iPads in the K - 2 Classroom

Welcome to the iPad WIKI page for grades K - 2! I have carefully selected what I felt were the most beneficial websites, resources, journal articles, and videos to help educators use iPads in the classroom. I have also listed my personal thoughts about some of the listed information.

iPad Literacy Apps

There are hundreds of apps out there that can help build a child's literacy ranging from $0.00 to $19.99. As educators we are always looking for ways to help cut costs in the classroom without cutting out opportunities in our students' educational experience. I hope the resources listed below will help you find the apps that will complement your literacy program in the most beneficial and cost effective way possible.

iPad Apps for Primary Literacy ~ I decided to try out "Toontastic" which is a free app. It starts out explaining how to make a story arc by using a setup, conflict, challenge, climax and resolution. It is a great app to build story elements! I absolutely love it and will be using it in my 2nd grade classroom. I can see advanced first grade students also using this app!

Elementary School iPad Apps ~ I downloaded the free app "Sentence Builder". This would be a great app to use at word work or the writing center for Daily 5 at the K-2 level. It replaces the cut and paste sentences. Students move the words to build sentences at two different ability levels.

10 iPad Apps for the Elementary Teacher ~ The free app "Read Me Stories" is a virtual read aloud app. A new story is featured everyday! You have the option of having the story read to you or read by yourself.

Top 10 Spelling Apps ~ The top 10 spelling apps according to the Reading Rockets website. there was only one free app listed "The Electric Ball Company". The student first watches a video and a letter sound or letter combination and then tapping the wordballs. The student then uses the collected wordballs to build words. This app focuses on spelling, phonics, and reading which can be used at the K - 2 level.

App games are great to help build literacy and mathematical skills as well as help move on Bloom's Taxonomy levels...but what else can we use the iPad for? There is FaceTime which is similar to Skype. Users can make a video call to another classroom miles away. I could also see FaceTime being used to connect to authors or illustratrators. The iPad also has the ability to video or audio record. Perfect to record students reading to help build fluency.

Displaying iPad on Projector ~ This website explains how to display your iPad 2 or newer iPad on a projector. You do need to purchase an Apple TV, but would is a wonderful way to demonstrate and model how to use certain apps before sending them off on their own or crowding around one iPad while a teacher demonstrates.

iPads at Burley ~ A blog about a school that has incorportated iPads in their 1st - 5th grade classrooms. If you scroll down to the second posting on the page it explains a neat way to use the iPad for interactive anchor charts. We all struggle with wall space in our classrooms and this is a great solution and a way to re-vsisit the anchor charts for students who need interventions.

Dragon Dictation is an app that takes spoken words and translates them into type. Perfect to send quick emails or document students behavior on the fly! Students with special needs who have trouble typing may also be able to enjoy this app y understanding the relationship between spoken and written words.

The first question that many parents may have for their child’s educator is, “Why spend so much money and time on iPads? How do they benefit my child’s education?” They have every right to question the purchase and implementation of these technological tools in the classroom. I personally believe a sit down with a parent and an iPad may be the best way to show the parents how the different Apps and programs help their child’s learning experience. However, that may not always fit into everyone’s schedule. Listed below are a few websites that focus why iPads are used in the classroom as well as monitoring iPad use in the home.

iPads in Schools ~ A website dedicated to explaining the use of iPads in the classroom and how they are beneficial to students’ education.

Kid Safe Browsers for the iPad ~ This site gives information on SAFE web browsers for children. There are three listed that require a fee, but I feel that the last one “iWonder Pro” is worth the time to take a look at and download! It’s free and parents even receive reports on what their child is browsing/searching.

Technology and Interactive Media ~ A lengthy but very informative journal article on the use of technology in a child’s learning experience from birth to age 8.

Apple Education - Learning with the iPad

Students use the iPad to record themselves to help build fluency and make podcasts.