Tech Integration Tools: Toontastic 3D & ChatterPix Kid (FREEBIE INCLUDED!)

    

       Tech in Education has come A LONG WAY since I first started teaching in 2003. For one, I took a course in college called "Computers in Education"... Yeah - desktops and, for us lucky ones, laptops! No iPads or hints of the incredible evolution coming our way! Thankfully for us "old-timers" EdTech Teacher and many others have breathed new life in how we educate our current generation. Even in the last eight years we've seen vast improvements and ideas for tech integration in our classrooms. But what exactly could tech integration look like? I will highlight just two of the apps I use fairly regularly in my classroom and how my students utilize them. Of course, there are MANY other activities you could use them for! I must also add - don't underestimate their creativity & capabilities even as young as Kindergarten! They've shown me how much more they are capable of than I originally thought!

        Another BONUS of using ChatterPix Kids and Toontastic 3D, as well as a large host of other apps, is being able to "App Smash" with Seesaw. I use Seesaw for a host of reasons and ways! More on that in my blog post about Seesaw and the HUGE benefits I've reaped since incorporating this digital journal into my class and their families!

        First, let's reference the SAMR model. The model was developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, Ph.D. to help educators integrate technology into teaching and learning. The visuals serve as a kind of road map that guides the educator to the ultimate destination, which is redefining teaching and learning. There are four main levels to the model, not meant to be thought of as a ladder. There are many places to research the SAMR model further. Here are some cheat sheets in the meantime...

Image Credit: Sylvia Duckworth

Image Credit: Jennifer from Tech With Jen

Image Credit: DK Pictures

Next, below are two of the apps my second graders independently engage with fairly regularly as well as the lesson ideas I've created to provide an avenue for their work. I've included a FREEBIE for the Toontastic 3D app!

FREE works on iOS and Android tablets/phones

    My students use ChatterPix for small research projects! Each month for morning work, they can choose to complete a thematic-topic research project. For example, in September the topic is apples. The topic for October was bats. The topic for February is groundhogs. Of course, the kids can also choose to research a topic of their own interest and write a short report. I give them a recording sheet with five bullet points for them to fill in. My students used to use Kiddle, Ducksters, or similar. Now they use PebbleGo and PebbleGoNext both designed by Capstone Learning for their research. If you have used it yet, I HIGHLY recommend it! I'm so grateful my school invested in it. The website reads the articles to the kids, and it's extremely well-organized in my opinion.

Below are two examples of research done by my students. Typically I don't allow the kids to change the filters or add stickers on ChatterPix Kids, but...

November Morning Work (Turkeys) 

February Morning Work (Groundhogs)

FREE works on iOS and Android tablets/phones

Read more HERE

     Take your students' word problems and story-telling to a very engaging level! I use Toontastic 3D for (relative) ease, but I've also used PuppetPals app in the past. I primarily use it for creating word problems, though it is truly meant as a story-telling app. The big caveat with Toontastic 3D is laying out expectations from the get-go as well as letting them explore the tools before giving them an assignment. I give my students a sheet with visual directions, though it is fairly intuitive. I imagine using Toontastic 3D would be harder with students younger than second grade working independently, but I could be wrong. Refer to what I said earlier - never underestimate their skill level!

        I always give my students a script/story arc and goal for their word problem. This helps when they are moving their characters around during their recording of the word problem. I also ask that they keep the background music OFF or REALLY LOW so that it isn't distracting. Again, this is where giving them "play time" with it can be really beneficial!

Click on the picture below to download the FREEBIE!

I'd love to know how YOU use 

Toontastic 3D and ChatterPix Kids! 

Please leave a comment below!

Happy Learning!

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Warm & Fuzzy Notes (FREEBIE INCLUDED!)

       My "Warm & Fuzzy Notes" project is one of the sweetest activities you'll ever enjoy with your students! I especially love that you can "subject smash" with this activity, meaning several subjects "wrapped up" in one activity! I first partook in this activity when I was student-teaching in first grade (2003), and I've done it every year since! The container that holds the notes has changed over the years, so I'll share the different iterations here depending on the school (and space!!) available to you. The original container was a big paper stocking (I was in an Episcopalian school). Once I had the same group a fourth time (I taught them in K-3rd), I changed it to a wrapped box under a Christmas tree in my classroom. When I got to my second school, it needed to be a non-denominational activity. We still wrapped a box, but my students could choose their own wrapping paper. Once again I looped with a class, so I wanted to change the container to update the activity. I changed it to a gingerbread house (a paper lunch sack). 

