I've found it!!!

Well last semester, I began using a PDF reader to have my students write on documents I sent them. We began with Benchmarks as PDF's to go back over questions students' missed. They could work out the problems and save their writing on the iPad. I used it with other documents as well. The kids could highlight, underline, and show work! Although the idea was fabulous, I wasn't in love with the app I had! I began searching for PDF readers that were free! As you can imagine, the free apps were not user friendly. I knew there had to be a way to send a test or paper out to kids and have them complete the work.  Well last week, I was introduced to an app that is kid friendly and make my classroom paperless - yeah! I sent a math test out! The kids showed all their work and answered the questions! They sent their test back as a PDF! (Through email) I opened their completed task in the same app, graded in another color, and sent it back to kids and parents!! Aww. Not a paper passed over my desk to get lost in the mess!  The app is called: "Notes Anytime"

 App Logo!

Also I was looking for an app that would create graphs and allow kids to save their progress and do it easily. Graphing is part of our standards.  Graphing personal gains or goals is a huge part of Marzano's evaluation system. The only app I knew that did that was "Numbers" but it is $9.99.  I did not want to spend that much on 30 apps.  After being reminded of a kid friendly website that creates different types of graphs, I checked it out again.  I knew it would make the graphs look good but I could not save it and update the graph as time passes or data changes. After I played with it for a minute today and realized that I could make the graph without any data and download as a PDF.  Once I downloaded the PDF, I opened it in "Notes Anytime" and saved my progress.  The kids will be able to make their different graphs and then draw on a line graph or bar graph as they gather data!!  "Notes Anytime" is THE app I have been looking for!

Here is the website:

Kid Friendly Graphing Website

Here is what I created!

Max Journal!!!

I found an app that I am going to use for all of my "notebooks" next year.  It is called MaxJournal, and it is free!

The kids can make more than one notebook.  Right now I have created 5!  Each notebook is named and then personalized with a picture from your photo roll.  Once you open the journal, you can look at the journal in two different views: single day, or month!  The kids add to their academic journals by typing or inserting pictures.

This year, my kids have inserted pictures of skill graphs we made.  They then wrote their goals next to the graphs.  The kids also did their pre/post check concept checks in each subjects' "notebook."

The kids really enjoy personalizing their notebooks.  It saves a lot of paper and room in desks! :)

Where to look for apps!

Two apps that I have been using a lot to find free apps:

AppsGoneFree

Appsfire

Appsfire has apps sorted by category.  Some of the still cost money, but they are still reduced.  AppsGoneFree has 7-10 apps free everyday! :)

Skitch!!

Skitch is a new app where you can write or draw on a picture! The picture can be from your photo roll or a map you snap a picture of!! My kids snapped a picture of the eastern coast. They labeled and described different battles from the Revolutionary War.

Another way my teammate and I have played with skitch is by snapping pictures of the books our kids are reading in flex groups and then doing our running records from that. Skitch attaches directly to Evernote and we can save our files in there. My teammate has used it more than I have and is actually the one who share the idea. Thanks for sharing Oneth.

Project Pancake!!!

We did a fraction unit last week using pancake recipes! The kids were given five recipes and were asked to compare ingredients.  They compared recipes to help them make a decision about which recipe we should use! After converting fractions to decimals and comparing them, they had to add fractions to get enough batter! Then, they converted the improper fractions to mixed numbers and simplified!  We covered a good chunk of our fraction unit!  Who knew fractions could be so tasty?!?!

They took notes on their iPads and sent their data via email.  They recorded explanations on the video section of their iPads!  The explanations I got were unbelievable!!! :)

Back to School... Back to iPads

My students are now using Khan Academy for extra math practice!  Each student has their own account that tracks their progress.  This is a great way to differentiate learning.  During our day we have a 30 minute block called "WIN" (W.hat I N.eed).  The past couple of weeks I have been teaching mutli-digit division and compatible numbers.  Some of the kids have mastered it and are ready to move on (Just like everyday in all my classes)!  The kids who have mastered Compatible numbers with long division, have been placed on Khan Academy to go deeper with division.  This app or website, has a video teaching the lesson, practice problems, hints for the practice, and help.  While I am working with other kids, the students who are working ahead can do so without interrupting my time with other students.  It is a beautiful thing! :)

If you do not have email addresses for your students, they do not have to create an account and can still do all of the practice!  Without the login, you cannot track their progress through the program.

If you are using iPads, the students can do scratch work on the iPad by showing "scratchpad."  Or they can do it on paper.  I give mine a choice!

www.khanacademy.org   **Before you have your kids on the website, watch the video yourself.  Some of the videos are above my fifth graders!

A little project involving NO technology

Standard form to expanded form!! Found this little thing online today and thought I'd give it a try. Not an original idea. I pulled it off another website! :)