Some great programs that will help you with motivating your students to turn your library into a place that they cannot be without:

...and your teachers, too!


 Kahoot
      a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn –...
      Set up account at GetKahoot.com and then build a fun game for you, your students, etc.

Haikudeck
     presentations that inspire. We make telling your story simple, beautiful and fun

Canva
     makes design simple for everyone. Create designs for Web or print: blog graphics, presentations, Facebook covers, flyers, posters, invitations and so much more.

Screencast-O-Matic
      create and share screen cast recordings

Remind
      a communication tool that helps teachers reach students and parents where they are.

Teach With Movies
     Movie Lesson Plans Based on Films that will Inspire and Motivate Students; 425+ Movie Lesson Plans for High School, Middle School, Elementary and Home ...

Adobe Spark
     the easiest way to create impactful, visual stories that will wow your audience on every device.

Shout out to Naomi Bates...an amazing techie librarian! I am not sure how she gets everything done that she does: book reviews, book trailers, tech advice, app information...and the list goes on!

She posted this on LinkedIn and I just needed to share it!

Integrating iPad Apps Into High School Content.

This is set up in LiveBinders and if you have never used them, they are a great way to organize your 'stuff!'

The apps are divided by subject content. Click away and enjoy!

I hope you will find ones that work for your area!

Oh, yes....Naomi can be found here: Naomi at ScoopIt, Naomi at Google+, Naomi's Blog and Naomi at LinkedIn.

So Many Apps

It seems like every workshop or conference that I go to, someone has 3 or 4 apps for the iPad and/or Android platform that they just can't live without.

This past June, Connie and I and another friend, Carol, were able to attend an amazing technology conference in San Antonio: ISTE, 2013! If you ever get the chance to go, it is worth every penny!

We had some awesome sessions. In this post I will share a few apps and how to use them in the classroom. Watch for a later post that will share some great websites and other technology tools for your classroom!

Dropbox - First 2 GB free. Sometimes your phone provider will have more available for free when renewing your phone contract. Access and share your photos, docs and videos from any device.

CloudOn - brings Microsoft Office to your iPhone and iPad and links it to Dropbox, GoogleDrive, Box, SkyDrive. Free version and a purchased version. Use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point on your iPhone and iPad to create, review and edit documents.

lino it - online stickie service that offers stickies and canvases. You can post, see and peel off stickies on canvases. Post memos, pictures and videos you take with your iPhone, an even files as stickies on a canvas. Set due dates on your stickies and receive a an Email reminder on the morning of the due date. Stickies with due dates can be viewed in Google Calendar or Outlook.
     Classroom use:
          Make a bulletin board for students
          Students can post reminders for homework, projects, etc.
          Post questions to review
          Put on links for students to access
          Assign projects with directions - great for research projects
          Post a question, students post a response...then have students go back a few days later and responds to someone's post
           Post a short video clip and ask students to watch and post a response
           Build a collage of historical photos, students caption them, why important
           Post a picture and ask student to identify
           Write one word that describes a literary or historical character and an example of when that one word description was evident
           Students can post short book reviews/teasers
           Use this with teachers: have them post ideas, reviews, etc for iPad apps, books, videos, etc.

Class Dojo - great online and iPad app for classroom management
         

Student Created eBooks

I just read an awesome blog entry about students creating their own ebooks. 1st through 5th grade students authored their own ebooks!

Once the books met a specific criteria, the school librarian cataloged those books into the school's online catalog so that they were available for other student and teachers to read! How awesome is that?

Students used an app called Book Creator and had to research their information.

If this sounds like a project that you are interested in, visit this site for more detailed information:
part 1:
http://www.follettsoftware.com/LibraryConnections/archives.cfm/date/2013/7

part 2:
http://www.follettsoftware.com/LibraryConnections/archives.cfm/date/2013/8

Samples of 1st grade authored ebooks:
http://blog.springfield.k12.or.us/weslibrary/mrs-pattersons-ebooks-2/

Criteria for creating an ebook for the library collection:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_ysUQ7z-O38q87IFlqiNyZ5a-pUYiLEqzniZbKzLW9o/edit

ISTE 2013

Connie and I just got back from an amazing technology conference in San Antonio! And, of course, the Riverwalk just added to all of the fun!

Watch our blog for information on some of the great sessions we attended.

If you haven't found all of the great Pinterest posts on education, it is time to get started...and you can even collaborate on Pinterest!

Google Drive is simply awesome and we will be posting some basic 'how to's' so you can get started using this resource!

Naturally, we also attended several app presentations and have even more ideas on how to use these in your classroom!

Check back soon! I will begin posting as soon as I recover from all of the great food we had from those Riverwalk restaurants!

QR Codes

QR codes are becoming increasingly popular in the classroom.

For an easily adaptable lesson to any subject matter, visit this site: Learning With iPads.

Use this with World Geography to study a specific country or countries, English to study poetry or specific authors, or even Foreign Language class to find translations or cultural information.

Don't overlook the power of QR Codes!

50 Really Useful iPad Tips and Tricks

I have not had a chance to really dig into this website, but so far everything I have read about the various tips and tricks with an iPad has been very useful!

I also notice a link on the site for 80 Free iPad Apps for 2013 and 70 Best Top iPad Games for 2013!

Be sure to visit this one for some great ideas!

Apps...apps everywhere!

I am constantly amazed by the number of apps that are available and how they can be adapted for the classroom! Just doing a general browse the other day on the Internet, I ran across this: 20 Amazing iPad apps for Educators.

