How to Make Class Movies Truly Interactive using Today's Meet

My movies in Social Studies have gone from a strictly viewing experience to a "watch and listen, write, read and respond" experience.

I create a room using the website, Todays Meet, and students quickly sign in without passwords.  They are encouraged to take all of their notes within our class backchannel.  I'm thrilled at all of the interaction and reflection that takes place during this process.

As you can see above, students are even encouraged to add hashtags to further display some of their reactions to the movie.

How do you use backchannel sites like Today's Meet in your classroom?

Create a Vocabulary Spinner with the Decide Now! App

The app, Decide Now! has been a terrific addition to my vocabulary instruction.  Any time I introduce a new word to our academic vocabulary list, students immediately add it to their "vocabulary wheel" within this app.

Students use this resource in my room the following ways:

• Selecting words for sentences
• Charades
• Vocabulary games
• Quizzing themselves or each other

How would you use this with your students?

Note:  This app is usually $0.99.  However, today (1-25-14) it is free!

Strengthen Vocabulary with "Move & Match" App

Move & Match is an iPad app that I recently started using for vocabulary activities with my students, though you can use it for just about anything.

There are two sections to this app, "Make" and "Use."  In the "Make" section, they simply add pictures and type in words.  When they open the file they've created in the "Use" section, they can move and match their pictures and words.

With vocabulary, I have students continuously add words and different pictures.  They then mix and match them to write or say sentences using these words.  Students also use other classmates' iPads to mix and match their words and pictures, as well.

Making a QR Code is Easy!

QR Codes are so easy to make!  Yet, it seems like many teachers are still apprehensive to make them.  Here's how:

1.  Simply go to the website QRstuff.com.  Below is a screenshot of what you will see. 

2.  Copy the URL you'd like to use and pasted it into the "2 Content" section directly below.  

3.  Then, click on the second option (Use our qrs.ly URL shortener), and press the "Download QR Code" button on the right.  Your QR code will be downloaded and ready to be used!

Math Buddy Online, the Ultimate Bell Ringer for a 1:1 Class

This past week, a colleague of mine shared the ultimate bell ringer for my math class, Math Buddy Online.  This site asks students a question of the day for math. The questions are organized by grade level.

My students were instructed to save this link to their iPad so they could immediately go to the site every morning.  They start with the Grade 5 problem and work their way up to higher grade levels.  Students work on the problems in their notebook. Once they figure out the answer, they select it on the iPad and they are immediately told whether or not their answer was correct.

I have not tried either of these yet, but there are additional options for a paid app and student login. I haven't tried them because the current setup works perfectly for my classroom's purposes.

Use Wanted Poster Pro with Students for Historical Figures

Many times in any History or Language Arts class, we stumble upon those historical figures that have done a lot of wrong in their lives.  Wanted Poster Pro can be the perfect app to demonstrate student knowledge of these villains.

Students can find a photo online of their villain and insert it directly into a wanted poster.  See below to view all of the different sections of the poster that students can fill out.

Right now, this app is still free.  If not, it usually runs at $0.99.  What a great activity to do with students!

Students Play Mission U.S. to Learn About the Revolutionary War

If you teach the Revolutionary War, then Mission US, For Crown or Colony is a must!  This is completely free game that students play online.  It's a "choose your own adventure" type game that leads them through decisions during the American Revolution.

The Lesson:

I've taught with this website a few different ways.  It can be taught in whole group instruction.  I've had students take turns making decisions as the game was projected in front of the class.

Last year I had students play on their own.  They seemed to really like this.  The only deterent, if you view it this way, is that students liked it so much they would finish it at home.

Mission US also provides several activities and worksheets to use with the game.  Check them out!

Watch the trailer of the game below.