Weekend App Attack! New Weekly Blog Series!

Technology is BIG at my school and I feel like I’m constantly trying to keep up with all the latest devices, apps, and programs that are available to students and teachers.  We are fortunate to be teaching at a time that has thousands and thousands of technology resources at our disposal for children.

I’ve been reflecting the past few weeks about how well I’m using all of the technology that is available to me.  I have a personal iPad that I bring to school each day and let my students do math centers with.  Because of this, our principal purchased an Apple TV for my room which is just amazing!  A year ago, my husband bought me a little net book   After I got my iPad, I rarely use it at home, so this is now part of my classroom – adding another computer that kids can use.  I am also thankful for my smartboard,  four student computers, and a teacher computer.  Our building is now wireless.  Need I say more?  I’m b-l-e-s-s-e-d to teach in my building.  

I decided to start a little weekly weekend post that features one or two apps I am finding useful in the classroom.  I hope you will check in every weekend to see if you can find them useful as well! 🙂

This week’s featured app is:  Math Dots.  The concept is SO simple but my kiddos LOVE it!  They have a dinosaur version and a fairytale version.  Students simply solve the computation problem and it connects the dot for them.  While they are completing the game, a puzzle is being connected with the dots.  When students finish the puzzle, it becomes animated and students can then use their finger to “color” the picture.  My kiddos had SO much fun with this and they were practicing their facts at the same time.

You can get a free puzzle for each of them, but for only $1.99 you can have access to the whole game.  I set mine on both addition and subtraction for this week, on the Easy Level.  You can do a combination of operations or levels: Easy, Medium, and Hard.  I will be staying away from the multiplication and division since I am first grade, but the many levels make this game great for differentiation!

Thanks for stopping by! I’m off to do some shopping and go out to dinner with a great friend! She was my teaching partner at my old school and also did a reading at my wedding this summer. She’s an inspiration to me when it comes to teaching and has been an amazing mentor to me.  I hope everyone has a great weekend and gets some much needed relaxation! 

Happy Learning,