Little Red Riding Hood: A Basket Full of Goodies

Picture
Ohhhh, that basket full of goodies is so tempting.  What's in there?  Brownies?  Cake?  Pie?   Cookies?  Red Riding Hood knew she had very special treats in her little basket, and she knew she should share them with  granny. Just like Red Riding Hood, we have lots of iPad goodies to share with our students, and share them we will, a bit at a time. 

 But those apps are not as important as the main course, the standards or learning goals you intend to meet with your iPads.  Before you begin, make sure your curriculum is driving your app choices, and choose apps that provide a variety of learning modalities.

Make a plan, and ease students into those goodies a little bit at a time. Use an app, and the camera, and the voice record function, it's all good.   It's the  whole wide wonderful world with the swipe of a finger or the tap of a picture.  Then keep in mind, it's not the goodies the students need, it's an integrated, 21st century curriculum that engages, allows for critical thinking, creativity, and communication.  Do your app choices reflect your teaching goals?  Remember that wolf in the story of Red Riding Hood?  That wolf is like those apps that will consume your time, but not get much
                                                    accomplished when it comes to learning goals.  Choose wisely, and watch out for that wolf.           

                                                   http://www.kristenswanson.org/2014/01/11-without-instructional-goals-results.html

Using the iPad Camera for Project Based Learning
annE Garner

So last year, my first with iPads in my regular classroom, we also started rolling out Project Based Learning (PBL). For our first PBL, we stuck to paper and pencil.(Though looking back, the iPads might have been easier for our students to manage!) For our second PBL, insect life cycles, we chose to incorporate iPads. Our students worked in groups of 3 or 4, researching, reading and writing about the insect the group chose. As a final product, each group had to make either a My Story book or a PicCollage about their insect life cycle. For PicCollage, students first had to draw in Doodle Buddy, take a screen shot of the drawing to save to the camera roll and then import the pictures into the group collage. Here is an example of a PicCollage created by an individual student during this project. She made this on her own, just because she could, during her choice time!

and the list goes on.....
Kim Floyd

When I first got my iPads, I would spend hours and hours scouring the App store trying to find the "best" apps.  Web searches would turn up list after list of what others believed to be the "ultimate apps."   I asked everyone what they were using.   My conclusion?  The best apps are the ones you use again and again. 
 I have a few favorites like Pic Collage, Drawing Pad and Explain Everything. I also love Bugs and Buttons, (who knew?)   But you will find favorites of your own.  No one else can really tell you what apps are best for your teaching style, and  your students. 
In my search for the "best app list", I have learned to follow the leaders.  I adore the work of both Kristi Meeuwse and Matt Gomez, both pioneers in providing best practices when it comes to iPad integration in kindergarten.  They've got the goodies, and they are sharing.  Check them both out at the links below:
Matt Gomez
http://mattbgomez.com/apps-we-use-in-kindergarten-2013-update/
Kristi Meeuwse
http://iteachwithipads.net/category/apps-i-use/