Web Whiteboard

Thank you, Mrs. Brewer, for discovering this new web application that turns your devices into interactive whiteboards!  Web Whiteboard is a web-based site that allows you instantly interact with others on a common whiteboard.  You may create a whiteboard ID which allows others to access your whiteboard.

Today, Mrs. Brewer's third grade class used Web Whiteboard to solve various math problems.  Students were able to work out problems on multiple devices while collaborating together on various strategies to solve their problems.

Students see the same screenshot on each device and interactions between devices are delivered in real time.

Teachers can monitor on their "whiteboard".

Student solved the real-time interaction; since this is web-based, students see immediately when another writes on the class whiteboard.  Currently, this is free to use and offers many features such as drawing and sticky notes.

Here is what a few of our third graders thought about Web Whiteboard...

Tucker - "I think it was good for us because everyone could see what we were doing and some people could see our different strategies in math."

Gracie -"It was pretty cool how our work showed up on everyone's device. At times it would slow up, but that was because everyone was thinking and trying solve the problem to show what they know."

Ashley - "I like the web whiteboard because you can call on a student and everyone can see them answer on the board. It's a whole lot more fun than writing just on paper."

Fill 'Em Up...10 Frame Fill!

10 Frame Fill is a free app that our kindergarteners love to use.  Teachers have discovered this app as a useful tool to help students in learning to make sets of ten.  This critical skill introduced in kindergarten is foundational for students in addition and subtraction, as well as developing number sense! 

Students fill in with yellow chips to make a set of 10.

As the teacher, you may choose for students to answer questions with dots presented sequentially or randomly.  You may also limit the students have to respond.  Teachers may also select to show the problems in the additive family to help students recognize written equations.



Several options allow teachers to customize the app to meet their needs.
 

Thank you, kindergarten, for sharing this app and how you use it with us!

~Kindergarten, WPES

 

 

Oh No Fractions!

This is a really cool app for those who may be comparing fractions...and it is FREE.  Oh No! Fractions give two fractions and asks students to choose whether one fraction is Less than or Greater than another given fraction.

To select the answer, students slide the words LESS or GREATER to make the statement true.  Should a student be unsure, they can choose to PEEK at two fractions bars.  This gives them a visual representation to help in determining the correct answer. 

Once they select the "I'm Sure" option, students may see the fractions bars again through the PROVE IT option.  The app will tract the number correct as well as the number of times a student uses the peek and prove it options. 
 

Reading Fluency on the iPad...Not Scary at All!

Wouldn't it be great to use your iPad to have students monitor their fluency?  This app is one we explored during our recent Appy Hour. There's nothing to be scared about when it comes to AudioBoo...this app allows you to record and save audio files on your device.  This is a great way to use your iPad to record students oral reading and to help them monitor oral reading fluency.  When downloading this app, be sure to get the iPhone version.  It is free and is much simpler to use for students.  This app allows you to record up to three minutes per session.  There is no way to adjust the time limit.  However, if your goal is just to practice reading and monitor fluency three minutes versus one minute isn't an issue.  Here is how you can use this app for oral reading fluency...

Step 1: Hit the green Record button that appears on the main screen.

Step 2: Choose the red Record button to begin recording.  There is a countdown clock which appears once you begin recording at the bottom of the screen.  If you want them to only record one minute of their reading, students will need to manage a timer or pay attention to the countdown clock stopping their recording when it shows two minutes.

Step 3: Should you want to stop your recording early, simply hit the pause button.  You may resume recording once you have hit the Resume button. 

Step 4: Select the green Publish button at the top right corner when you have completed your recording and name your recording.  We suggest using the child's name.

Step 5: You may listen to your recordings by selecting My Boos from the home screen. 



This link will take you to a blog by Mrs. Wideen who has posted her I Can list and an evaluation chart which you can download FREE.

iPad Literacy Stations 

I Can Chart for Fluency Station...

Student evaluation form for Fluency Station...

On a personal note, I've been using this app with my first grader and his homework.  He loves recording himself with his nightly reading fluency passage and listening to himself read.  What a great motivation for our boys who sometimes struggle with wanting to read!  SHare with your parents...this may help them, too!