Epic - An activity we did with this wonderful app.

If you are unfamiliar with EPIC, you really need to check it out!  It is completely free for educators.  It is a library FULL of children's books, some are even AR books.   Check it out at getepic.com.   There is also an app-search EPIC. Encouraging parents to subscribe will help EPIC to remain free for teachers.  It is very reasonably priced.  

Cale explains how we did our book reports (paragraphs) using EPIC and the 4-square method.  

Hunter chose a book about Sloths.

Popplet Lite and Primary Writer-hand in hand apps

Use Popplet 1st-  have kiddos choose a topic and create a 4 square.

Click the picture below to go to the app-Popplet Lite by Notion.

Using their 4 square they can write a rough draft.

Click the picture below to go to app-Primary Writer by Grassroots Technologies


Then they can use Primary Writer for their final draft.

iPads in Our 1st Grade Classroom

In this video you will see that the kids did most of the interviewing with their own iPads.  I simply pulled all of the material together to create our iMovie.  This video is one of the  featured videos in our school's iBook that that we entered to be named an Apple Distinguished school.

Here are some of the things you observe in the video:

~iPads used in center time with manipulatives such as word tiles for the app Word Wizard.
~RAZ Kids, a Learning A-Z app-kids read on their own level and at their own pace.
~Spelling City- Kids practice their weekly spelling words
~Book Creator-kids and teacher create class books on their own and together
~Showbie-students complete worksheet type work on their iPad…beginners take a little time to
   learn how to manipulate the screen and using a stylus…I LOVE it when the kids figure it out, it
   saves time and a TON of paper.
~Kidblog-we dabbled very little with this, hopefully I can give it another go next year.
~Scrappad-kids create digital scrapbook pages-they love this!
~QR Code Reader like iNigma-there are many others