It’s very hard to describe the energy that has been running through my classroom over the past few weeks. I’m excited, grateful, motivated, inspired, and a bit overwhelmed – in a good way. 🙂
The biggest emotion I’ve been feeling is *blessed.* – Thanks to YOU!
When I sold my first TpT product just under 14 months ago, I was in awe that another teacher – a stranger – would be using something I made with their students. It is still so exciting to think about. TpT has been a huge blessing to my family and it has been a life changing journey that I do not take for granted. I started blogging and selling on TpT because I wanted it to benefit my students and my teaching. I’m forever thankful – from the bottom of my heart – for all of the support and encouragement that you, my followers, have given me throughout this journey.
I believe in the power of giving back when we have been blessed within our lives. Because of your amazing support, I was able to purchase six Google Nexus 7 tablets for my classroom. These tablets work just like mini iPads, except they are Android-based. They’re so fun!
Having these six tablets in my classroom has opened up so many doors of opportunities for my students. I work in a wonderful school that has a large population of economically disadvantaged students. These students do not have the access to home computers, tablets, smart phones, or other technology that so many other kids take for granted on a daily basis. In a time when standardized tests will be given solely on the computers, and students are required to type a writing piece, I am hoping that I can give my students the edge and advantage they need to further their reading, math, and writing success.
And WOW, is it working! In just a few weeks, I’ve taught my kids how to scan QR codes, email me their Word Work during Daily 5, and use some great math apps during our small group math time.
Last week, I put the kids into groups of 4-5 students. I placed QR codes all around the room that I had linked to posters I created about the differences between cats and dogs. I told students they would be researching about these two pets and would later have to form an opinion: Is a cat or a dog a better pet? They took notes on what they read as they moved from QR code to QR code, scanning and researching. They were begging me to get more QR codes so they could read more information!
The next day, they used their notes to write opinion pieces. We used All Student’s Can Shine’s It’s Raining Cats and Dog craftivity for our opinion pieces. (I will be sharing the QR codes with you and the details to our opinion writing project soon!)
My class has a subscription to Raz-Kids (read more about it here) so we use this program to open up a huge leveled library for my guided reading lessons on the Nexus 7 Tablets. I’m able to pass out the tablets, tell students to click on Level J, for example, and have them click on the digital A-Z Reading book that we will be reading and working on during our guided reading group. It’s like having a virtual book room right in my own classroom.
This week, I introduced a few more reading apps and let the students use the tablets around the room for Read to Self and Read to Someone during Daily 5.
I can’t wait to work on some more writing projects and different activities we can use our tablets with. I know there are immense possibilities on how to use them and I will definitely be working over the summer on different ways to implement these into our everyday learning.
We are thrilled, thankful, and technology-happy in Room 108! Thank you again for all of your support of Sugar and Spice!
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64 Comments
That's awesome that you were able to purchase those tablets! Hooray for you!
I have 7 iPads! It makes a huge difference in my classroom. However, we don't have wifi but they said this summer we will! I can't wait to do the QR codes and have them email me their work. What great skills!
What an inspiring post; brought a tear to my eye. What a difference you are making to the lives of your classroom kids. Well done!! thursdaytook@hotmail.com
WOW! I didn't even know you could do some of those things with tablets. Hopefully some day all classrooms will have the technology to do what you are doing. Maria First Grade Carousel
That's awesome that you could purchase those tablets for your kiddos! I love your stuff, especially your intervention stories. You do wonderful work! Liz Teaching in the Valley
I LOVE that you were able to purchase these tablets! That is ah-mazing! I am in awe of your ability and love that you give back! Your compassion is contagious 🙂
Oh my gosh! What an amazing person you are! How incredible for you to give back and it sounds like your kids are truly enjoying your fabulous gift! I can attest that your units are truly amazing. Thank you for being one of the kind, thoughtful and truly talented teachers out there! <3
Congratulations! How wonderful that you bought those tablets for your kiddos in your classroom. They are very blessed to have you as their teacher. Michelle Mjaquillard@oregoncs.org
how wonderful that you used your earnings to give back to your kids! We use iPads that our school was lucky enough to have available for us, but I never thought of having my kids email me their center work. I am definitely going to try that!!! 🙂 thanks!
WE are getting some IPADs for our school next year. Only one class set for the whole school,but it's something! I LOVE your ideas! I have so much to learn!
Wow! I love your tablets. We are going to be getting Chromebooks in my classroom next year and I'm excited. I'm hoping we can do all the cool apps you can do with tablets on them. Meghan First Grade Hugs and High Fives
I love all the neat ways you are incorporating the tablets into your kiddos' daily learning! I think it is so great to see teachers who choose to use their earnings from TpT to invest in other products to enhance their students learning. I applaud you!
