Wallwisher

Students watched an adaptations video from watchknow.org, a Brain Pop video on camouflage then posted their thoughts on adapations using wallwisher.com

This was the first time we used wallwisher.com. This replaces the chart paper and stickies or even a KWL chart that we are used doing. Next time I used this I would not have all the students try posting all at once. Students received error messages, so I had some students go play a camouflage game online while others posted then we switched. This seemed to work out better.

On the teacher end of wallwisher it is very easy to set-up!! There are so many uses for this in the classroom.

ITouches and Science

Finding Out A Question She had about a Flower in The Text

Using the Newbooks for Research beyond the Text

Technology and TAKS

We are officially in "testing season" right now and both Annie and I have been using the netbooks and iPod Touches as stations in math. Students are going to Odyssey using the netbooks and we have been having the students use any of our math apps on the iTouches. We have download 2 brain apps (Brain Trainer and Luminosity). Luminosity requires students to sign up and because it keeps track of your progress. It is fun though-- I have played it on my own at home and I hope it's helping my memory!

Our school recently purchased First in Math for our after school program. As soon as we receive usernames & passwords for our students they will be using this web based program on the netbooks. I am hoping in the near future they come out with an app on this.

Free rice is a great website my students love going to and they are donating rice. This would be another great app! Students have been accessing this through Safari on the iTouches.

Return to Glogster

We have been studying colonization to Texas. As a way of trying to help students remember the famous people and vocabulary students made a Glogster. The technical difficulties we had at the beginning of the year have been resolved. Every now and then something weird happens when using Glogster. One student dragged an image onto his wall and for some reason he had an abundant supply of arrows. It was almost like the drag a copy action in Inspire. Students did ask if they could make an Animoto instead.... I told them for our next project they can make an Animoto.

Students will be researching a famous Texan who fought in the Texas Revolution or was one of the famous Old Three Hundred. Students will then create an Animoto--they are excited to get an opportunity to use Animoto again. One thing I really like about Animoto is that it can be done so quickly Glogster are more time intensive and take several days to complete depending upon how fancy the Glog is. I find it interesting that students prefer Animoto over Glogster-- it must be the music video feel to it.