How to find a date that works for everyone!

Everyone is busy these days!  There's nothing I dread more than trying to coordinate an event that EVERYONE needs to attend.  This summer, we have been asked to attend a 2 day workshop with our entire team present both days.  It's not MANDATORY that we are all there at the same time, but we're supposed to make every effort possible to have all members in attendance.  SO!  There are 5 busy women that make up my Kindergarten team!  We have husbands, kids, and lives outside of school...believe it or not!

Rather than waste our valuable planning time at school to try and play the "I can/You can't go that day" game, I used this amazing site called Doodle.  This nifty little site allows you to enter the dates/times/etc. that you need/want people to attend an event and then you send a link out to everyone.  Your guests view the link, type their name, and click the days that they CAN attend.  Then you can quickly and easily see what date works best for everyone!  Genius!

The possibilities are endless with this tool!  Use it for school, work, or home life...anytime that you need to find a date that works best for multiple people.

Just another example of technology making our lives easier!  Have I told you how much I love technology?

Differentiation with iPads! There's an app for everyone!

This week is Spring Break for us in North Texas, so I brought home my iPad minis to do some "Spring Cleaning".  I want to get them all fixed up with the apps I'll need for projects when we get back!

The first thing on my to do list is get organized!  This means, creating folders on the devices, deleting unused apps, and assigning students specific devices!

Something that has always interested me is using the iPads for differentiation!  I'm going to do this by creating assigned iPads for each student.  I've never assigned students a specific iPad and haven't ever had a problem.  BUT it occurred to me that IF I tell students which iPad they can use, I can put specific apps for the kids that will be USING that iPad!  DUH!  So I created these cute number wallpapers (that match my classroom!) for my 6 minis!  I used photoshop, dropped them in DropBox and then opened them on each mini!  Save the the camera roll.  Hold down your finger on the image and click "set as wallpaper".  It will then ask you to scale the image (just make sure you can see what you want to see) and then it will ask you if you want to also use the image for your home screen.  I say "use as both".  Easy peasy!

The next thing I have to do is group my kiddos (6 iPads = 6 groups).  I've seen where some teachers will give the kids who use THAT iPad a passcode to access it.  I love that...HOWEVER,  I teach Kinder which is a pro and con in this situation.  Con = they will never remember a passcode.  Pro = they want to please their teacher and wouldn't even THINK of using an iPad they weren't supposed to use! :)  I love my Kinder babies!  I *MAY* do a simple passcode like 1111 on iPad 1 and 2222 on iPad 2.  I could probably even tell each group that their code is a secret and they shouldn't tell anyone else who isn't in their group ;)  They would love that, but it's totally unnecessary.

On each device, I am going to have a folder named "EVERYONE" and then a folder with each student's name.  In the EVERYONE folder, I will have apps that EVERYONE can use.  In the "Bob"  "Mary"  "Sue" folders...I can put some special apps for each child!  These will be apps to help them work on specific skills.  I have students who come in reading on a 2nd grade+ level, ESL students with very little (or no) English, and others who are still working on letters and sounds in March, so this is going to be GREAT! :)  Everyone will get what they need!  I only wish you could put apps in more than one folder :(   i.e. if I wanted Mary AND Sue to work on a specific app, but I guess that's when the EVERYONE folder comes into play!

I also put a folder on each iPad with my name.  The kids know that they don't need anything in this folder and they shouldn't go in it.  It's where I put all those random apps that you can't delete and won't use in a classroom.  I also put the settings shortcut, app store, etc. in this folder.

What are some organizational tips YOU do for your iPads?!

HOW TO MAKE A CHECKLIST THAT SYNCS ON ALL DEVICES!

#GAMECHANGER

I make lists constantly and a class list is something I use almost daily!  I have probably printed my class list 50+ times this year!  I use them to cross out, check off, and scratch out as the students turn in their permission slips, are chosen for Star Student, bring in an assigned item, etc.  ALL. THE. TIME.

I thought I had really figured something out this past week while given our Math CBA (A district math test).  I have to give this test one on one and I like to have a list of who I have already done/still need to do.  I taped a class list on my teacher table and used a sharpie to check off as I pulled the kids to the back table and completed the test.  When I was finished, I used a Mr. Clean Magic eraser to wipe it off.  This worked.  BUT...THEN... I was introduced to EVERNOTE and my life as a checklist lover will forever be changed!  (This would be one of those moments where I get way too excited over technology!)

da da da...

 

Introducing the coolest thing ever...You can use the FREE app, Evernote to create a class list (new note, insert table, type away!).  You can put your headings across the top and what you are "checking off" at the top of the other columns.  You can insert a "to do" by clicking where you want it to go and then clicking the box with the check- right here:

When you add the app and sign in on your other devices (ipad, iphone, computer, etc) your list is there!  Waiting for you!  Synced and updated!!  It's also easy to edit if a student comes/leaves! 

***I added my check list to my shortcuts, so it is quick and easy to access when I pull the app up! 

Do you use Evernote??  How else can it be used in the classroom??  I would love to hear your ideas or ways you make Evernote work for you!

HEADPHONES

These right here... have made life better and quieter, which is kind of the same thing at times in a Kinder classroom.  Last year, I had an iPad and an iPod Touch for students to use to scan QR codes during Reader's Workshop.  They would listen to the books and with only 2 going at a time, they could spread out in the room and it wasn't really an issue.  

Well this year, we were given 6 iPad minis.  That's a problem.  6 different devices, reading 6 different stories while I'm trying to pull reading groups is not o.k.  I started looking for solutions and found these head phones at my local Dollar Tree.  (They don't have these particular headphones online, but I bet you could show your store the picture!)  They are retractable headphones and cheap enough ($1- duh!) that I purchased a pair for every kid in my class (and a few extra in case there were some duds, but I haven't found a dud yet!)  

On the round piece, I use a sharpie and write their class number.  This way, if they are left plugged into a device or we find them on the ground, we know who they belong to!  We also don't share them, so we don't spread ear wax germs! :)  I tell the kids (and parents) that this is the one and only pair they will get from me.  If a student breaks or loses them, I ask for their parents to send a new pair.  I also share with them that they can be purchased at the dollar store!  ...or how many pairs of ear buds do you have in drawers around the house?!  They seem to multiply because they give you a pair with every device you by these days!  

Anyway!  I was surprised by how hard it was to find inexpensive headphones!  I like that these are budget friendly, small, and we can write our names/numbers on them!  

What do you do for headphones in your classroom?  Does your district provide them? Do parents donate them?  I'm curious how others handle headphones!  ...because I'm a dork like that :)