Overall skills covered:

• letter-writing form
• sentence composition and grammar
• geometry (area and perimeter)
• social-emotional learning (thinking about their classmate's strengths & feelings)
• fine-motor skills with coloring and cutting
• real-world skills (*wrapping a box)

Read to the end for a FREEBIE and the link to the FULL RESOURCE!

Steps to complete the project:

STEP 1 |  Students measure the area and perimeter of one of the sides of a paper lunch sack or a shoebox and record it on the included recording worksheet. For an extension bonus, they can find the area and perimeter of all sides and add together. Once students finish the math and record their work, they cut out the worksheet and glue it to the bottom of the paper bag or box. This step can be done as a whole class activity or individually. 

STEP 2 (Gingerbread House) |  Students choose, color, and cut out the elements for the gingerbread house. When assembling the gingerbread house, I would recommend cutting the mailbox hole and (liquid) gluing on the cotton balls (snow) first before stapling on the roof. Once the kids complete the bag, display them in a special spot so that the kids can fill their classmate's bag as they complete their notes.

STEP 2 (Wrapped Box) |  Students wrap their box. Cut a slit/hole on the top for them to place their notes through. You can also give them a gift tag as a label for their name.

STEP 3 |  Students write the Warm & Fuzzy Notes! ❤️ For the sake of organization, I give a class set with a check-off sheet in each Ziplock bag for each student. I also have extra notes available in the event they want to give a specific note to a friend. I would highly recommend putting together an anchor chart for your students so they have go-to phrases. Each of the teachers can write to their class as well as the kids writing to their teachers. The expectations of the writing of the notes can be adapted for the age group doing the project. For example, you may choose to do already typed notes with a space for one extra comment and them to write their closing and signature. Our learning specialist did that for our Dyslexic students. Alternatively, the kids could use already-colored notes and be expected to write 1-2 sentences versus 4-5 sentences.

Notes About the Note Templates: I simply take festive black/white clipart and make them about half a sheet on 8.5x11" paper. It would be important to ensure multiple holidays represented as well as general thematic clipart. I would recommend that the kids cut and/or color first so that they can see the boundaries of their note. I also have my students use a ruler to make straight(er) lines. Then they erase the lines after they finish writing.

STEP 4 |  Students fill their classmates' bags/boxes.

STEP 5 |  Students take the Warm & Fuzzy Notes projects home to read & enjoy!

•GINGERBREAD HOUSE•

•WRAPPED GIFT•

Click HERE for the FREEBIE!

Click HERE to access the FULL RESOURCE!

Please be in touch if you need further clarification!

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Create-A-City: Make Economics *FUN* for Kids (FREEBIES INCLUDED!)

     Create-A-City is TRULY one of my most favorite simulations to teach economics, civics, government, money, public-speaking, and more! Our economics unit centers around and is adapted for 2nd/3rd/4th grades from the Interact simulations Kid Town and Classroom City. It is a treasured tradition in my classroom. The students learn topics including goods and services, pros/cons to salary pay vs entrepreneurship, and civics. In our City Council Meetings (class discussions), students learn the topics and apply those topics in the simulation. In one of the City Council Meetings, the citizens individually decide whether they want to apply for a salary position or create their own business. Each year, the class names their city. Over the years, names have included Cometville (after our school mascot) as well as Wildcat Woods and Funville. We invite parents to come in and interview students applying for either business loans or salary positions. At the end of the unit, we invite parents and first grade to come shop in our city (tourist season). 

To engage our parents in the process, we invite them to come in to interview salary workers and entrepreneurs. It is absolutely precious!  We have about 6-8 parents come in dressed professionally and playing the role of a bank loan officer or Human Resources representative. The students bring either their business application information or their resumé. 

Below are pictures of a business being interviewed by a parent:

The kids were also encouraged to "look professional" because they would be interviewed for their business loans and salary positions. Needless to say, the kids always take this VERY seriously.  So precious!

We invited the 3rd graders (and former Wildcat City! citizens) to share their reflections with the 2nd graders with similar businesses. The new business owners had a series of interview questions to help prompt their advisor. It was absolutely precious and a great way to connect the grades. On the day of the simulation, we also invite the 1st grade students to shop. This is a great way to connect their year-to-come experience!

