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Rules, Routines, Procedures…….and Technology!?!

Wow! What a start to the school year! With just me and 23 little kinders life can be kind of crazy as I am sure many teachers can relate to.  We have spent so much time learning the rules and routines of the classroom and now it’s time to start the learning! But I often wonder….did I spend enough time on those routines?  It sometimes seems that the first month is not enough and that is just talking about how to be a student.  And now they want me to use technology too!?! More routines and procedures to teach! …..well that’s how I felt my first year with one to one devices! My opinion has certainly changed since that first day but it took some time.

Technology is no different when it comes to school.   While technology is present in many of our student’s lives it looks different at school than when we are using technology at home.  I now embrace using technology in the classroom after seeing all the learning that can occur and would love nothing more than to dive in right where I left off last year but I need to remind myself to take a step back.   To really use technology in the classroom and be successful at it, you need to set up the routines and procedures  before even putting devices in students hands and my new Kinders don’t have any of that set up yet.  So start slow! And know that it is ok to start slow.   A very wise administrator once told me that spending 6 weeks (if not more) reviewing those routines and procedures is ok! Be sure to include technology in that timeline.  It seems like it should be so easy just to give them all the ipads and let them go but it can certainly prove to be more challenging than expected.   As I am writing this post,  I am having flashbacks to a few years ago and can hear all my little Kinders with hands in the air waiting, ever so patiently…..or not, as I make my way around the room, wishing I would have taken more time before the activity to explain expectations.  I encourage you to take the time and set your year up for success so you don’t have 23 hands waving at you!

As I am writing this post,  I am having flashbacks to a few years ago and can hear all my little Kinders with hands in the air waiting, ever so patiently…..or not, as I make my way around the room, wishing I would have taken more time before the activity to explain expectations.  I encourage you to take the time and set your year up for success so you don’t have 23 hands waving at you!

So all that being said, what should we do to set our year up for success when it comes to using technology.   When working with our youngest learners we need to make sure our expectations are very clear.  I love using anchor charts and pictures to explain what our ipads are used for, our rules when using them, and even how to fix technology glitches.   You can find many of these anchor charts in the K-3 series book as well as many other tips for setting up technology in your room!

Of course as your year goes on, there will probably be glitches but I can guarantee if you take the time in the beginning to set up the expectations, your year will end up being a success!

Wishing you a wonderful and glitch free school year!

Kristy Hopkins

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Coding in Kindergarten IS Possible

 

Kindergarten kids coding? What? Is that possible?

A few years ago I would have said no way!  In fact, about two years ago when I got an email from the district about teaching coding, I said to myself and out loud, “Now I have to teach kids how to code?  Are you kidding me?”

But, a funny thing happened.  I tried an app and I discovered all kinds of amazing things!

I was introduced to the app Kodable.  I took it home and gave it to my own kindergartener and she was thrilled to try it!  To her it was just a really cool game!

I even Tweeted the picture above.

That next week on Monday, I introduced this program to my students and they were hooked too.

This year, my teaching partner and I had a more solid plan of attack to teach coding.

Here is what we did:

First, we showed our students two videos from the Hour of Code website (code.org).  They were highly interested when we showed the Star Wars and Frozen videos that highlighted how creators used code to program the puppets and cartoons.

We then asked the students to “code the teacher” from the door of the classroom, to the rocking chair at the rug.

When we began, they simply said, “go forward.”  That led me to walk straight to my outside door and through the door.  The class erupted in laughter.  When students were settled down, they realized they needed a more specific plan.

Together they came up with this:   Coding a Teacher

Later that day, we then did some sandbox (free exploration) playing with the apps Bee-Bots and Kodable.  Students were given the opportunity to play and practice how to use the coding apps.

We were also able to invite our local library to our school.  They have purchased Bee-Bot coding toys.  The students had to work together to code the Bee-Bots.  They also realized the importance of working together as a team to problem solve.  When students realize that they need to work together to solve their coding problems, they soon discovered that they could solve the puzzle sooner and faster.

