Techno Thursday!

Greetings! I've been using my iPad more and more every day in my classroom! I wanted to share a few new fun (and some free!) things we've been enjoying in first grade! Before I start mentioning apps, I must also tell you about THE most amazing thing I've heard of in quite some time. If you already knew this was possible, please ignore my enthusiasm. If you have a digital projector in your room, you can hook an Apple TV into the back to wirelessly stream WHATEVER is on your iPad directly through your projector. Our amazing PTO purchased one for me, and it's been a lifesaver. It's great for introducing new apps, projecting student work, the possibilities are endless... Look into it!

Our MOST favorite app is currently Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App! by Mo Willems... If your students are as obsessed with Mo Willems as mine our... Well, let's face it, I'm obsessed, too... They'll LOVE this app! It allows you to create your own Pigeon stories with endless possibilities, and even lets you record YOUR voice to be read within the story... Has provided endless entertainment during inside recess with all this rain! Highly recommend. There's even a Pigeon drawing tutorial. PLUS, the whole thing is narrated by Mo Willems. My kids were over the moon.

*Click to view in the app store*

*Click to view in the app store*

We just started our fractions unit, and I found this SUPER simple and *FREE* pizza fractions app. My kids love it. 

 *Click to view in the app store*

*Click to view in the app store*

Another math favorite is SLIDE! There are multiple versions of this game... some free, some paid, but all the same general concept. It's designed for 1-4 players, and students simply "slide" the right answer to the center. I love how one student sits on each side of the iPad. They rock at sharing this game.

*Click to view in the app store*

Any favorite apps that keep your kids busy and engaged?

Techy Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, friends! I don't know about you, but coming back on a dreary Monday after daylight savings was rough. Add a rainy Tuesday, and my kids were struggling. We plowed through it, and I'm crossing my fingers for a little sunshine tomorrow!

Anywho, I've got a few fun things to share... We love love LOVE our iPad Minis from Donors Choose. Here's 2 apps that we're hooked on. First off, I'm loving the Dr. Seuss digital bookshelf. It's free, and it's basically an easy way to organize your Dr. Seuss e-books. If you haven't played around with the Seuss books for iPad, you're missing out! They are absolutely incredible. There's 3 options for each book. Read To Me, Read It Myself & Auto Play. Right now my kiddos are listening to Cat in the Hat as their listening center, and it's pretty cool! The bookshelf also allows you to lock the app, preventing students from purchasing more books, which is super helpful! 

Also hooked on the Magnetic Alphabet app. It sounds silly, but we use it literally all the time. Mostly, I use it to introduce new phonics skills, rather than using those letter tiles that I hate sorting and putting away. It allows the students to drag letters and plop them on the board, then they can drag them back or erase the whole thing. The free version gives you one background and limited magnets. Love it.

Hope you can use these in your room!