Lalilo Website

 

This past school year I discovered the website Lalilo.

"Lalilo is a literacy web-based app for K-2 teachers.

Using Artificial Intelligence, Lalilo customizes reading exercises depending on each student’s needs, prepares individualized printable worksheets, and helps you organize centers… just like a TA would."

To learn more about what Lalilo does, you can go here. 

I used Lalilo with my emergent 1st grade students and struggling 3rd grade readers. All my students enjoyed using the program because it makes it fun. There is a map that marks lessons once they finish.

It's a fairly new website, so they are constantly adding things and value teacher feedback. It is free for teachers to use, but there is a paid version that does give you some more features. I used the free version all year.

It is very easy for students to use. I save the link on the computer desktop and they just opened it up and began to use it.

Lalilo is a great website for early phonics lessons. Check it out!

Word Rods

I was trying to find a creative way for word building and I created these word rods from pool noodles, plunger handles, dry erase tape, and my husband's 3D printer (totally optional).

The rods come from small plungers I got on NAEIR. If you aren't familiar with NAEIR, go here and check them out! 

I screwed off the plunger part. The rods held the pool noodles perfectly. My husband made end pieces for the noodles, which makes for easy turning. This isn't necessary but it is nice to have. If you have a 3D printer, you can access the file here.

I used dry erase tape to write the letters with Sharpie and it comes off very easily with dry erase board cleaner. Each piece is almost 2 inches long. I used one color for vowels and another for consonants. I cut the dry erase tape in about 1 inch pieces and I could fit 3 of them on one pool noodle piece. The tape fits really well to the pool noodle and won't come off. 

Watch this video to see how they work! 

Word Rods Video

Epic and Read Theory with 3rd Grade

Today I got my 3rd graders set up on Epic and Read Theory. Click on the links to learn more about both. Epic is great for reading and tracking books online. Read Theory is differentiated quizzes over leveled reading passages. 

I'm having a computer station during my 3rd grade computer time, so during this time, student will be taking quizzes on Read Theory and reading books on Epic. Once I got them set up, they became more familiar with both.

Read180 with 4th Grade

Today I started Read180 with my 4th graders. I'm still becoming familiar with the program. I had all the kiddos get on the computers and log into their accounts.

I only have 45 minutes with the kids, instead of the hour they suggested, and I only meet with them for four days a week, so I had to get creative. I came up with the following rotation schedule:

iMovie Book Trailers

I have posted in a previous entry about creating book trailers with iMovie. Last year many of my third grade students made their own book trailers over books they were reading. 

Check them out below!

Let's Fly to the Moon! (A Story Using the App Book Creator)

I previously posted about the app Book Creator. I used it last year with my third grade students to make books about going to the moon. I was pleasantly surprised how well they turn out! I even came up with my own book about Bob and Sally's adventure to the moon. The app was very easy for my students and they came up with some great stories. I loved the voice recording feature, so students were able to narrate their stories, which of course helped with their expression. Check out my story below!

 

 I also had to share some of my student books. 

Epic! - Books for Kids

Have you heard of Epic? I LOVE it! My students loved it. 

What is it? Epic is basically the Netflix of books and it's FREE for teachers.

It's an app and website, so it's easy for students to use. My students read almost 10,000 books by the end of the school year and their reading scores went way up!

I posted a caterpillar that tracked how many books my students read. It was a great visual for anyone who came in our classroom!

To get started, go to https://www.getepic.com/educators!

1 to 1 iPads in the Elementary Classroom

Recently I went to the E3 Technology Conference in Warsaw, Indiana. I presented on how to use iPads in the classroom.  Check out my presentation below!

http://tinyurl.com/yawtf99n

Introducing Office Lens for iPhone

  

Recently I learned about Office Lens.  Office Lens is a handy capture app that turns your smartphone into a pocket scanner. It crops, straightens, enhances, and makes pictures of whiteboards and documents readable. Pictures of documents are automatically saved to OneDrive and editable on any device.

To learn more about Office Lens, go here!

Microsoft Office 365

This year my district transitioned to Office 365.  At first I was like, "What the heck is this and why do I have to change from Google?"  After I started using it though, it got easier, and there are so many features that I love.  I still have a love/hate relationship with Google.  It can tend to be overwhelming still sometimes. 

What I love about 365 is how EASY it is for me to access my work files at home.  I just sign in and open the files I needs.  Editing documents online can be a bit of a hassle at times, but overall I've found it pretty user friendly. I am still learning though, and that's what you really need to do in order to get really comfortable with it.

One of our elementary area technology coordinators posted to his blog a brief introduction to Microsoft 365 and what it is.  You can check out his video here.  It is geared towards educators working for my school district, but it still has some useful information.

If you are not following Microsoft Education on Facebook, I recommend you do so because they have posted some useful things to get you started!

I recently went to a conference and spent the whole day learning about Microsoft 365 features, including:
Microsoft Sway
Office Mix
OneNote
Class Notebook (through OneNote)

There is a lot more that you can check out at https://education.microsoft.com/!

Intervention on a Cart

After a rough beginning of the year, I've finally settled in and am doing well with my 8 groups.  I have one kindergarten group, two 1st grade groups, two 2nd grade groups, two 3rd grade groups, and an IREAD remediation group. I have about 35 students right now.