Once students played with the toy Bee-Bots, we showed them a bit more about the apps and how they worked.  Students also realized quickly, that when they are stumped, they can ask a friend for help

When I realized that coding also teaches problem-solving skills, I was hooked on the value of it for the kindergarten level.

So, my advice to you…try it!  You will also realize the high level of critical thinking skills the students have and how truly smart they are!

Beth Hatlen

@MrsHatlenK

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Symbaloo for Organization and Safe Searching

One of the biggest challenges utilizing technology in the primary grades is information accessibility to students.

Let’s be honest, the internet was created for adults to communicate, connect, and share. Young adults have traditionally been the most frequent users of the internet.  However, according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration “By the age of 10, young people are more likely to use the Internet than adults at any age beyond 25.” Internet users are the youngest they ever have been, yet much of the internet is not appropriate or accessible for our youngest users.

Teachers who integrate technology have difficulty teaching their students internet safety and responsibility while encouraging them to access information.  Symbaloo helps to partially solve this problem!

Using the Symbaloo visual bookmarking system, teachers can create a visual, virtual pin board of internet sites to share with students.

In our non-fiction unit, my students can access all of these National Geographic books on their iPads through the Symbaloo app.  Even better, I didn’t even have to create this page! Users can share their Symbaloo pages, which makes setting up multiple Symbaloo pages for teachers a breeze!

If you want to create your own Symbaloo page, follow these simple directions:

 

-Start by going to Symbaloo.

-Click on one of the empty tiles.

-On the top left, click “Save your settings. Create an account now!” To create your own account.

-Once your account is created, click the “+” to create a blank page.

-Click an empty tile

-Click “Create a tile”

-In a new browser tab, go to the website which you want your students to access

-Copy that web link from the link bar.

-Go back to your Symbaloo page and paste that link in

-Repeat the process on a new tile until you have all the websites you want included.

You can also create your own, based on topics that you want your students to research or easily access.  For my kindergarteners, I have a Symbaloo pages of all the developmentally appropriate websites I want them to have access to that do not have apps. They can access these at any moment, without having to type anything into to Google or the search bar.

Using a visual pin board such as Symbaloo helps students quickly access the content that is appropriate for them. Students who are not yet literate will not disengage because of spelling worries and teachers do not have to worry about typos leading to inappropriate content.

Symbaloo does not totally lock students out of browsing, as it does have a Google search option.  However, it greatly decreases the possibility of visiting inappropriate or unwanted websites due to the visually appeasing and easily accessible nature.

Post by Kirsten McGinnis

@mariemcg72

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We Are Going On an iPad Shape Hunt… and I Am Assessing You!

My Kinders have been learning a lot about shapes and how to describe them.  My Kinders love to use their iPads in any way possible so all through our shape lessons we have been drawing, identifying and describing shapes on our ipads.   I decided it was time to assess my kiddos and see where they were at with all of their shapes and what better way to do it than on a shape hunt!

Each student was given a shape hunt recording form so they knew what shapes they were looking for around our room.

They were to find each shape around our room and take a picture.

Then edit the picture to isolate the shape.

 

Finally, the students used Puppet Edu to create a mini book  They selected each picture they took and then describe their shapes using the recording option in the app!

 

 

 

After modeling the process for my students

 

once, they were off! I did leave the directions on the board for my students to see in case they needed reminders but they did great! It’s amazing that 5 and 6-year-olds can complete all these steps independently!

After they finished their project in Puppet Edu they saved to their Seesaw portfolio. I was able to listen to all of my students recordings and see the shapes they took pictures of in about 15 minutes after school and I didn’t have to find time during our already busy day to individually assess each student.  I love saving time….there is just never enough of it in the day.  Now the other great thing about Seesaw is not only do I know if each student can identify and describe shapes but so do their parents!   No more waiting for report cards or parent-teacher conferences to give them updates.   Who knew that assessing for common core math standards could be so easy and so fun! There will definitely be more “hunts” in our classroom!

