and citizenship curriculum called Common Sense Media. This week's lesson for K-2 was about where to go while online, equating it to a field trip.  Well done.  For 3rd and 4th, I did more of an introductory lesson.  They had to type me a letter on Word, then they had an introduction to Sumdog.  Both levels got some typing practice as well:  Type to Lean Jr for K-2 and Mavis Beacon for 3-4.

So far, the biggest challenge is teaching the little ones.  I have been type-cast as an upper elementary teacher my entire career.  I started in 4th grade for two years, then I've been in 5th and 6th for the last 16 1/2 years. Add in my six years as a middle school youth leader, and I have no idea what to do with the kids under 44 inches tall. There were definitely some fun moments this week.

I will be adding middle schoolers to the mix soon.  They are on J-term for another week.  This means that next week will be a bit easier.  I'll have plenty of time for research, planning, and starting to help administration on various projects.

Native American StoryKit Projects

Our 5th grade history curriculum takes us through the entire history of the United States of America. Yes, you read that right. We start with a unit on geography, climate, and such. Then we delve into Native Americans. From there... It's Christopher Columbus to Barack Obama. In one year. As you can imagine, we can't stop on one topic for very long. I gave the students a research project for the Native American unit. Instead of a stuffy report or oral presentation, we went with StoryKits.

StoryKit is an iPhone app that simulates creating an eBook. Students can load text, pictures, and audio on each page.  It has more of an eBook feel on the actual iPad it was created on.  What you'll see on the links below will be more of a checkerboard of pages.  You just have to imagine it with me.  With my Apple TV and projector, students can show their projects to their classmates.

Here are some great examples.

http://iphone.childrenslibrary.org/cgi-bin/view.py?b=wqecdel4cflnfg5rvhx7
http://iphone.childrenslibrary.org/cgi-bin/view.py?b=qyemvl3e74wlcsatjquq
http://iphone.childrenslibrary.org/cgi-bin/view.py?b=6ma45iuahdxdbywb4ago
http://iphone.childrenslibrary.org/cgi-bin/view.py?b=jn3n6pn5f2hbfrjkab3d
http://iphone.childrenslibrary.org/cgi-bin/view.py?b=fquldi2zsp64m3br542z

How are you using StoryKit in your classroom?

iPad Training, Round 2

Last week, we had more iPad training at our school.  I was excited to hear that it would focus more in depth in how to integrate iPads into our teaching.  Here are some good ideas I walked away with.

• StoryKit is a digital book creation tool.  You can type text, add pictures, draw pictures, and add audio.  The one drawback is that it's only viewed on StoryKit.  You can email a copy to your friends, but it won't be book like.  Here's my example from the Stamp Act. This version has less bells and whistles than what you would see on your iPad, but you get the idea.  
• Popplets is a graphic organizer creator.  I love it!  It's more fluid than the software our school requires, and students can even insert pictures.  You'll see my example also from the Stamp Act here.  My link is the free version, but our school is going to use the paid version which has more capability like putting a popplet in Drop Box.
• SonicPics helps you create stories using pictures and audio. I have the lite (free version) which only allows three pictures.  The paid version has more capability.  
• ScreenChomp is an interactive white board.  You can start with a blank screen or a picture background.  Then you draw on the board and talk at the same time.  I told my social studies class about it, and they looked at me like I was crazy.  I told my advanced math class about it, and they looked at me like I was crazy.  I told my regular math class about it, and they got excited.  I think they are excited to have another way (verbal) to explain how their understanding of math procedures.  I have not had the opportunity to use it in class yet, but I will soon.  I've had kids play with it already and the enthusiasm is  obvious.
• PhotoCard is a postcard app. I plan to do this on my next vacation. Take a cute picture of my daughter.  Put it on the app.  Write a neat note.  Email it out.  Cheaper and more personal than a real postcard.  However, this could be a good way to get a one short snippet of information out of a kid.  See my example below.

Funny.  I never was into professional development till someone handed me an iPad.  Now I love it! 

I Love It!

We are wrapping up a unit in my 5th grade Social Studies class on the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.  We read the chapter really fast and focused this week on a project.

Step 1: Select a topic.
I broke them into groups of 2 or 3 then gave them a number of topics to select.  We have Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, Common Sense, Boston Tea Party, and Lexington and Concord represented.

Step 2: Research.
We are using popplet to record the research.  This is a graphic organizer creator.  Students had to give me 6-10 facts and at least two pictures.  At least three of the facts had to be found outside the textbook.

Step 3: Create.
We are using StoryKit to create a book.  Each page had specific information required.

·         Page 1 – Define the topic.  Include the date of the event.  Include a picture and audio.

·         Page 2 – Why did this happen? (What was the cause?) Include a picture and audio.

·         Page 3 – What was the effect of this event? Include a picture and audio.

·         Page 4 – How did this event lead to the American Revolution?  Include a picture and audio.

·         Page 5 – Source information.  Include author, title, and date for books and web address and date visited for web sites.  (Search engines don’t count.  Give me the address of the site that gave you the information or picture.)  If it gave you information or a picture, you need to list it!

My five groups are spread around the room and in the hallway creating now.  It's so cool to see them writing and speaking into the iPads.  They are learning.  They are creating!  They aren't bored!

I love it!

How have your students created a book on their iPads?