Digital Storytelling

Storytelling in the digital age certainly looks a little different.  Online and App programs make it easier than ever to tell an engaging story that get the kids involved.  

Storybird is a free online service that can also be accessed on a computer or on your iDevices.  Their website sums it up a lot better than I could: "Storybird lets anyone make visual stories in seconds. We curate artwork from illustrators and animators around the world and inspire writers of any age to turn those images into fresh stories."  I like that artists create several images using the same characters or style and the kids can use their imagination to tell a story or poem.  It seems pretty "click and drag" simple too (even better :)  You can create usernames and passwords for all of your children.  The program will publish the finished book to a URL that you can link, e-mail, or post on your website.

PLUS, it can fit easily into your ELA curriculum, Writer's Workshop, integrated into science or SS AND it meets Common Core expectations.  Students can do it in pairs, small groups, independently (great for early finishers), or whole class (HA! I think we've covered all of our bases?! Pretty much anyone, anywhere, and with anything??)  You can read more about Storybird by going to: storybird.com/about/.  Storybird is just one of many digital storybook builders out there (like ZooBurst which is a little more advanced, but creates cool 3D books).  So look around and see what else you can find!

Click this link to see an example of a completed Storybird book :)

ShowMe the Learning!

How do we know a child has grasped a skill?  They can reteach it (and actually know what they are talking about!) In cooperative groups or whole class, children can use the iPad to create videos, showMes, or even Prezis or Power Points to reteach topics learned in class.

Apps like ShowMe or Educreations two free Apps (and websites) that not only record what the children are drawing on its white-board like screen, but also their voice-over.  It publishes the finished recording to a website URL which can then be posted to a website or e-mailed.  In a single class period, a math topic for example, can be taught, reviewed whole-class with a ShowMe, and posted to a classroom website for the children to reference when they are doing homework.
Kids can also do this in small groups as a "show what they know" type activity.  They could reteach a concept for the benefit of other students.  Here is an example of a simple ShowMe that was done by a student in a small group setting: Click here to view the ShowMe link

Ok, I'm forewarning you, we are going to differentiate up next so if you are feeling like being overwhelmed is a possiblity, go ahead and stop now!  ShowMe is a basic, easy tool to use.  A good place to start :)

Podasts & Vodcasts (video podcasts) are videos or voice overs that review the lessons learned in class.  Similar to what you could do with a ShowMe, but this would use a video to reteach a concept (and is a little more advanced as it involves more steps between the iDevice and computer).  You can still post it to the web and the children can reference this if they need help on homework.  The children have to work together as a team to create clear, concise videos with math or Common Core language.  Here is an example of one that was done a couple of years ago reteaching rounding. I use iMovie on my Mac to get the video from my iPad onto the computer, but you could use Windows Movie Maker, or an easier alternative, is download your video to YouTube or SchoolTube and link it that way.  You can even download your videos from the YouTube App without having to download to your computer first.

Picture stories can be made as a class collaborative project or in small groups.  These can be comprehensive or skill specific.  You can write a story as a class, have individuals or groups illustrate the pages, scan it into the computer, and put the pages together in a PowerPoint.  Have the children record a narration and you have an instant class classic! Or use the camera to illustrate a story and put a book together the same way. 
My children wrote real-world school math problems that were "challenging" and then had to go around WJG to take pictures to "illustrate" each problem.  We turned it into a vodcast, but you could do the same thing with PowerPoint (and probably more effectively too, the speed moves pretty fast through the video and we constantly had to pause and discuss as a class how to solve the problems, but you get the idea :)

QR Craze

Quick Response codes, commonly shortened QR, are similar to barcodes.   Information on a barcode can only be stored (and scanned) from side to side.   QR codes, however, are like a small block and can store information up/down AND side/side, meaning you can pack a lot more information into their small little space.  QR codes are wonderful (and quick) self-checking tools to use in centers and for individual or whole class instruction!

CODE:
All you need is a code and a scanner to get started.  You can create them on the web as simply as typing into a box and hitting enter... and voila!  There are a variety of different websites out there if you google search "QR generator."  My favorite site is delivr.com/QR-Code-Generator.  It is pretty straight forward and easy to navigate.  I'll use this site to show you how...

Step 1: Go to the Delivr website

Step 2: Change Code Type to Text

You can program lots of different QR codes, but the one you'll probably use the most is just a Text one.  You can make it "say" whatever you want!

Step 3: Type your text and click Generate QR Code

Type in the box and generate your code.  As easy as that!

Step 4: Save your QR code as a JPG to copy, paste, and print it.

Your computer will save it in a different program that will be able to open your QR code.  You can usually go to the Edit menu, Select All, Copy, and then paste it in Word.

SCANNER:
Use a QR reader app on your iDevice to scan the codes (Qrafter is my favorite and is probably loaded on your WJG iPads already).

ACTIVITIES:

• Quiz-quiz trade cards can be created and children scan to find the right answer.  EOG type questions can be placed on one side of the card and when the children scan the code on the back, they'll not only get the right answer, but you can program it to say step-by-step instructions for finding the correct answer.  These self-checking type activities would be especially useful for independent early finisher type activities or small group.