Below are a few pictures of our businesses and
salary workers on our presentation day:

The bankers, along with the bank manager (teacher), handled all the loan transactions, payroll, ATM-manning, and general banking for the citizens of our city. The ATM was created using a tri-fold board, dowel rods with applesauce caps hot-glued on for buttons, and some lettering. "Tourists" received city-specific money as well as ATM cards to use during their time in our city. They used scrapbook paper plastic containers to hold the denominations of money. 

This business owner created a movie! 

He popped popcorn to sell along with tickets to his showings.

One of our students was the police officer for our city! A few officers from our local police department came over and were interviewed by the student about their reasons for being an officer as well as other important parts of their job. They were wonderful with our student! They even gave him sticker-badges to give to the other students in his class as well as enough to hand out on the "tourist season" day.

These two lovely business owners created a business that sold collars, leashes, dog beds, treats, and other dog needs. Their business also provided dog training (for stuffed lovies)!

This young citizen created a business around his martial arts training. 

He offered lessons that cost $5 for five minutes.

These creative ladies designed tissue-paper flowers, clay flowers, and flower jewelry!

For the simulation, our businesses and salary jobs have included:

• Salary workers: bankers (2), fire marshal, doctor, police officers, librarians, teachers

• Businesses: origami designs, bakeries, gaming arcades, dance lessons, art shop, city museum, yoga studio, martial arts, Harry Potter experiences, tie-dye clothes, movie theater (student-made production), puppet shows, scientists selling tickets to see experiments, jewelry shop, pet supplies

Above are some examples of what we give the kids when they apply for
jobs or businesses, a business license, and interview questions
we give the parents.

Click HERE for one of the City Council Meeting lessons FREEBIE!

Click HERE to see Salary Worker Interview Questions FREEBIE!

Click HERE for the Business Loan Application FREEBIE!

Please feel free to email me or comment below with additional questions about this simulation!

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Reading Writing Workshop: Tricks & Tips (FREEBIE INCLUDED!)

     I've always loved teaching math.  Writing on the other hand has been fun, but I've felt like it's a subject where I could find a better way to teach it thus making it more enjoyable.  My former co-teacher and I put a lot of research, time, love, blood, sweat, and tears into creating a spelling/grammar program, but we still didn't feel like it fully reached a solution that worked for the kids.  Then we were separated to two different classrooms and I got a new co-teacher!  My new co-teacher and I continued to develop a program to meet the needs of our kids, but something was definitely missing.

     Then the 'AHA' moment!!  She randomly came across Jen Bengel's shop and after investigating it we were SOLD!  We watched her webinar entitled "Managing Best Practice Reading and Writing Workshops" and knew we were on to something fantastic and implemented it immediately!  We've since bought all of Jen's Reading/Writing Units of Study and her Spelling program for 2nd and 3rd Grades.  We also really liked what Amber wrote on her blog about how her school handles Spelling.  In regards to grammar, I really liked Little Red Writing House's resources for my 3rd graders.  And so...  Below is a break-down of what we use and how I implement it in my Reading Writing Workshop (RWW)!

     My 3rd graders keep a Language Journal (composition notebook), meant to be a one-stop-resource while they write.  The journal has five sections (adapted from Jen's notebooks): Grammar, Word Study (Spelling Skills), Mini-Lessons, Planting Seeds, & Writer's Talks.

Reading (M-Th 9:40 - 10:25):  We use Jen's units, but adapt them a little for the time we have in class.  We keep the general structure the same, but we've combined two or three lessons if necessary.  In the past, I've split my students into two or three reading groups to do a book study.  The units we've had since discovering Jen haven't really lent themselves to doing book groups, but I would consider doing it in the future.  

Spelling Skills (M 12:05 - 12:45 & F 9:40 - 10:25):  We use Jen's units for these in addition to a high frequency word list.  My 3rd graders all participate in a general Spelling lesson on Monday.  Then each child chooses 7 words from the lesson and 7 high frequency words to learn for their test on Friday.  I also have some really gifted spellers who've surpassed the high frequency words and I give them challenging words to choose from.  The kids make their word list to keep at school and also write their word list in their assignment notebooks each week.  Homework each week is to pick at least one activity from Southern Fried Teachin's monthly Spelling Choice Board and use their words to complete it.  They can do multiple activities each week for additional points.  I also have a section (Word Work) in their Language Journal for them to write a few of their spelling words they'd like to use in their writing.  They also record the skill topics in that month under the "Skills" heading.  On Friday, the kids work in partners to test each other.  I have to admit this made my stomach tense at first, but honestly - I LOVE IT now!!  I definitely walk around to monitor them, but I haven't seen any cheating and the kids seem more relaxed while still taking the test seriously.

