Primary Tech Tools

One time I can always be certain my students will be excited to record their voice while reading is when we use ChatterPix! This app, created by Duck Duck Moose is a classroom favorite. It comes in handy when students have complete reports about a nonfiction topic and have drawings that go along with their work, but we have used it in so many different ways! To use the app, simply take a picture of something from inside the app. Then it gives the user the chance to draw a mouth across the image. After that, it gives 30 seconds to create a recording. When finished, the video looks as though the image is speaking, reporting whatever had just been recorded. There is also options to add in stamps, filters, and other fun details. The app allows the user to easily export it to the camera roll or share it through email.  Here is an example from a time my students created repeated addition and multiplication sentences using a puppy and its food bowls. This student created a word p...

I have been working on getting my masters in Educational Technology over the past year. It has been quite a process and throughout, I've learned a great deal about subjects I knew very little about and have reaffirmed knowledge in areas I already knew. One topic I have found very interesting is the idea of "digital natives" and "digital immigrants." Put simply, for the most part, digital natives were born into technology use or have used technology for a majority of their lifetimes. They feel comfortable using new technology and find it intuitive. Typically, digital immigrants, meanwhile, were not born into technology. Similar to immigrants to a new place, digital immigrants had to learn technology use almost if learning a new language and figure out how to adapt.  I found all of this to have such huge implications for the way that I operate within my school. Working with second graders, I can assume that the students I interact with are digital natives. The...

Have you ever used Seesaw before? In my classroom, we utilize Seesaw a lot! I find it to be very user friendly and my second graders can easily upload their work, then use the Seesaw app to add another layer of learning. When learning about arrays and the differences between rows and columns, students use manipulatives to create their own array. This is the easy part and they are usually excited to get out the Legos, hashtag blocks, small erasers, and any other small items they can use to create. Once they have made an array out of the items of their choosing, they grab an iPad and use it to take a photograph in Seesaw. If you are new to Seesaw, on the main page when anyone logs in, there is a large, green plus sign. After clicking on this, the user has choices. Users can add a photo, drawing, video, notes they've typed, a link, or upload files, photos, or videos. Once my students used the "photo" option to take a picture, they could click on a microphone on the ...

I have so much exploring lately to find new tools that I can use with my second graders in the upcoming school year. Here are some that I have used before and can't wait to use with my new class! Blended Play This is a website that has six different games to choose from. The games can be played with up to six players (or teams). There are different game boards and once students choose their color avatar and team name, they compete to answer questions correctly. I love this site because questions can be preloaded or asked on the fly by the teacher. Once a question is ask, simply select whether teams got it correct or incorrect and the characters will move closer to their goal. To play, the teacher must create a login ahead of time. Each time I have played this with students, they get instantly excited! I like to play with students in groups. Each student has a dry-erase board and is responsible for making sure their answer matches their partners in order to get credit. This ...

August 14th will be the start of my tenth year teaching second grade. I can't believe it! When reflecting on my teaching career and thinking back to my first year teaching, it seems like just yesterday. I remember feeling nervous and excited, wanting to provide my students with the best resources and most engaging lessons. I was so worried about doing the best job I could. I also remember feeling overwhelmed. In a technology driven world, there are so many options, endless opportunities! How would I ever decide what worked for me and my classroom? I remember stumbling on a few great teacher blogs that were full of great tips, resources, and ideas. Those blogs led to other blogs and soon I found my way to TeachersPayTeachers and various teacher groups on social network sites. Many of them, I still use today. This is my attempt to pay it forward. I have participated as a consumer of information for these past ten years. All the while, I have barely contributed or taken part in the c...