Digital Kindergarten

2012-02-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

www.wegivebooks.org I love reading books to children and have hundreds of books in my personal classroom library of children's books. One of the ways I can enjoy a new book is through the site We Give Books.

Better yet, every time I read a book to my students or my own children a book is donated to a cause I choose. This month you can choose to "Read for Your School" and if you read 50 books the organization will send books to your school. Normally though, you choose an organization that is trying to get books to children in need or for a good cause, My students and children LOVE clicking the "Give a book" button after we read the books. What a terrific way to encourage reading and building a sense of urgency. Our favorite books to read right now are the Skippyjon Jones series... the kids beg for a story. We also like all the informational texts.

Today we read the book Little Dog Lost http://www.wegivebooks.org/books/little-dog-lost . My students talked about the problem (Ahlena says the dog was lost and he was on the ice) and some solutions (Austin thought a boat would come to help him). After reading the book the kids shared with a partner what they thought about the book. Jayden thought "He didn't know that the ice was going to come off." Jocelyn said "that the dog was floating away on the iceberg and he fell off halway and he came back up and the people rescued him."

Did we like the book?
17 kids thought the book was great.
Christian liked the dog being on the iceberg.
Cannon liked that people helped save the dog.
Kayli liked that it was a true story.
Ahlena liked that the people rescued the dog.
Maggie liked the part of when he was on the boat sleeping and he woke up.
Ashtyn liked when the dog put his chin on the rescuer's knee.
Tristan liked the part when the recuer grabbed him and got him off the iceberg.
Jayden liked the part when he was floating on the ice.
Isaac liked that it is a true story.
Nancy likes the name of the dog (Baltic).
Jacob liked that it was a true story.
Derek likes big ships and he really loved seeing them rescue the dog.
Austin liked when the guy saved him.
Kaylee liked it because it was real.
Avalon liked when the rescuers saved the dog.
Moses says the dog is cute.
1 kid did not like the book.
Allen did not like that the dog had to wait three days to be dry.

Finding Free Apps

2012-02-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

Using an appfinder app is a good way to find free apps; apps change prices and are often free upon launch to get good ratings in the store. One appfinder app is App Hits . You can see free or reduced price apps as well as ones that are new.

On Twitter here are some of the people who post about free or great apps that I follow:

@momswithapps (particularly on Fridays- Free App Friday!)

@agardner73

@techinspecialed

@iPodsibilities

@tonyvincent

@appsined

On the web:

http://techinspecialed.com/appy/

http://www.iPodsibilities.com

http://learninginhand.com

http://tonyvincent.net

http://momswithapps.com

On Facebook:

http://on.fb.me/ojDWep

http://tinyurl.com/4avxkf4

https://www.facebook.com/a4cwsn

Here is an app link that's free for the next day or so; the creator of the app has an email list (free the apps) and emails when their apps are free. Don't forget to check out apps made by developers you already like- sometimes they have more for free.

http://itunes.apple.com/app/sentence-maker/id499150658?mt=8

Using Blooms Taxonomy with Technology

2012-02-06T22:48:00.000-08:00

Great site to read over: http://langwitches.org/blog/category/ipad/ I particularly liked the emphasis on higher level use of iPads, etc. I agree that the iPad should be used as more than a fancy workbook.

These are a few of my favorite apps...

2012-02-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

Finding GOOD apps can be like finding a needle in a haystack, I hope the following app lists (thanks to the terrific site/program from AppList.me http://www.applist.me/us.php) can make your set up of classroom iPads a touch easier.

Click on the screenshot to go to my applist.me page- with over 300 apps I recommend for preK-3... or click here http://applist.me/QnbaR9

If the first link is a bit overwhelming here is a link to a similar, but more selective list (just over 100 apps). These are apps I use more often and are geared more towards PreK-1 http://applist.me/q0TpdZ

These are a few of my favorite posts...

2012-02-06T19:58:00.000-08:00

E-Reading with Young Children

2012-01-17T00:18:00.000-08:00

Are e-books as good, better or worse than traditional books? Are they 'bad' for young readers? How can you use them in the classroom or at home with your child... just a few questions I hope to answer in this post!

I was not very impressed with the first e-books I downloaded. While most were ok, they weren't GREAT and certainly not something I would pay for or even read over and over to my children. Yet, when I go to the library, I suppose I could say the same thing- out of the thousands of books available not all are as good as I'd like. Some of my favorite authors- Eric Carle, Jan Brett, Mo Williams, Kevin Henkes, are no brainers- if they wrote it I will probably like it. Other books are more of a risk- maybe I will want to pull my hair out after the second reading.

A good story touches the reader, and/or the illustrations and wording are so beautiful, funny, or poignant you can't seem to read the story too many times. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, No David, and Anne of Green Gables are just a few I love.

No matter how flashy an app book is, if the story is not interesting, the kids won't read it. To find a great ebook, start with a good book! Great e-books have options to read on your own (with the option to hear individual books read aloud by touching the word), listen to a narrator, and even record a loved one reading the book. Great e-books should have animations and sound effects that enhance the story. I think e-readers will be especially helpful to children learning a second language. One of my daughters beloved stories is the Little Red Hen. She likes the version told in Spanisn/English for the iPad. One of the best features of an ebook I have seen is in the Monster at the End of the Book story starring Grover. It has a little pop up for parents with suggestions on questions to ask your child to help with comprehension and enjoyment. On the home page there is a parent article with information on talking with your child about fears. The activities are completely related to the original idea of the book- Grover attempting to keep the reader from turning the page. For $3.99 the app is adorable, funny and true to the original story while adding some fabulous and fun features.

When I saw the board books by Sandra Boynton were being made into apps for the iPad I couldn't resist and I bought one. The Going to Bed Book has been a favorite story of mine to read to children for a over decade. I am sure I have a copy of it SOMEWHERE but I wanted to read it right then to my daughter. The price was reasonable (currently $3.99) and my card had some $$$ on it.
Am I glad I did- this book is a wonderful example of an interactive story for children while retaining the simple humor and beautiful prose. The animations and interaction options do not detract from the story, rather they enhance it. The background music is peaceful (and has an easy volume control on the opening page of the app). The narrator reads in a soothing voice.

What makes the book BETTER than the original board book is the way the animations and sound effects enhance the story, build vocabulary and help children understand concepts. The porthole shuts with a metal clunk, the sink squeaks on and steam fogs the screen- your child can even write their name in the steam. The boat sways on the water when you tilt the iPad/iPod and even the view of the water seen through the portholes tilt too. You can read this to a child in the SAME way as a board book-chose I want to read it myself- so it's certainly just as good as a book (it even uses a page turning motion). However, when your child wants to read independently they can- and they will. They can read to themselves, touch a word for help, or listen to the story. This book will draw them in, night after night. It helps that I like to read it too!

Another ebook that my children (and I) enjoy is Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Big Adventure. The book was $4.99 upon last check, and I believe I got to download it while it was free. I have no problem paying for a book- especially since it can't get wet or ripped and I won't have to add it to the overflowing bookshelves in my house. It's also nice that I can pull it out wherever I am- because where I go my device goes. My kids like the story and illustrations and I like the features. You can read it in book mode on your own, the narrator can read it in playback mode (and it's easy to pause so you can discuss the story too), or you can even record yourself (or your child) reading it and play that back. While having the app read the story it highlights the word being read.

I will try to add more of my favorite e-books on here tomorrow and finish answering some of the questions I started with!