Read Write Think Apps

For years, I've loved Read, Write, Think! They now have several FREE great mobile apps available for parents, teachers, and students.

Alphabet Organization allows students to create an alphabet book or alphabet chart including words starting with each letter of the alphabet.  Options available are 1) one word and accompanied photo per letter or 2) multiple words per letter.  Planning sheets can be found at Read, Write, Think (Sheet 1 and Sheet 2).  Read more here.

Available in the App Store

Trading Cards can be a valuable tool to test comprehension.  The app offers several templates including  Fictional Person, Real Person, Fictional Place, Real Place,  and Object.  Students are prompted with guiding questions to complete the trading cards.

Available in the App Store

View this one minute video to learn more about Trading Cards:

Word Mover allows students to create poetry from a supplied word bank.  In addition, the app offers the flexibility to add your own words.  Read more about the app here or review a "found poetry" lesson plan here.

Available in the App Store

View this one minute video to learn more about Word Mover:

The Venn Diagram has been a useful tool for many years.  Now, students can create a venn diagram in a digital format and email it directly to the teacher from this handy app.

Available in the App Store

View the 5 minute video below for an explanation and a preview on the ease of using the Venn Diagram app (Thanks, Matt B. Gomez!)

The Timeline app is a simple-to-use tool to create a timeline of sequential events.  The timelines can be organized based on date, time, or event.

Available in the App Store

See examples:

Read, Write, Think allows users to keep their work separate from other users with a simple login.  This feature is unique to other apps and allows for better organization when using shared mobile devices.

View Other Read, Write, Think Poetry Apps:

Acrostic Poems | Diamante Poems | Theme Poems

App Store - Have You Noticed?

Have you noticed the helpful search categories for educators now in the App Store?  While on an iPad:

• Tap the APP STORE app
• Tap FEATURED at the bottom, left
• Tap MORE at the top and select EDUCATION:

• Select APPS FOR EVERY GRADE:

• Select your preferred category:

• Continue to narrow the search by selecting categories:

While browsing the App Store, also look for other special collections and categories including Apps for Teachers, Special Education, etc.

Wonderopolis

If you are WONDERING how to bring curiosity and WONDER into your classroom, home, car, etc., try Wonderopolis!  The unique Wonder of the Day is posted both online at wonderopolis.org and in the Wonderopolis app.  The daily wonder could be used as a writing prompt as students enter the classroom each day.  The site offers a wonder gallery for visual inspiration as well.  Students can also contribute to the wonders found on the site and/or vote for their favorite from the contributions.  The site asks that students be 13 or older to contribute ideas, so teachers may need to post on behalf of the students.

Layering Apps for Digital Storytelling

While at EdCamp Dallas a few weeks ago, I found out about a new app, called Background Eraser  and for $.99, it is pretty handy! The app very quickly transforms an image with a background into an image with a transparent background:

To layer the apps, first use a drawing app, such as Doodle Buddy, to create the image.

Available in App Store

Depending on the app, look for the sharing options found with the SHARE button. If SAVE TO CAMERA ROLL is not an option, press the HOME and SLEEP/WAKE button simultaneously to take a screenshot.  The saved image will save to the camera roll.

Next, launch the Background Eraser app and tap LOAD to insert the image.

Available in App Store

Allow the app to use the photos (if applicable) and navigate to the preferred photo.  Use the blue arrows to crop the image and tap DONE in the top, right corner.  Next, tap ERASER at the top to use the eraser tool and options.  When the image is complete, tap DONE at the top and SAVE to save to the camera roll.

Finally, launch a screencasting or whiteboard app, such as Educreations:

Available in App Store

Insert the image created earlier with the transparent background.  Utilize the app's recording features and animate using the newly-created image by swiping and pinching with your fingers while recording audio.

More information on Educreations

Tools 4 Students

Available in the App Store

For just $.99, this app can be a great addition to your classroom set of resources!   The app offers 25 templates to organize thinking.

Simply tap a shape found in the organizer and type!  The completed template can be shared by email, Dropbox, or Airprint in either the PNG format or PDF format.

Currently, the following templates are offered:

Cause and Effect 1
Cause and Effect 2
Character 1
Character 2
Compare/Contrast
Pro/Con
Drawing Conclusions
Fact/Opion
KWL
KWLW
Main Idea
Making Predictions
Problem Solving 1
Problem Solving 2
Problem/Climax/Solution
Reality/Make Believe
Reality/Fantasy
Begin, Middle, End
Sequence Events 1
Sequence Events 2
Story Elements
Summarize
Timeline
Word Meaning 1
Word Meaning 2
Tools 4 Students 2 offers 25 more templates - found inside Tools 4 Students. Click.

Infuse Learning

Infuse Learning is an incredibly powerful and FREE assessment tool for teachers.  Either use the spontaneous questions or prepare a quiz, test, or review ahead of time by entering the questions and answers into the online resource.  Teachers create an account on the Infuse Learning website, then give students their room ID (provided by Infuse Learning).  Students then go to www.infuselearning.com, click Student Login, and enter the room ID.  Any computer or device connected to the internet can access Infuse Learning.

Infuse Learning Quick Assessment options offer teachers a reliable tool to gather quick data about learning in their classroom:

MUST  SEE: Watch this short, 4 minute video to learn more:

Follow the guide below to get started:

Check out How to Get Started With InfuseLearning by Infuse Learning on Snapguide.

Teacher Spotlight - 7th Grade Social Studies

Faith students in Mrs. Miller's and Mrs. Jordan's seventh grade Social Studies classes created pic collages last week to present their learning while researching Texas Native Americans.  This week, they interacted with the collages to deliver a new, fun and exciting presentation to their teachers and peers:

Students share that their tribe had a large variety in their diet: