Home « Keeping Pace Cool Tools Are Fun, But Learning Should Come First The Internet is littered with lists of educational apps, Web 2.0 websites, and “cool tools.” These lists certainly can help teachers keep up with the latest and greatest websites or apps in education, but what they don’t do is help a teacher understand why they should use them or explain the technology skills students will gain from using these tools. Many teachers come to me asking, “There are so many cool websites to use these days — can you help me find a couple and show me how to use them in my class?” While I’m thrilled when teachers are excited to try something new, I’m concerned that the excitement over the tech tools is headed toward a dead end. It’s important to know what tools we have at our disposal and what they’re capable of doing. A slight change of perspective can pay huge dividends when integrating educational technology into the classroom. Identify the curriculum goals and pedagogical approach. Common Core State Standards English Language Arts Standards » Writing » Grade 6
Student Apps for Winter Reading For families traveling this winter or teachers simply looking for an alternative to tablet games, there are lots of great apps for winter reading. Android devices, iPhones and iPads can be turned into ebook readers with a quick tap or swipe. Portable and kid-friendly, these interactive storybooks will support and engage young readers. Snowman Joe (iOS) Follow along with this musical storybook as readers travel through a winter wonderland. Read Me Stories (iOS and Android) This app is full of picture books with illustrations that children will love. Epic! Another subscription-based service for iPads called Epic! Frozen: Storybook Deluxe (iOS) This storybook app from Disney brings the characters from the Frozen movie to life on your children's iPad screens. Winter Is (iOS) A simple storybook with high-quality illustrations, this app is perfect for reading together as a family or letting your children listen as the narration is read aloud. Dr. A wide variety of classic Dr. A Blizzard of eBooks
K-5 iPad Apps According to Bloom's Taxonomy An elementary library media specialist reviews iPad apps as they map to an updated version of Bloom's Taxonomy in this six-part series. Diane Darrow is an artist, Reading Recovery teacher, and library media specialist at Bel Aire Elementary in Tiburon, CA. You can follow her on Twitter at @dianedarrow. In this six-part series, I will highlight apps useful for developing higher order thinking skills in grades K-5 classrooms. Each list will highlight a few apps that connect to the various stages on Bloom's continuum of learning. Given the size and current exponential growth of the app market, I will also assist educators in setting criteria necessary to identify apps that maintain the integrity of teaching for thinking. Part One: K-5 iPad Apps for Remembering Part Two: K-5 iPad Apps for Understanding Part Three: K-5 iPad Apps for Applying Part Four: K-5 iPad Apps for Analyzing Part Five: K-5 iPad Apps for Evaluating Part Six: K-5 iPad Apps for Creating
Starfall's Learn to Read with phonics