This is IMPORTANT -- Any words they spell incorrectly will go on the following week's test in their "My Other Words" section.  I absolutely LOVE this because it reinforces the words they need to practice.  It also solves the problem of "What happens to the words they get wrong on the test?" by having them continue to study it until spelled correctly.  It used to be presumed they would get it in other ways.  I find this new method to be so much better!

Click HERE for the above FREE resource!

Writing (M-F different times):  For my grammar lessons, I use Little Red Writing House's 3rd Grade Interactive Notebook resources.  For all other writing lessons, I use Jen's lessons that go along with the Reading unit we are studying.

PLEASE feel free to email me if you'd like more advice about how to implement this in your classroom!  Finding new ways to teach is so exciting!!

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Write By Candlelight

     It started with our poetry unit, our culminating project being a poetry slam for 2nd and 3rd graders.  It was precious!  The kids wrote their own poems as part of the unit.  We purchased plastic mason jars and battery-operated tea lights.  We made little table groups with the candlelight and had a chair for the featured reader to sit in at the front of the classroom to recite their poem.  The kids LOVED it!

     Then a few days later, my third graders were working on their focused brain-storming session in our recently-started Realistic Fiction unit.  I happened to notice the tea lights and jars were still out, needing to be put away.  I said, "Kiddos, do you want to write by candlelight today?"  "YEEEESSSSS!!!!"  So the ones who wanted a candle/jar got to write by candlelight.  It was absolutely precious!  We turned off the lights and also put on peaceful music.  From now on the kids  always get the option to write by candlelight.  I'm absolutely loving the ambience and the peace it brings them.

     For this particular unit, my co-teacher and I decided to have the kids write a choose-your-own adventure story!  I'd seen a reference to it at a technology workshop, and was SUPER ANTSY to fit it into the curriculum somehow!  This was the perfect opportunity.  The kids are THRILLED about it, even my most challenged writers!  After doing some research about how to write one in general, we've amended it for our grade level.  Here is a fantastic resource that helped us.  

     The students pictured above are working on their "Events In My Story" part of the story planning process.  We already spent a day working on characters and setting.  We talked a little bit about how to organize the story.  Each part of their book will be about a paragraph, no longer than a page.  For some of them, drawing the organizer helped at this stage.  I am interested to see how the others choose to organize their thoughts.  In general, I love what they are coming up with!

     We are using Jen Bengel's Units of Study for our Reading Writing Workshop (RWW).  If you haven't checked her out yet, YOU. SIMPLY. MUST!!!  Beyond rave reviews about how Jen's units of study have changed my teaching approach to RWW.  She's FABULOUS!  See my separate post about how we've implemented her units in RWW and Spelling.

More to come as the kids continue to work on their stories!

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Seesaw: My Classroom Game Changer!

     Parent/Classroom communication had been somewhat of a struggle in our classroom over the years...  We sent weekly (paper) newsletters and posted them on our school's internal website, sent emails, sent work home often, you name it.  Still there were families who felt they needed more.  Then last year, my soon-to-be co-teacher was shown something by our head of school.  SEESAW!  She showed it to me and I knew right away this would be the total game changer for our classroom.  My then co-teacher and I implemented it immediately!  The response was POSITIVELY overwhelming!  We started out with the free Seesaw, but quickly purchased Seesaw for Schools for Grades 2-5.  Our Middle School and "Specials" (PE, Music, World Languages, Art, Drama) classes now use it and we're working on getting K-1 on board too.  Our school happens to be 1:1 iPads, but Seesaw is meant for schools with all types of technology access!

     Seesaw is a student-driven digital portfolio that allows the students to directly communicate/document their learning to their families and teachers in an absolutely safe space.   Parents now get to see what their child is doing in real-time presented by their child!  Even grandparents and other family members can sign up if they have the child's code!  It has been so sweet to see the grandparents living out of state commenting on their grandchild's work :)

Click HERE to see an example of one of my student's math work!  

This was a math lesson about metric and nonstandard measurement.

