iPad Teacher Club!!

I'm officially in the iPad Teacher Club!! 

I've been wanting one for a while, but I just didn't feel like I could justify the cost since I already have a MacBook and an iPhone. But, I was able to drop enough hints to my hubby, and he surprised me with an iPad Mini for Valentine's Day. 

I love my Mini!! 
It's the perfect size for me and it fits in my purse perfectly!

Today was my 3rd day trying it out with my students and I'm already very impressed with the way it's helping me in my classroom. 

The first thing I did was hopped on over to Hope King's cute blog and searched for her
App Happy post she wrote last summer. 


Then, I followed some of the links at the bottom of the post. I found this one that I absolutely LOVED that shares lots of ideas on how to teach using one iPad in the classroom. 
Next, I followed EVERYONES advice and downloaded Classroom Dojo.
Everyone's been been raving about this app all year, but what I didn't know is that you do NOT have to have an iPad to use this in your class. Anyone can sign up and, using your computer, you can utilize this awesome website. If I had known that, I would have downloaded this a loooong time ago!

I've used Classroom Dojo with my fifth graders for the past two days, and they are super excited about it! They like to hear the sound it makes when I award points, and all I have to do is pick up my iPad and the behavior in my class immediately improves. They are excited about earning positive behavior points!

If you have not set up an account yet, I highly recommend you sign up and use it in your class. 


I also downloaded the Brain Pop App. They have a free featured movie each day. The movie is less than 5 minutes and is always educational! Yesterday we had an extra couple of minutes after our reading groups and before lunch, so I put the movie on {I don't have an Apple TV yet, so I just put the iPad under my ELMO} and my students were able to see a little video on the Underground Railroad. I know I won't be able to do this every day, but it is a fun idea for those transition times when you have a couple of extra minutes. It could also be good to use as a classroom motivational tool.

My other favorite app is the Kindle app! This is my first experience with an eReader and I'm already addicted! I keep going to Amazon to download more and more books. I'm currently on a self-help kick and am reading these two books:


In other good news...
Rachelle and I will both be presenting at the Utah technology conference next weekend!! I've been to UCET the past couple of years and I've always walked away with so much valuable information. 
If you live in Utah, and would like to come see us, here is the information.
{FYI - Online registration is currently closed, but you can register the morning of the conference!}
I need to know!!
* What teaching apps are your favorite?
* Which books do you recommend I download next?
 Please share your ideas in the comments.
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