2016's Twelve Apps of December

The past two years I have posted 12 apps of December to introduce various apps to use in your classroom.  Typically, I have posted an app daily for each of the 12 days leading up to our break.  This year I decided to put the 12 apps of December in one post...here you go!  I hope you find something that can be of use in your classrooms:

1. Edynco: This application allows you to create learning maps or multimedia presentations that are "zoomable" (similar to Prezi).   Use all sorts of multimedia in your learning maps such as audio, video, images, and quizzes.  Completed maps can be shared via a URL or embedded into a site/blog.   Use the learning maps to share your lesson resources or have students create presentations using a learning map.  The following link is an example learning map explaining how to use Edynco learning maps (https://gallery.edynco.com/show/learning-map-about-edynco-523)
2. Credo-This is an online library resource for curated educational content.  Credo provides students with a reliable, credible, and easy to access resource when they need to conduct research, allowing students to focus on their research and not navigating multiple databases. This online reference library provides access to encyclopedias, subject dictionaries, biographical sources, reference tools, and thousands of videos, high resolution images and audio files.
3. Help Teaching: This site offers printable and online tests, activities, lessons and games for PreK-12 grade levels.  There are three levels of membership from free to paid offering different levels of use. 
4. KidzType: I know we use TypingClub at the JS, but this site is another resource for teaching students how to type.  Students can choose from games, lessons, exercises, and more.  Please share this app with parents who are looking for more resources for learning how to type.
5. Learn Zillion: Improve classroom instruction by providing high-quality instructional materials (lesson plans and videos).  Teachers use it to give students an extra learning boost, provide review on topics already covered, or as a springboard for new exploration.  Also use it to find new lessons, provide inspiration or learn how to explain a concept a different way.  Lessons can be used as a whole class, small groups or individually.  
6. Prep Factory: A free interactive site for ACT and SAT prep.  Prep Factory uses a variety of educational videos, texts, games, and more to help students prepare for their standardized tests. 
7. WriteReader: This learning tool helps students in K-4 with reading and writing. WriteReader provides resources such as tutorials, lesson plans, etc.  Students can create digital books in a safe environment and share them with others.  Students take pictures of family, friends, things or situations and write about them in their actual level of written language.  Teachers/Parents then "translate" the child's text to conventional writing and by comparing their own attempt to the edited version the child will step by step improve their writing and reading capabilities.
8. Yash Math Adventure: This is a mobile app (iOS, Android) to help students with basic math skills.  It is a game geared for grades 1st-4th grades where they must find their way through the game using logic and solving math puzzles while collecting coins.  There are 36 levels through 6 wolds so students can select the skills they want to practice.  I know we have been using Reflex Math at our LS/JS to help students increase their Math Skills, but this may offer another fun resource as well.  Please share this resource with parents who are looking for additional math resources for their sons/daughters (The app cost $2.99).
9. Sketch Nation: This free app (iOS/Android) and website allow students to create their own games.  Students select a game category then draw their backgrounds/characters/items and let the application do the rest.  Students can create more complex games using the advanced level editor to assist in building their STEM Skills.  Sketch nation has an education section that provides examples of games students created around what they were studying.  In addition, it recently updated its lesson plan section providing more options on how to integrate the application into your classroom.  These lesson ideas focus on a wide variety of subjects such as: Coding, History, Math, and more. 
10. DimensionU: Creates engaging and interactive multiplayer video games that focus on core skills in mathematics and literacy.  These games are designed for kids grades 3rd-9th and are aligned to Common Core Standards.  They have a free 3 day trial period if you'd like to test it out.
11. Vocabulary Spelling City-This application provides tools, resources and training for spelling and vocabulary.  Teachers can implement research based vocabulary learning techniques that lead to word retention and improved reading comprehension. There are more than 35 interactive, engaging activities that allow students to read, hear, speak, write, break down, and play with words.  The application offers teacher resources, writing practice activities and mobile apps for mobile learning.  Spelling city offers a free membership with limitations or a premium membership with more robust features.   We currently have about 15 teachers using the premium membership.  
12. Level it Books: This is an app (Android/iOS) for scanning a book's ISBN and getting a Reading Lexile/Level, guided reading, grade level equivalent, and/or DRA levels for the book. Use it to keep a virtual library of books, manage students reading levels and more.  The app features well liked books ranging from K-8 on a weekly basis and also has high school level books as well.  Be sure to share with parents. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Looking for Ways to Boost Student Listening Skills...Try Podcasts

"Listening...the neglected literacy skill."  This comes from an Edutopia article I recently read that was written a few years ago.  The article went on to explain that often times the primary literacy focus is on the measurable skills--reading, writing and speaking.  However, we all know the importance of good listening skills.  They are important when it comes to career and college readiness and play a vital role when we talk about collaboration and communication.  

Podcasts can offer a great way to strengthen students listening skills.  Podcasts are audio recordings (or sometimes video recording called Vodcasts) used by individuals to share their thinking around a specific topic.   Many of us may use podcasts to influence our own learning, so why not find ways to use them in our classrooms for our students learning.  Not only can they help provide educational knowledge, but they can also provide listening skill development.   Here are some thoughts I recently gathered from a respected educator in regards to using podcasts to strengthen listening skills:

1. Listen with partners- Have students group together to listen together.  This allows the students to have others to share the story with.  Similar to reading together, students listen to the podcast to gather information together or experience a new story
2. Response to the Podcast-just as students would share their thinking about an article/passage they read, students can respond to the information or story presented in a podcast.  Talking about topics helps students set a purpose for listening
3. Teach students to replay/re-listen-Students today use a wide-range of media to learn new information, so it is important to help students understand how rewinding a podcast to re-listen can improve their comprehension...similar to how we teach students to reread.
4. Teach students to use podcasts at home-This is a great way to extend a learning activity.  Share podcasts/episodes  with families in an email, on the portal, or in a newsletter to help connect learning in the classroom to activities at home.

When selecting your podcasts, here are a few things to think about:

• Screen any podcasts you plan on sharing with your students to get a feel for the kind of content presented in the podcast...listen to more than one episode
• Ensure they fit the values for your classroom, DCDS, and our community
• Ensure they are fit your curriculum goals

If you are interested in some suggestions for K12 Podcasts, let me know and I can provide a handful of resources.