• Fan-N-Pick mat can be redesigned to include a "Scan, Check & Praise" corner.  Used just like the Kagan Fan-N-Pick, but add QR answers on the back of quiz-quiz trade cards to create a self-checking center.

• When I require children to do a specific website or want them to watch a certain web-based video (those have the longest most confusing web addresses), I create a QR code using the web address of that particular site and display it through my projector.  Children point their devices at the board and scan (it even works from the back of the room).  Website based centers get started quickly with no confusion!  

• Create codes for commonly used classroom websites, laminate them, and attach them to a ring.  Keep it in a central location and allow the children access to it when needed.

• http://qrvoice.net/ is a cool new website that turns your text into audio.  When the kids scan the code, an automated voice reads whatever you programmed it to say.  I've read about an activity where the teacher created sight word audio QR codes for a kindergarten class.  In small groups, the children played bingo using the cards.  

  

  Scan to try it out!  It creates a web address with your text on it, so you will just need to Open your URL to hear it :)

• You can create website scavenger hunts using QRs.  
• Place QRs in important places around the school (office, nurse, cafeteria) and give new students "a QR tour" of the school.  
• My kids have created their own codes in the computer lab with creative smilies and metaphors.  The children had a blast traveling from desk to desk scanning each others work.  
• Teachers Pay Teachers has TONS of different QR activities that are engaging (and all the work is already done).  

The possibilities are endless :)

21st Century Centers

As the requirements for what needs to be accomplished during a school day get more demanding, valuable teaching time is a precious thing! Centers just seemed to make sense and fit into my classroom routine (excuse me, my third-graders informed me centers was for little kids and so we call it rotations. Much more grown-up huh?) Whatever you want to call it, our "daily-five-ish" rotations maximized a half-hour time slot to the fullest. Plus, I was able to incorporate a lot of technology into them, which was a wonderful (and easy) way to differentiate up or down to meet the small group's needs. If you only have one iPad and a computer extenda, you could work in only two technology centers. Or, alter it to fit your needs or class structure... SO if you don't do centers-- maybe you could use some aspects, like the fluency part whole class OR, just for you Mr. Evans, I linked a website for PE.

My back wall houses my Center Central... my round boards courtesy of the magnetic pizza pan Pinterest craze of 2012 :)

With only a thirty-minute time slot to work with, I chose to do four rotations.  This was something new for me last school year, so I took it in baby steps!  I got my math board from Clutter-Free Classroom on TPT.  I'd do one rotation a day Monday-Thursday and alternate weeks, one week reading and the next math.  Once we got the hang of it, things went faster and we could even fit two rotations in one day.

Math:
I has able to incorporate a lot of apps into my math rotations.  Especially since there are tons of hands on manipulative and math facts apps available like Kid Klok, Fractions, and Base Ten Blocks.  Math Word Problems by Teacher Created Resources (for grades 1-5) was one I used quite often and I liked that it asked the children math problems, but also provided manipulatives to help them visually work it out.  The children's favorite app is Multiplication (by Sierra SkyWare Inc.), which connects the iPods over wifi and lets the kids battle each other (there is an interactive version available for division as well).  Websites like Interactive Sites are useful too.  At your Seat was usually doing Scoot Pad or Brain Pop on the iPads and I worked with a small group during Teacher's Choice.

Reading:
Engaged Fluency during reading rotations was my favorite (and most worthwhile aspect).  I would even do this some days by itself for extra practice.  The children used Voice Memos (iPod Touches) or iRecorder (iPad) to record audio version of  picture books.  They sometimes did this in pairs (high/low) or independently.  They had to choose a book they were familiar with and was, preferably, toward the bottom of their reading level.  The focus wasn't to provide vocabulary challenge, but fluency practice.  They really got into this, sometimes recording a book two or three times before they got it "just right".  They knew others were going to listen to their audio recordings so they took the time to do it with expression, flow, and proper pronunciation of words.  I used this strategy for my struggling readers a lot too.  They were required to record a book and listen to it twice before they tested on it.  They didn't do this with every book, but it was a lot less overwhelming for them than having to read something three times.  Digital Learning was usually Scoot Pad or RAZ kids and Reading Comprehension was an app like Reading Comprehension: Solar System , Teacher Created Resources makes tons of ELA games, or Reading Comprehension Prep by Peekaboo Studios (available for grades 3-7). I tried to incorporate quick writing in At your Seat, either in small groups with me or as a CCSS reader's response to something on Tween Tribune Jr.. (These things could be easily adapted to/ used in the library environment too!)


21st century learning at its best!


Resource:
I didn't forget about you John! PE is totally out of my realm of things I know, but I found some websites in my research that might be helpful (ok, I found only ONE so I hope it's not a repeat for you, but it's a pretty good one)! Click here to take you to the site. It seems like it has interesting apps, I especially like the one that becomes a heart rate monitor when you hold your finger over the camera! Plus, there are YouTube videos for each of the apps to actually show you how they work! Time to get started on your Bright Ideas grant right? :)

Here's also a great site for Music: http://www.plattscsd.org/oak/smartboard/music.htm
and the Interactive Sites mentioned earlier has cool games for Art!