This also has some excellent tips:  K-12 News, Lessons & Shared ResourcesBy Teachers, For Teachers.

Transportation, copyright, iBooks and more

What a great idea for a transportation unit for Kindergarten students:

http://langwitches.org/blog/2013/05/18/amplification-transportation-survey/

This site is filled with ideas for using technology in the classroom and also pulling in iPads and various apps: http://langwitches.org.

You can also subscribe to receive ideas and updates by email.

Pinterest and Education...especially using apps and iPads

Are you a Pinterest aficionado? I admit...I am completely addicted. I have lost track of how many boards I have and how many people I am following!

If you want to find out what Pinterest has for apps and iPads, be sure to follow this user: http://pinterest.com/techchef4u/ipad-lessons/

These two ladies really have some great ideas!

I have added several iPad apps and how to use them in the classroom to my board: Awesome Apps.

I have a few more ideas in this board: Educate.

If you have not discovered all the great tips for education, technology and classroom ideas, check it out soon!!!!

QR Codes in the Classroom

There are so many things that you can do with QR Codes.

One suggestion is to have your students write a short book review (teaching summarizing) and then post the reviews on your website. Or perhaps, you can talk the librarian into posting them on her library website. The QR codes can be posted throughout the school and you can also attach the QR codes to the book in the library.

Another suggestion is to do a scavenger hunt around the school. Maybe your students have a spelling list, are going on a trip (geography), or some other type of activity.

For a great step-by-step guide to completing a QR Code activity, click here. For more great information using an iPad, go to iPad4Schools.

I just found a great new site by a fellow librarian! She describes herself as an 'all around Nerd,' but visit her blog for great technology tips!

I especially love her link to some amazing apps for the iPad:
App Smackdown.

Sharing Photos on Twitter

Just heard about a great new app that makes sharing photos on Twitter really easy. It is TweetPhoto. Has anyone used this app?

Awesome new app...how about 'chirping?'

I was reading one of the blogs that I follow...TechChef4u...and they were talking about 'chirping.' Wait...I thought we were 'twittering!' This technology is moving way too fast for me!! LOL!

To access the blog entry, click here...there is also an awesome video explaining what 'chirping' is!

Download the Chirp app today! It is awesome! So, how can you use it in your classroom?

Blast out a message, task or link to all students in a classroom. Consider giving a PDF, a url or sharing an entire Dropbox folder of documents with one little chirp.

Or… let out a cheery chirp over the morning announcements and allow students to receive the unique link or message through their mobile devices… school wide!

If you use it, please leave a comment letting me know how you incorporated it into your teaching.

Everyday Apps for You From 7-25-12 Workshop

OK, ladies and gentlemen, you asked for it, so here is a partial list which will probably always be a work in progress!  This is a partial list of some of the apps that we used today (July 25, 2012) in our presentation.

Map Overlay - Social Studies, Economics, Geography, Foreign Language, Marketing
Animal Effects - Reading, Spelling, Ag. Science, Elementary Social Studies?
Sight Words - Reading, Spelling
Motivational Poster - Any subject area, any grade level
Missing Link - Spelling, English, Vocabulary, Dictionary Skills
Us Timeline - Social Studies, Research,
Sparkle Fish - Reading, Grammar, English, Math
Videolicious - Any subject area, any grade level - Be Creative!!!!
Story Lines - Any subject area, any grade level - Be Creative!!!!!
Translator Express - Foreign Language, classroom management
Shakespeare - English/language arts, Social Studies/History
Graphbook - Physics?, Geometry?
Epic Citadel - I think this could be used in a variety of classroom situations!  Be Creative!
Today's Doc - Social Studies/History
Letter Words - Vocabulary builder, Reading, Spelling
iPad Tips & Tricks - getting more familiar with your iPad.
Speak & Send
Mad Libs - Any subject
3D Brain - Science, Child Development
21 Flags - Social Studies
360 - photo app for 3D photography
SpiroDoodle - art, design
Creatures of LIght - Science
Apod - Science
Arounder - Social Studies, Foreign Langauge, Food Science
Sightwords Hangman
Sight Words Free
Magic Piano - Music, Theater, Choir, Band?
Guitar - Music, Choir, Theater, Band?
Flashcardlet - any subject
iFLIPchart - any subject

Apps to Find Free Apps!

App Hits - my favorite!
App Tracker
Apps Promo
TechChef4U
AppShopper
FreeAppADay
HotAppFinder - my least favorite!



Here are some more free apps supplied to me by a co-worker:

Preschool:

Toddler Shapes

ABC Tracing

Timmy's Preschool Adventure

Phototouch Farm Animals

FarmSounds (this would be just silly fun for HS kids)

Cursive Practice

English Stuff:

The Raven

Quotes and More

Shake and Tell (subject/story starter)

Gardens of Time (create your own story)

Quotes wp

Blurb mobile

Idioms

Novel Idea

Scribble Press

Other stuff:

The States

Evernote

iTunes U

Pass the Past

Smithsonian

JogNog (study helper)

The first list is the apps from my notes for our 7-25-12 workshop.  We will continue to update this list as time goes by.  Thanks for being so supportive of our efforts in education!

DISCLAIMER:  please remember, that we troll the free app applications often looking for new apps to share.  Apps are often free for a short period of time to showcase them and promote them, and then they will become a paid app again.  So, don't be upset with us if you go to get an app and it is no longer a free app.  I am starting a wish list with notifications turned on on Appshopper so I might be able to pick up some of the paid apps I like without having to pay for them!  After all, I am the original cheap skate!  Happy App Shopping!