Kindergarten teacher Kristy Hopkins @HopkinsKinder

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Research with YouTube Kids & Symbaloo

One of YouTube’s best improvements for schools? The YouTube Kids app! Allow your primary age students to safely locate content through the app using voice search for all those non-readers!

Investigating nonfiction texts and learning about “real world” topics is an important part of early learning.  Combining nonfiction exploration and technology is easy with YouTube Kids and the search function.  Use a student-centered approach so that your students can learn about topics they are interested in and report out on those topics.  For example, some students may be interested in polar bear babies and others are interested in polar bear predators. When students search by voice on YouTube Kids, they will find many visual choices, peaking interest in either what they were searching for or opening the doors of inquiry. Students can watch videos and report out their findings in a journal, drawing, conversation, or report booklet.

Unfortunately, YouTube Kids is not available as a web application, but you can create a Symbaloo page with all the appropriate websites that you want your students to visit.

Just visit the Symbaloo website and click on a tile.  Here you can paste in a link from any website that you want your students to visit to create a graphic website choice board.  Share your Symbaloo with students to give them choice in the topics that they would like to research!

Symbaloo is a quick and easy way to help your students organize the websites that they frequent or that you would like them to explore.

Symbaloo pages can be created and accessed on iPads, tablets, and computers.

Kirstin McGinnis

@mariemcg72

 

 

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Taking Care of iPads with Primary Students

Little ones CAN and SHOULD be responsible for their own devices! Make it easy in these few steps

Teach your kids appropriate use with an anchor chart, poster, or inforgraphic. Add on to your anchor chart as new issues and observations arise.

 

If your students take their devices home, have an easy way for them to transport the devices AND teach them as part of your anchor chart how to take devices home!

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Kirstin McGinnis

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iPads Meet Early Literacy

Using technology to practice early literacy skills is a breeze! You students can record on ANY document you upload through the Showbie app, giving differentiated material that is accessible to all! While some students practice letter formation, others can zoom into trace a letter then write it or chose which document they would like to practice with. Next, let your little ones work on self-guided practice in letter formation apps such as Writing Wizard, iWrite, or Letter Cat to name a VERY few. These are quick, fun and engaging ways to integrate technology into your classroom!

Kirstin McGinnis @mariemcg72

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Recording Sight Word Fun!

iPads make recording our learning so easy, and possible for our young students! We love sharing and showing what we have learned with our families at home through online posts.

This week, I was working in a ELL Kindergarten classroom, and they are struggling with learning and articulating their sight words. Many of the students parents do not speak English, which also makes it harder for them to practice at home as well. So, we came up with a simple idea for students to record their sight words using images and voice, then post them online for parents to learn at home with them.

Students were given letters and paper and were asked to spell their favorite sight word. Then they were asked to take a picture of the word, then each letter to spell the word in order.

We used a fabulous, easy app, Puppet EDU, to create a slide show and record our voice over the word and letters. Once we saved the movies, we posted them to our Seesaw account for parents to see at home!

Students are now able to use this as a guided reading center to watch, listen and engage in basic sight word practice! Authentic audience, authentic purpose!

Instructional Coach Lissa Blake

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Hunting for Letters in Kindergarten

Today in class, we went on a letter hunt with our Kindergarten Students.  We reminded students of our rules for using ipads:  Hold it with two hands, use walking feet and only take appropriate photos.
We introduced the lesson by modeling how to locate the camera on our devices (iPads) and how to point and shoot.  We also reminded them how to zoom in and out by pinching or spreading their fingers.  Students were then given a recording sheet to color letters as they identified them.  Once all the letters were located, we asked students to sit back down at their seats.

BONUS!  This lesson can also be used as formative assessment for matching and identifying letters! CC  RF.K.1.b – Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.

We then modeled for them how to use the editing features in the Photo App.  We showed them how to align the box to isolate the letter they found and make it larger.

Our next step will be to import these into an app to create an ABC book.  Be on the lookout for this in our next post!

Blog Post by Kindergarten Teacher Beth Hatlen