Click HERE to see an example of one of my student's reflections 

about her Passion Project progress.

Click HERE to see an example of a video created by two of my students
to explain equivalent fractions. 

Click HERE to see a video one of my students made about multiplication.

     Teacher benefits?...  A TON!!  We were able to lose the weekly newsletters that were consuming A LOT of our time on Fridays (sometimes weekends if we didn't get to it on Friday)!  We are able to assess them in more authentic ways in addition to standards-based.  We are able to give meaningful feedback on their work.  We could easily use a safe Seesaw blog connected to our class, but I haven't done that yet.  We can comment on other teacher's classes if we are co-teachers on their accounts.  With Seesaw for Schools, our head of school and all admin with access can see what the kids are doing without leaving their office and can comment on the kids work!  We can see which parents view the work.  The kids can constructively comment on each other's work (if you turn that feature on).  These are just a few of the amazing things that Seesaw has helped us improve in our class!  This blog post does not do full justice to all the incredible features Seesaw has to offer!!

Scan this code to get a free month of Seesaw Plus!

Click HERE for more information about features and pricing!

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MobyMax Transformed My Assessments and SO MUCH MORE!

     How do I love thee, Pinterest?  Let me count the ways!  While looking on Pinterest for Thanksgiving activities for my third graders, I came across MobyMax in the list.  It had pretty much nothing to do with Thanksgiving activities, but was *EXACTLY* what I needed to fill another role (or twenty)!

     Our school administers assessments (reading and math) at the beginning of each year to gauge a student's ability.  Our Math assessment is our own teacher-made, and I've felt it wasn't the best indicator we could use.  Perhaps the length (we test every standard per grade level)?  Perhaps that it's subjective anyway. Don't get me started on our Reading assessment...  Our school currently differentiates in several ways, one being to move high-achieving students to the next grade level for math class.  Because I was at the starting grade level of moving students up (2nd grade), I usually lost half my class to them moving on in math class.  A few years ago we stemmed the tide and began to differentiate in more meaningful ways.  However, I was still running into students moving on regardless of their achievement on the teacher-made test.  Frustration grew every year to say the very least...

     Until last October when I found (2016 EdTech Digest award-winning) MobyMax!  This curriculum/program is incredibly easy to use, and most importantly (for me) offers true standards-based assessments in Reading and Math!  I set up my class immediately and had the kids take the tests regardless of the math class they currently attended.  I was overwhelmed with the information (in a FANTASTIC way)!!  The test is adaptive when they are completing the assessment.  The results show the standards missing and gives a grade level equivalent.  It was pretty on-target for what I expected.  There are a few times teachers in my school felt it didn't truly reflect the student's ability so the tests were re-administered to those few students.  In addition, our school is 1:1 iPads so this would be an easy go-to as well.  However, if you are not 1:1, don't let that sway your decision!  You could easily use Moby as a station, though the kids would need to sign in.

     My students use Moby all the time, mostly as something constructive to do when they are finished with the class lesson/objective.  There are a TON of subjects for the students to work with!  *The best part is -- Moby fills in the holes in their understanding and skips the skills they are proficient with.*  For example, I had a student who tested at 4.3 grade level in math.  However, the test showed he was missing 1st - 3rd grade skills even though he was mostly at a 4.3 grade level!  This was something incredibly important that I could show his parents at conferences, and was also objective proof that he was in the correct math class.  Though I teach 3rd grade, our school generally teaches up a grade level.

     I can't say enough *AMAZING* things about MobyMax and how it has transformed extra time in my class as well as direct instruction!  Though there is a free version, we purchased the school version so that the progress looped with the kids among many other reasons.  The school version allowed us to have access to all *extras* that were really helpful and engaging for the kids.  The *extras* include sending direct messages (good & bad vibes and messages) through it to students, to seeing their progress in real-time, to printing their certificates as they achieve curriculum standards -- Moby has it all!  Lots of contests, both teacher-made and through Moby's Facebook!

     Please please do yourself a favor and take a look!  Their website is incredibly detailed and the customer service is outstanding!  Teachers, we have it in us to want to be everything to every student and sometimes that just isn't possible.  Moby helps alleviate some of that and constructively fills in the gaps so that students can truly gain a firm understanding of necessary skills!

     I could go on and on...!  If you'd like me to share more of my experience with it, feel free to email me or comment below!

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