Tune into Technology Linky: Integrating Technology into Reading

I'm so excited to link up with iTeach 1:1 and Learning to the Core for their new Tune into Technology!! I LOVE integrating technology throughout the day! The kids love it! Our students now are growing up with this technology so it's not going anywhere so might as well embrace it and go with it!!! :) 

I absolutely love the ideas that iTeach 1:1 left on her post! When I do reading, I have 3 rotations: 1 with me, 1 with my co-teacher for reading, and 1 independent technology rotation. During the independent technology rotation, I have 2-4 kids on the laptops working on Successmaker which is through Pearson. I have 2 other kids on the SmartBoard working on spelling activities, and I have 2 on iPads with which they get to choose the reading app they want to play.  This way that small group of 6-9 are still working in even smaller groups which minimizes interruptions helps the kids stay focused. If you look at the picture below, this is how I organize my groups for the rotations. The cards are for their activity during their independent time. The big arrow designates the kids who are the "teachers" of the group so if anyone has a question or needs help, those are the two that can help. This helps tremendously so that they aren't interrupting our reading group instruction. We also talk about what to do if they still can't get to work. They would separate and join in with one of the other groups or read a book and do a reading response sheet.

Some of the apps that they love are...

With the above app, you can assign kids to this level or the next level that is the next app Level 2. It will keep track of the passages they read along with the questions they answered showing their results with how many attempts.

My kids love this app!! It has several games but one of my favorites is the tetris style game. High frequency words fall from the top, and a voice speaks the word. Then they have to tap them before the speaker says another word. 

This app is great!!! It's for several grade levels and skills like prefixes, synonyms, antonyms, suffixes.and so on! Two students play against each other and have to make matches, but there could be a storm that blows in that stops them for a second. So fun!!

These apps are their top pick apps!! 

One program and app that I found through blogs and online was nearpod. This website and app is AMAZING!!! I will do a more detailed post soon with step by step notes on how to use it. I used this during my reading rotation, and my kids were astonished! The looks on their faces were priceless!!

You start with your own PDF that you make which you can export PowerPoint, Keynote, Word, or Pages documents as PDFs. Once you're done, you go to www.nearpod.com and drag the document into the website. You can add polls, quizzes, videos, etc.!! Then you are in charge of the slideshow. You also get realtime results as they're going through it with you!! 

I am on my way to the airport right now for a family reunion in Arizona so I have to cut this short! :) However, I would highly recommend looking into this program and app!! I will do a  more thorough blog post of this program when I get back!!! :)

Thanks for stopping by!!! :)