While researching for this week’s blog I came across a page on the apple site specifically about apps for the classroom.(http://www.apple.com/education/apps) I was so excited! I have only had my iPhone for a few months. I have apps for my daughter on it, but never thought about looking for apps to actually use in the classroom. First of all I know my students would go nuts over an iPad and the ability to use it in the classroom. We do not have any at our school so it would have to be a personal one if used in the classroom. After doing this research, I may be asking for one for my upcoming birthday. One thing I learned about an iPad was that you can hook it up to an HD tv or HD projector. That would be awesome to use as a tool for teaching, but also as a way to teach students how to use an iPad. I would also have to transition the students into using it because at first I would be the only one using it until they can prove to me they are responsible. An Otterbox case would be my next purchase for sure.
The first app I found was MathBoard. (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mathboard/id373909837?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4) The cost is $4.99, but if compared to the price of flash cards or manipulatives is a good deal! I like how it looks like an actual chalk board, which many of my students have probably never seen actually used in the classroom but that is besides the point. This app can be used for K through 5th grade because it starts with simple addition and subtraction and moves on to multiplication, division, squares, square roots, and cubes. You can limit the numbers on the problems and the number of problems. You can also set a time limit for a quiz. I would use this app as a math center once the students are able to responsible enough to use it. Since I teach 3rd grade I would use the multiplication part of the app and use the timer. After taking the quiz, the students would be able to review their incorrect answers and retake the quiz until they get 80% correct. Another great aspect of this app is how it has multiplication tables that students can look at if they need to review before retaking the quiz.
The next app is The Presidency (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-presidency/id370072846?mt=8), and best of all it is free! What teacher doesn’t love free things? This app would be a great resource to use while learning about our U.S. Presidents. It gives the basic information on each president including date of birth, years in office, the political party, and photographs. I would use this as part of a research center rotation. Again, the students who use the iPad must be responsible and have proved to me that they can handle it. I would give each student or a pair of students a president that they must write a short report on. I would start them each in a center and the ones using this app would be able to pull up all the information they would need for their report.
Researching for this blog was fun! I think I'll ask for an iPad for my birthday too! The math app you found was very similar to one that caught my eye as well. That sounds like a great way for students to get a little interactive extra practice on their math facts. Its great that you can use it for any grade level because at the beginning of third grade you can review 2nd grade level facts and at the end of third grade you can begin using the 4th grade facts. This is a neat feature. I like your idea about using this app in a math center. I think using the quiz is a great idea; the fact that this app lets you retake the quiz until you get at least an 80% is great. I know that would be great for strugglers.
ReplyDeleteYour history app sounds like a great way to introduce the presidents as you learn about them if you connect the iPad to a projector.
Crystal,
ReplyDeleteI am like you. I was excited to learn just how many apps there are available for use in the classroom. It is almost overwhelming. I'm sure it is like anything else. You would have to be careful of the real educational value of the app or it may be more entertaining than educational. I also looked at Math Board. The price is very reasonable. It seemed easy to use and easy to monitor student's progress on. I liked the way you set a goal of 80% for your students to move on. I also liked The Presidency app. I always did a famous Americans project with my second graders in February. One year I did presidents rather than just famous Americans. They had to find certain facts about their president. Then they wrote a short report and drew a picture of their president to present to the class. They had to go to the library and the librarian helped them use the computers in the library to do their research. An ipad in the classroom would save a trip to the library and this app would be perfect for that project. Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Crystal, I also was excited to learn how many apps their are for the classroom! I also found the math board app and it looks like a great resource to use for math practice! I also like the presidency app! That would be great to use for stations when students are researching about the presidents. The ipad is an amazing tool to use in the classroom and I know students will absolutely love it! I hope we can all get one for Christmas/ Birthdays!:)
ReplyDeleteCrystal, I'm with you! I'm looking for ways to get an ipad for my classroom. I have my own personal, but really do not want to take it up to the school with all my personal information in it. I'm so excited about the thought of incorporating one into my classroom and using these apps. I love the idea of hooking it up to the projector and teaching students how to use it. (Although, most probably already know how!) Otterbox would be a great investment-- totally worth the money! I'm excited about all the apps available. I saved your sites on my Delicious account and will be using them as soon as I can get an ipad in my classroom!! :) Thanks for sharing!
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