That's wonderful you purchased the tablets for your classroom; what an inspiring teacher you are! We are using your Economics pack these next two weeks and it's AWESOME:)! Thank you for your hard work and inspiration.
What a sweet post and great giveaway! Tablets have the ability to do amazing things in a classroom and I am thrilled to see they have made such a positive impact :)! Love your TPT story as I've been thinking about starting a store for a long time just haven't gotten there yet! QR Codes are one of my favorite things and I have been obsessed for about two years now! Sent From My iPad
I just discovered your blog! I am SO excited because I just received 21 iPads! Now I do have to share with the rest of my teachers (we are a k-2 school) but the opportunities are so exciting and I just learned about the QR codes! You are awesome!!! applebranchranch@clearwire.net
I loved reading this post, but am a little out of the loop on QR codes. How do you make/get them to provide info that the kids will read in class? Is this an app you need to buy? I have only heard of using QR to get information from merchants, etc. Thanks!! dsj28@earthlink.net
That's awesome that you were able to purchase those tablets! Hooray for you!
cheriemae@gmail.com
Congratulations! So exciting to be able to do that for your class!
sunburst541@gmail.com
You rock…I loved reading about how you opened the door to technology for your students in that way!
tokyoshoes (at) hotmail (dot) com
I would love to get tablets in my classroom. I love Raz-Kids and what it offers to my kids and my classroom reading program.
Love the technology in the classroom, I would love the QR codes to implement the same concept with the use of iPads in my classroom.
Congratulations.
Jeanne
I have 7 iPads! It makes a huge difference in my classroom. However, we don't have wifi but they said this summer we will! I can't wait to do the QR codes and have them email me their work. What great skills!
Wow! That's wonderful!
Those tablets are amazing! I wish I had something like that, but the money isn't there. What a great way to use your earnings!!! 🙂
Kelly
First Grade Fairytales
What an inspiring post; brought a tear to my eye. What a difference you are making to the lives of your classroom kids. Well done!! thursdaytook@hotmail.com
WOW! I didn't even know you could do some of those things with tablets. Hopefully some day all classrooms will have the technology to do what you are doing.
Maria
First Grade Carousel
Congrats on your milestone!!
susanlulu@yahoo.com
That's awesome that you could purchase those tablets for your kiddos! I love your stuff, especially your intervention stories. You do wonderful work!
Liz
Teaching in the Valley
Love all the hard work the teachers do for TPT!
I LOVE that you were able to purchase these tablets! That is ah-mazing! I am in awe of your ability and love that you give back! Your compassion is contagious 🙂
Thank you!
mrscap6@gmail.com
Amelia
wherethewildthingslearn
What a great success story with your students. Technology definitely helps with today's kids. You have inspired me.
Charlene/Diamond Mom
charlene.sequeira2@gmail.com
http://www.diamondmomstreasury.weebly.com/blog.html
It is always great to find another great blog!
jgraham@eau7.org
We loved your poetry unit!!! Thank you so much! We blogged about it in our five for Friday linky. You rock!!
Thank YOU for all your ideas and amazing products. those tablets looks like so much fun. Lucky students!!!
tania
My Second Sense
Oh my gosh! What an amazing person you are! How incredible for you to give back and it sounds like your kids are truly enjoying your fabulous gift! I can attest that your units are truly amazing. Thank you for being one of the kind, thoughtful and truly talented teachers out there! <3
Congratulations! I hope my school will be able to get us tablets someday!
Congratulations! How wonderful that you bought those tablets for your kiddos in your classroom. They are very blessed to have you as their teacher.
Michelle
Mjaquillard@oregoncs.org
Wow! What a great idea! 🙂
I have 6 iPads and 6 iPods in my classroom! amandalawson4@gmail.com
I love the integration of technology!! Someday I hope to infuse ipads into mine <3
Thanks for the opportunity.
yvonneeyrg@gmail.com
You are very generous to have provided these yourself! Kudos to you! ahenry4443ah@gmail.com
Wow! How inspiring! It is so hard when the kids don't have the technology at home! I face the same issues. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Andrea
Reading Toward the Stars
readerstars@gmail.com
How lucky your kids are to have those tablets! Thank you for the great giveaway:)
Take care,
Dee:)
overthemoonbow.owner@gmail.com
how wonderful that you used your earnings to give back to your kids! We use iPads that our school was lucky enough to have available for us, but I never thought of having my kids email me their center work. I am definitely going to try that!!! 🙂 thanks!
zoveg@yahoo.com
Congratulations! I love how you use Reading A-Z on the tablets. dbednarsk@yahoo.com
Congratulations! Bryn (bryneven@Hotmail.com)
I wish that my corporation had the money to get a subscription to RAZkids. gehrkejen@gmail.com
I had never heard of the Nexus tablets. I will have to check those out. Thanks for the chance to win!
cecil0862@yahoo.com
What a wonderful thing you did for your class to use your earnings to buy Nexus tablets!