I posted a picture in one of my earlier posts of some fabric I got to decorate my cart.  I was able to put it on after some trial and error - NO to wall putty or hooks.  I used zip ties to finally attach it.

 

 

Unfortunately, I had to take the fabric off due to new fire codes for school buildings (no fabric allowed!).  I was really bummed but will be using the fabric to make a cute summer dress for my daughter.

 

 I'm still on a cart and push into classrooms.  It was very hard at first, especially after having a room for two years, but I've gotten used to it.  My cart can be VERY heavy to push around sometimes (just look at it!).  I go into classrooms and use their tables.  Sometimes it can be noisy, but it's just nice to have a table!  I do my best to stay organized, which helps.

Recently I put some pocket charts on my cart to list the objectives for each of my groups.  I only could find red, yellow, green, and blue on Amazon.  I could not find the other color charts anywhere, so I got creative, and bought some orange, purple, brown, and pink duct tape on Amazon.  I then took the tape and made the color charts I needed from another set of the pocket charts:

Viola! Eight different colored pocket charts to match each group!  Once I was done, I was able to put my objectives and testing levels, using dry erase sentence strips:

It's not the prettiest, and the charts do get caught on things as I roll it around, which can be frustrating.
 
Another way to keep me organized is by having a different color for each group - red, yellow, green, blue, orange, brown, purple, pink.  I found colored tubs from Really Good Stuff that I can use for each group:
Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue Book Holders with Rack
Orange, Brown, Pink, and Purple Book Holders with Rack

These have been PERFECT for what I need!  I just pull out the colored tub I need.  I also have a binder for each group, that holds all my documents.  I got a lot of my binders from this great website: www.bulkofficesupply.com/.  I get HUGE discounts on binders, dividers, sheet protectors, etc.  It is way cheaper than going to any office supply store, plus shipping is free with a $45 purchase.

I use iPads with five of my groups, so I picked up these nifty styluses from Amazon too!

Seesaw

Seesaw

Student-Driven Digital Portfolios 

 Whether you are 1:1 or just have a single device in your class, Seesaw seamlessly organizes your students’ digital and physical work in one place.

 Seesaw empowers students (as young as 5!) to independently create and organize their work in a digital journal, develop their academic voice, and collaborate with classmates.

 Seesaw facilitates parent communication with real-time notifications, giving them a glimpse of their child’s day and an opportunity to support learning at home.

 Getting Started with Seesaw

Seesaw Presentation for Teachers 

General Help and FAQ 

How to Add Links Into Seesaw

Seesaw Student Experience

Head to http://web.seesaw.me/ to get started!

BrightLoop

What is BrightLoop? 
It is an all-in-one app for student progress.

• Web-based
• Access from any web-enabled device (iPads, laptops, tablets)
• iOS and Android
• Mobile App
• Collect Notes
• Photos of Student Work
• Set Goals
• Planning
• •Quick Status from observations
• Multiple Content Areas
• Reading, Writing, Math, Speaking and Listening, Behavior

 BrightLoop brings together formative assessment, lesson planning and parent communication. Track student need via your mobile phone, tablet or computer. We then provide weekly reports helping you track student learning goals, assess how effective your lessons were and update families as needed. From there you can plan lessons for the next week right in BrightLoop.

  I learned about BrightLoop from attending the iPadPalooza conference this summer.  He has some great resources at his website and blog:

http://www.primarytechteaching.com/

Ideas for Using BrightLoop in the Elementary Classroom:

Applications in Elementary Math

Simplify Parent Conferences and Report Cards

Conferring in Writer's Workshop

Using BrightLoop for Reading Workshop

Quick Assessment Benchmarks

Creating a Digital Student Portfolio

Using BrightLoop with The Daily 5

Common Core Aligned: 

• When you signup for your BrightLoop account, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are already programed in based off of your selected grade level.
• Easily create notes and goals aligned to various standards.

•  All students are on one screen
• No folders, binders, or notebooks
• Collect information based off multiple content areas
• Add subjects to meet your needs

 Collect Screen - Individuals and Groups on One Screen

• Great for guided reading and small group math
• Click on Group Name to take notes on all students
• After clicking on a student, this screen will up (can set note to standards, a goal, or attach a photo)

 Notes and Goals

• After clicking on "CCSS," you can set notes aligned to standards
• All standards programmed are based off classroom grade

 Image Capture

• Take photos of student work
• Great for showing growth in writing, handwriting, etc.
• Take photos using camera or upload from Camera Roll

 
Family Share

• Share notes, goals, and photos with family members
• Families confirm email and then can be updated on student learning

  

• Great for differentiation
• Status based off visual observations
• See class understanding of standards at a glance
• Can note whether a student needs attention, is on track, or ahead
• Great as an Exit Ticket
•  Student Portfolios
• See all notes, images, and goals
• Timestamped
• Accountability
• Open and close goals

 

Setting Up Classroom

• Go to classroom setting
• Enter first and last name
• Take a photo using camera or upload a picture from the Camera Roll

Additional Resources

brightloopteacher.com 

Learn from other teachers on how they incorporate BrightLoop in to their day!