Monday, March 31st, 2014
Notes from today's session are progressively being added - please check back often! In the meantime we'd love some feedback about the recent session and your ideas about you'd like to see at our next session by filling out a brief form here.
Apps for English
Setting up a Listening Post
Setting up a listening post station in your classroom can be done using just one iPad/iPod and an audio splitter. The one I use is the Belkin Rockstar, which retails between $20-$25. Scott Dunn has successfully used a generic brand one from Bunnings that retails at only $10. The audio splitter allows you to plug up to 5 headsets into the adaptor so everyone can listen along together.
Finding interactive book apps
Many apps 'go free' for limited periods of time. The bext way to get some great deals is to follow a blog, website, Facebook or Pinterest account of someone who promotes the free apps. The two sites I most recommend are: Smart Apps for Kids and Appy Mall
Additionally check out these great developers who often release some of their interactive books for free. They usually cycle through them also so you can pick up quite a few freebies. Just type in the developer's name into iTunes.
Storychimes
iReading
Magic Ink
TabTales
I Like series
Create your own reading activities
Setting up a Listening Post
Setting up a listening post station in your classroom can be done using just one iPad/iPod and an audio splitter. The one I use is the Belkin Rockstar, which retails between $20-$25. Scott Dunn has successfully used a generic brand one from Bunnings that retails at only $10. The audio splitter allows you to plug up to 5 headsets into the adaptor so everyone can listen along together.
Finding interactive book apps
Many apps 'go free' for limited periods of time. The bext way to get some great deals is to follow a blog, website, Facebook or Pinterest account of someone who promotes the free apps. The two sites I most recommend are: Smart Apps for Kids and Appy Mall
Additionally check out these great developers who often release some of their interactive books for free. They usually cycle through them also so you can pick up quite a few freebies. Just type in the developer's name into iTunes.
Storychimes
iReading
Magic Ink
TabTales
I Like series
Create your own reading activities
Search AbiTalk in the App store to find a selection of Reading Oomprehension apps. There are a number of free ones or for $2.99 you can purchase the complete app. The free app comes with 4 free stories and comprehension quizzes as well the the ability to make your own. For this reason you don't really need to purchase the full app if you want to simply make your own comprehension passage and questions.
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Create your own engaging English activities. Choose from memory games, sorting, multiple choice, yes/no or matching activities. You can save the activity and get a URL to share with another iPad. I spoke about how this has been problematic as if a student closes the activity down they have to access the link again and download the game and start from scratch.
Update: The developers replied to my email yesterday afternoon and said the option to save an activity once it has been opened on an iPad is in an update coming soon! |
Apps for Maths
Free Maths Tools
Free Maths Tools
Multiplayer Maths Games
Math Slide Place Value
COST: $3.79 (Free trial version available) |
Math Slide Basic Facts
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Wishball
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Thinking Block apps
These four apps provide students with the opportunity to model and solve word problems. The app helps teach students how to organise information and visualise number relationships. The apps are designed for students in upper primary. You can also access the Thinking Block interactives online at Maths Playground.
All four apps are currently FREE.
These four apps provide students with the opportunity to model and solve word problems. The app helps teach students how to organise information and visualise number relationships. The apps are designed for students in upper primary. You can also access the Thinking Block interactives online at Maths Playground.
All four apps are currently FREE.
Quick Maths & Quick Maths+
Both of these apps work on developing fluency (a strong focus on this in the new NSW Maths K-10 syllabus) of using mental strategies for all four operations. Students answer by writing the number on the screen, rather than typing, which further promotes correct formation of numbers.
The app allows for students to create individualised accounts on one iPad and keeps record of their speed and achievement via a graph to give feedback to students on their performance and improvement. While the basic games ask students the traditional 5+6= style of question, the other games provide opportunities for students to develop their understanding of inverse operations, missing number elements and order of operations. The harder games in Quick Maths+ are also aimed at developing memory skills as students need to remember a number from the previous question to help them solve the next question. |
Creative Apps
Image Chef
This app allows you to create images, animated gifs and videos using the built in image and text templates or you can build your own. Create billboards, wanted posters, sand messages plus much more. You can create visual poetry by placing text over images and adding sticker designs. Many, many options. Check out some examples of how it's been used in the classroom at the http://ictwithmissc.weebly.com website. Did I mention it was FREE? |
Symmetry & Tesselating Design apps
iOrnament ($1.29)
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Amaziograph ($1.29)
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Symmetry Lab ($1.29)
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Word Cloud apps
WordPack ($1.29)
My pick of word cloud apps as it allows you to create word clouds in different shapes (120+ shapes), fonts (45+) and colour themes (80+).
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Tag Cloud ($1.29)
25 different styles of clouds but no shapes. Check out some lesson ideas here.
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Word Clouds by ABCYa.com (FREE)
A free word cloud generator but only uses a cloud shape, no other shapes available.
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Mind Mapping apps
BigMind - Mind Mapping (FREE)
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Mind Mapper (FREE)
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Talking characters
YAKiT Kids (FREE)
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Chatterpix Kids (FREE)
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PowerPoint Presentation
The PowerPoint presentation I preapred as a back up in case there were issues with Air Server. Sorry there are no hyperlinks included and prices are now incorrect due to Apple's recent price hike!
The PowerPoint presentation I preapred as a back up in case there were issues with Air Server. Sorry there are no hyperlinks included and prices are now incorrect due to Apple's recent price hike!
Sharing Session - Fiona Arthurson
Thank you Fiona for sharing your websites. I'm sure they will save people a lot of time and inspire many.
http://wallsendpublicschool.weebly.com
http://wpstechnologyteam.weebly.com
http://fionasfavourites.weebly.com
http://missamaths.weebly.com
http://bridgetoterabithiawps.weebly.com
http://wallsendpublicschool.weebly.com
http://wpstechnologyteam.weebly.com
http://fionasfavourites.weebly.com
http://missamaths.weebly.com
http://bridgetoterabithiawps.weebly.com