œKaryn
A is for Apple B is for Blog
Kideducator@comcast.net
WOW that's amazing that you were able to get those tablets!
Love the use of QR codes.
I found your blog through a post on the TPT forum!
http://www.secondgradealicious.blogpost.ca
Congratulations, your students will love them!
WE are getting some IPADs for our school next year. Only one class set for the whole school,but it's something! I LOVE your ideas! I have so much to learn!
Wow! I love your tablets. We are going to be getting Chromebooks in my classroom next year and I'm excited. I'm hoping we can do all the cool apps you can do with tablets on them.
Meghan
First Grade Hugs and High Fives
Thanks so much for sharing how you use the tablets in your room! Your store must be doing well- and I'm so glad 🙂 Congrats!
Jenny
Luckeyfrog's Lilypad
luckeyfrogslilypad@gmail.com
What you have been able to do for your students is very inspiring. Hard work definitely pays off!
What a wonderful way to spend your earnings. Your students are very, very lucky 😉
Rae
Mindful Rambles
rachaelaschauer@gmail.com
I love all the neat ways you are incorporating the tablets into your kiddos' daily learning! I think it is so great to see teachers who choose to use their earnings from TpT to invest in other products to enhance their students learning. I applaud you!
Andrea
andreakornfeind@gmail.com
So awesome! Your students must be having so much fun!
Katie
I Want to be a Super Teacher
katiebaxsmith@gmail.com
How inspiring! ilovekdgt@gmail.com
New follower!
Sara
Polka Dot Kinders
Congrats!!!
Crystal Shepherd
lucytumnus@gmail.com
The lamppost in 1st grade math
Great giveaway! Love hearing about your tablets in your classroom. cooney.doublec.laura192@gmail.com
That's Awesome! Thanks for sharing the love:) elydinah@yahoo.com
Wow! Awesome.
You are WONDERFUL and deserve all of your success! Congratulations and amazing way to celebrate your success – with your kiddies!!
Thanks so much for the amazing giveaway
Laura Love to Teach
boudls89@yahoo.com
Your class is lucky and blessed to have you!
Jana
Jprowell11@gmail.com
You have such wonderful ideas! Thank you for sharing! 🙂 veronica.varela@live.com
That is great that you were able to buy these for your classroom. I know your kids enjoy them for sure!
kellybrown28021@gmail.com
That's wonderful you purchased the tablets for your classroom; what an inspiring teacher you are! We are using your Economics pack these next two weeks and it's AWESOME:)! Thank you for your hard work and inspiration.
~Sara
sweetsarabowling@gmail.com
My partner teacher and I love reading your app and tablet ideas. We hope to have tablets of our own next year!
Wow! That is amazing that you have tablets in your room. I have been wishing I had them for a year now. I hope to have them in the future 🙂
Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to win.
Hope you have a blessed night.
Marie
mcskippe@gmail.com
It's a Jungle Out There!
I blogged about your giveaway on my blog 🙂 Here is the link.
Sugar and Spice Giveaway Link
Thanks,
Marie
What a sweet post and great giveaway! Tablets have the ability to do amazing things in a classroom and I am thrilled to see they have made such a positive impact :)! Love your TPT story as I've been thinking about starting a store for a long time just haven't gotten there yet! QR Codes are one of my favorite things and I have been obsessed for about two years now!
Sent From My iPad
I just discovered your blog! I am SO excited because I just received 21 iPads! Now I do have to share with the rest of my teachers (we are a k-2 school) but the opportunities are so exciting and I just learned about the QR codes! You are awesome!!!
applebranchranch@clearwire.net
Congratulations on your new purchase! Your students must love them!
Sara 🙂
livs14@gmail.com
Smiling In Second Grade
What techno-fun your students are having!
jennifer.agolino@gmail.com
I've been a long-time follower and simply adore your blog. I want tablets for my classroom so badly!! 🙂
thepolkadotowl@gmail.com
I loved reading this post, but am a little out of the loop on QR codes. How do you make/get them to provide info that the kids will read in class?
Is this an app you need to buy?
I have only heard of using QR to get information from merchants, etc.
Thanks!!
dsj28@earthlink.net
Having these six tablets in my classroom has opened up so many … ikindertablets.blogspot.de
This is so perfect! I want this in my class…