Three Little Pigs: Building a strong Foundation
Straw? Sticks? Bricks. It was the foundation of the house that saved those tender pink little piggies from that Big Bad Wolf. Without those bricks, there would not have been a happy ending, there just would have been an ending. Yep, bacon, ribs, pulled pork sliders. The end.
So, like that smart little piggy, build a great foundation. Build that foundation one step at a time. The foundation, the way you model, and use your iPad will set the stage for your students, and their relationship with the iPads in your classroom. Slow, deliberate, consistent steps and procedures will make or break your iPad program. Here are some things to think about, if you haven't already:
So, like that smart little piggy, build a great foundation. Build that foundation one step at a time. The foundation, the way you model, and use your iPad will set the stage for your students, and their relationship with the iPads in your classroom. Slow, deliberate, consistent steps and procedures will make or break your iPad program. Here are some things to think about, if you haven't already:
- How will the iPads be moved from place to place in the classroom? Will they be moved?
- Where will they be stored? Who will put them away, you or the students?
- Who will clean them? With what? How often?
- How will students know which apps they can and cannot use?
- What about headphones? Will they need a stylus? Or stand? Or external keyboard?
- What is your backup plan if the batteries die? If apps don't open? Or wifi is down?
- Who will monitor students if you are unavailable? Can they work without supervision?
- How will you involve volunteers? Parents? Older students?
- What do your parents need to know about how your iPads are being used?
- Who will add apps? Review and recommend apps? Delete apps? Create folders?
Tools for building your foundation
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We love the resources created by Heidi Butkus, so why reinvent the wheel? Like the little engine, chug along with what works! Here is a link to an amazing free resource, iPad rules for the classroom, a colorful, free download. http://www.heidisongs.com/blog/2012/09/tips-for-one-ipad-classroom-and-free.html
Wondering how to share info with parents? Kim uses her class website to post the apps she is using, along with links to the App Store, just in case parents want to support what is going on in the classroom. Take a peek at her class website, particularly the references to her "Padded Room": http://yountvillekindergarten.weebly.com/september.html |
Little Piggies Can Make Big Messes
Every kindergarten teacher knows kindergarten kids can make some rather interesting messes. To clean fingerprints, and other foreign substances off her iPads, Kim uses micro-cloths and "A Touch Of Purple." Her bottle has lasted over two years! She even uses it daily to clean the glasses of her students. Although there are other products out there, this is a favorite. It is not an official "iPad cleaner", it's just a great, safe product for a classroom. Here's the link:
http://www.touchofpurple.com
Every kindergarten teacher knows kindergarten kids can make some rather interesting messes. To clean fingerprints, and other foreign substances off her iPads, Kim uses micro-cloths and "A Touch Of Purple." Her bottle has lasted over two years! She even uses it daily to clean the glasses of her students. Although there are other products out there, this is a favorite. It is not an official "iPad cleaner", it's just a great, safe product for a classroom. Here's the link:
http://www.touchofpurple.com
Here is what Anne's class had to say about caring for the iPads.