Today was a very exciting day at school! Not only was it the first day back after the winter holidays, but it was also the first day that we started using an iPad in the classroom. The children loved it!
First, I showed them how to use the Audio Memos app. @techieang suggested using this one instead of Talking Tom, highlighting some of the issues that she had with the Talking Tom app. This is what I love about my PLN! Everyone came through with some great suggestions yesterday, and I could modify my plans accordingly. Audio Memos was fantastic! The children loved recording their reading and even discussing the reading strategies that they used too.
During Buddy Reading today, two students looked at a Wordless Picture Book together. They used Audio Memos to create their own story to correspond to this book. Here it is:
I love listening to their story, and even hearing how they add to each other’s ideas. They were so engaged in this activity!
Then I showed the students how to use the Twitter For iPad app to tweet about their learning throughout the day. A Grade 2 student was my first daily microblogger. Below is a photograph of him tweeting along with a screen capture of his tweets. I love his use of invented spelling! Please note that we were “drawing” not “drooling,” but this spelling substitution definitely made me giggle!:)
Tweeting on the iPad
Screen Capture Of Tweeting
Our final iPad activity for today came about unexpectedly. Unfortunately, the bulb in my projector blew after first nutrition break today, and as a result, the SMART Board was out of commission. For one of our new math centres, the students were going to complete a group blog post on the SMART Board explaining what they learned about patterning. Two students were at this centre today. I was going to have them share the laptop to do this activity instead, but one of them asked if they could use the iPad too. She said that her dad has Pages on his Mac, so she said she could use this app for writing. What a great idea! The two students then decided to take turns writing on the laptop and writing on the iPad in Pages, and then we copied and pasted the finished blog post into our group blog. This is what I like to think of as a “happy accident!”
Patterning Blog On The iPad 1
Patterning Blog On The iPad 2
The iPad was definitely a huge success today, but the best moment came at the end of the day when one student said to me, “Usually I don’t like writing, but writing on the iPad is actually fun. Thanks Miss Dunsiger!” And this says it all!
For all of you that have used the iPad with your students before, what are some of your success stories? I’d love to hear how your students respond to using the iPad too. The student feedback is really what it’s all about. Now I just can’t wait to “jump in” again tomorrow!
Aviva
Sounds like you had quite a first day back. What I’ll be interested in following is how suggestive spelling fares with inventive spelling. I know that I get frustrated at times. Even in this reply, my iPad suggested word press instead of wordpress when I typed my blog address.
Thanks for the comment, Doug! It’s funny: I almost turned off the suggested spelling today. I may still do that. I know that it frustrates me at times, and it’s not necessarily what I want for the students. I’ll need to think about this one. Thanks for getting me thinking!
Aviva
Aviva,
Sounds like a great first day ‘jumping in’ with your iPad! I love that you have captured the experiences with audio and pictures, as well! Great ideas! Have fun with it! I can’t wait to read more about what you and your students use the iPad for!
Lesley
Thanks Lesley! It was a great day, and the students just loved the iPad. I can’t wait to see what else they do with it!
Thanks again for the comment!
Aviva
You certainly jump in right away. It sounds like a fabulous first day with the iPad. I’m glad to hear and see the students experienced success with AudioMemo. It’s a great tool for recording.
I look forward to hearing about the great things you try in your classroom.
TechieAng.
Thanks Angie! I can’t thank you enough for all of the ideas and all of the feedback yesterday too. You really helped make today a success! You inspire me so much!
I guess that I don’t do well with taking things “slow” :), but I was thrilled with how the students reacted to the iPad today and how much success they had with it too. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Thanks again for the comment!
Aviva
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Wow! iPad is one of the reasons I decided to give Twitter a try. In a few weeks, I will have 15 iPads for 1 week. I’m so excited I could burst. I’m a bit frutrated because I don’t have access to one until that week, so I’m not sure what to do with them.
I love the blogging idea. How do you use Twitter with your students? Are there privacy issues?
I have a millions quesitons for you…. I have a hard time taking it “slow” as well.
Wow! This is exciting! If you twet mr, I’m happy to share my email address with you, and you can ask me all of your million questions. Hopefully I can help! As for Twitter, I have two class Twitter accounts, and my students tweet from them. They only use their first name or initials. It’s been great!
Have fun with the iPads!
Aviva
Hello,
just read your blog post and thought you might be interested in testing my app in your classroom -it allows to play with letters (with phonics sounds) and also build simple or complex words with fun. Some teachers and educators are already using it.
I can provide you with a promo code to have it for free ; tell me if you’re interested and I will send you the code. I’m really interested by teacher’s feedback, and how I can make the app even greater.
here is the link so that you can check what it is:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/montessori-crosswords-learn/id384334005?mt=8
and the trailer video on youTube:
http://youtu.be/qh5MsNVV9dM
Pierre
Thanks for the comment! I appreciate your offer, but I don’t think that the app is best suited for the students in my class. It looks like a great app though, and I’m sure that children must love it!
Aviva
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