technology Archives | Lucky To Be In First

May 6, 2018 Leave a Comment

Digital Phonics Practice!

In today’s world, you need to keep the learning exciting, engaging, and entertaining if you want kids to join in, right?! That’s why I created Sound Tappers to help students master their phonics skills using digital resources!

I am always searching for ways to sneak phonics instruction into our day. Sound Tappers are PowerPoint presentations that can be used on any computer with PowerPoint installed and on iPads {when the free PowerPoint app is installed!}

Students simply tap the sound buttons, listen for the sounds and tap on the matching picture.

The activity is self-checking, too! So when they tap on the correct picture, they’re rewarded with a happy chime. When they tap the wrong picture, they hear an “uh-oh” sound.

Sound Tappers are no-prep and waste no paper resources!

Grab the growing bundle of Sound Tappers!

Here’s what’s included:

Beginning Sounds
Ending Sounds

Same Beginning Sounds

Same Ending Sound

Rhyming Words

Short Vowels

Short A

Short E

Short I

Short O

Short U

Long Vowels

Beginning Digraphs

Ending Digraphs

R-Controlled Vowels

L Blends

R Blends

S Blends

Ending R Blends

Ending S Blends

Ending T Blends

Trigraphs {August 23rd}

Synonyms {August 30th}

Antonyms {September 6th}

Please note: Sound Tappers will NOT work on Google Classroom or within the Google Docs suite.

May 6, 2016 2 Comments

Stop Motion Animation in the Classroom!

Stop-Motion Animation – sounds scary, doesn’t it? Sounds like something that kids {or their teachers!} could never do! Well, do I have good news for you! It is SO easy and you totally need to start using it in your classroom!

A few months ago, I traveled to the French Lick Teacher Retreat that Holly Ehle put together. It was not only fun to catch up with my friends from around the country, but also an eye-opening experience for a few new teacher tools! I totally admit that I’m a tech nerd and I love to add any new

I totally admit that I’m a tech nerd and I love to add any new gadgets and gizmos to my classroom that I can get my hands on! The amazing people from HUE Animation sent me their Animation Studio to try out with my kiddos.

When I saw the little box that it comes in, I’ll admit that I was a lil’ bit skeptical! How does something so tiny {and relatively inexpensive!} do the cool things it promises? Well, I promise you – the HUE Animation Studio does not disappoint! All you need is a computer with a USB drive and a whole log of imagination!

As soon as the box arrived, of course, I had to start playing! In about 3 minutes, I made this fun little video! I sent it to JB {who no doubt rolled his eyes at how I was spending a Friday night before he got home from work!}

The next test was to bring it into the classroom! Here’s what I did: I set up the document camera and told the kids the basic concept of stop-motion animation. I then let them get into groups and decide what they would do.

During the creation of the first video, I snapped the pictures {simply pressed the button on the mouse!} Seeing how easy it was, students started begging me if they could do it! I stepped away from the computer and they got to work.

Now, I know this video is upside down, but I thought it was a fun idea! And at the time, we didn’t know how to switch the setting on the computer 🙂

Ideas on this first day of “playing” ranged from pulling out the pattern blocks and building monsters to using solid shapes and creating a town! Or to just simply draw a little scene, like the rainbow above!

A few weeks later, I pulled the camera out again and encouraged the kids to come up with ways to showcase our classroom learning. I left the camera and the computer on a table in my classroom where the students had access to the HUE Animation Studio.

During Daily 5 time, one boy created a stop-motion animation video for silly sentences he made using a tub of word tiles.

He was so excited about his first video…that he wanted to make a second stop-motion animation!

It makes my teacher heart happy that he even remembered to use a period!

But, I think my favorite stop-motion animation video came from a group of kiddos who wanted to share what they learned about the parts of a plant {and how it grows!} Isn’t this so cute?!

Stop-motion animation is totally do-able with your first graders…especially in the Springtime! Add the HUE Animation Studio to your back to school wishlist.

Leave a comment with an idea you have for usingstop-motion animation in your classroom!
I can’t wait to see what else my kiddos dream up!

Slainte!

This post contains affiliate links for Amazon. By purchasing an item on the Amazon site using these links, I will receive a small commission on your purchase. For more information about my Disclosure Policy, please visit this link.

March 24, 2015 6 Comments

Favorite Apps for the Classroom!

As you may know, I’m a HUGE tech nerd. I love gadgets and gizmos of all types for my classroom! I am super fortunate to work in a district where technology is embraced and encouraged.

In each of our classrooms, we have a set of six iPads. I use our iPads during Daily 5, as well as during our Math time. There are so many great apps out there that it can be overwhelming! So here’s a list of my favorite apps for the classroom!

First up is my very own app, Smart Cookie Math! In my classroom, we use the Smart Cookie Math paper and pencil program to work on our math fact fluency. Parents were always asking, “How can I help my child at home?” In this digital age, an app was my solution!

The app mirrors the program exactly! So, when a child may need some extra practice on Level 6, they can use Level 6 on the app to squeeze in a little practice!

You can read more about my Apps {here}

Just a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned a great reading app, Rhyme to Read.
You can read my post about it {here}. Make sure to check out their website to learn more! It’s a phenomenal app at a great price!

When I was at the EdExpo in Atlanta last month, I was fortunate to meet the amazing creator of the Touchtronic apps, Duncan! He was so humble about this incredible system!

Basically, you tap the letters and numbers directly onto the iPad to play games and create numbers and words. It’s amazing!

You can read more about it on my blog {here} or head over the Junior Learning website for the letters {here} and the numbers {here} This app will seriously BLOW your mind!

During Daily 5 time, my students “read the newspaper” each day through the News-O-Matic app. Every evening, a new digest is delivered to our iPads. It’s filled with five headline news stories…but in a very kid-friendly format. I LOVE hearing the students discuss the news!

There are multiple editions to choose from for various grade levels. Check out their website {here} or the app {here}

During Math time {after students have finished their “work” for the day} they are allowed to use the iPads for Math games.

One great app is called Kodable. It’s a programming curriculum to use with early elementary students. What I love is that students can begin their program in the computer lab {or at home} and continue their progress on the iPad. Check out their website {here}

I’m sure most of you have heard of RAZ Kids but just in case, it’s worth mentioning how fabulous it is! To use this app, you must already subscribe to RAZ Kids.

The RAZ Kids App is filled with TONS of leveled books. You can assign students to a specific bookshelf. From there, they can have a story read to them, read it on their own, take quizzes, and even record their reading! This is well worth the price tag!

Do you remember those fun magnetic letters we all had on our fridges growing up? Well, here’s the 2015 version of Magnetic Letters! I give my kids a list of sight words and let them go crazy!

I’ve mentioned that we use Everyday Math for our curriculum. The best part of this curriculum are their games they have embedded into the program!

A few years ago, they added digital versions of those games! My favorite is Top-It, but they have a huge list! Even if you don’t use this program, the apps are great reinforcement for basic math concepts!

And lastly, who can forget the Osmo! We love ALL of the apps for Osmo! I’m so excited to get the kids started on their latest, Masterpiece this week! Yippee!