MQuiz- Balance Addition iPad app

Supporting the Butterflies' knowledge and application of equality, symbols of operations, and the concept of addition... the Butterfly mathematicians use the MQuiz Balance Addition iPad app.

The range of numbers is customized to each mathematician's "Zone of a Proximal Development" within the app to promote optimal learning and achievement.

The mathematicians apply knowledge of equality, symbols of operations, the concept of addition, and strategies for addition to identify the missing addend.

rimes- on the iPad

The Word Wizard iPad app is a "favorite" app for instruction, guided application, and independent application-practice for word study!

The Butterflies identified and applied "rimes" in known words (ex: "ike" in the known word "like") to read and make other words (ex: "trike").

the Word Wizard iPad app
mirrored on the SMARTBoard for instruction and during guided application

guided application... making and reading words using the rime "ike"

independent application...
using the rime "ut" in the known word "but" to make and read other words

MQuiz- add 3 numbers

The First a Grade Buttetflies are learning and developing strategies for addition.

To facilitate the use of strategies, promote mental math, and improve fact fluency... the Butterflies use the MQuiz Add 3 Numbers iPad app.

The app is customized for each Butterfly through the selection of number ranges within the app- promoting optimal learning and development within each mathematician's "Zone of a Proximal Development"!

adding 3 numbers
-with the MQuiz Add 3 Numbers iPad app

 Butterfly Mathematicians use ten frames and manipulatives
to support understanding and accuracy with adding 3 numbers

predicting as Readers... using the Reading Booster iPad app

The First Grade Butterflies are learning about the comprehension strategy of predicting!

As readers, the first graders have been learning about the importance of predicting before and during reading to support their understanding.

Using the mentor text Emma Kate the Butterflies were introduced to the Reading a Booster iPad app!
The Butterflies explored the "predicting" option within the app to record predictions before reading using visual representations, typed text, and audio recordings.

the "predicting" option in the Reading a Booster iPad app mirrored on the SMARTBoard

a first grade reader records her prediction through a visual representation
-using the Reading Booster iPad app 

a first grade reader creates an audio recording to accompany the visual representation of her prediction
-using the Reading a Booster iPad app

self reflection- the iPad camera app

The First Grade Butterflies have been learning and applying strategies for speaking, active listening, and learning cooperatively and collaboratively with peers.

Using the video capability of the iPad camera, I videotaped the Butterflies during a variety of  experiences in which they were engaged in speaking, active listening, and cooperative and collaborative learning in whole class, partnerships, or small groups.

Using an AVG adaptor to mirror video segments on the SMARTBoard, the Butterflies self-reflected on their speaking, listening, cooperation, and collaboration skills.

The opportunity to view and hear themselves facilitated honest self-reflection that promoted students' recognition of strengths and skills for development.

sentence editing- with the Daily Sentence Editing iPad app

Composing complete sentences with accurate grammar, capitalization, and punctuation independently in writing are important skills for first graders development as writers.

Editing writing for accurate sentence structure, capitalization, and punctuation is a difficult skill for first graders.

The Daily Sentence Editing Grade 1 iPad app supports writers skills for composing and editing sentences!

The Daily Sentence Editing iPad app is utilized for instruction and demonstration (through mirroring on the SMARTBoard), guided application, and independent student application.

the Daily Sentence Editing Grade 1 iPad app mirrored on the SMARTBoard
during instruction and guided application

a first grader uses a stylus to edit capitalization and punctuation
-using the Daily Sentence Editing Grade 1 iPad app

a first grader self-checks the accuracy of an edited sentence
-using the Daily Sentence Editing Grade 1 iPad app

sentences- with the Sight Word Sentence Builder iPad app

The Sight Word Sentence Builder iPad app supports literacy development.

Using the customizable options and "levels" within the app, the First Grade Butterflies develop knowledge and understanding supportive of individual needs. 

Reassembling "cut up sentences" facilitates application of one to one correspondence, directionality, capitalization, punctuation, identification of high-frequency words, creation of meaning through written text, grammar, and sentence structure.

a first grader reassembles a "cut up sentence"
-in the Sight Word Sentence Builder iPad app level 4

a first grader checks the accuracy of a reassembled sentence
in the Sight Word Sentence Builder iPad app

leveled texts- HMH Readers iPad app

The First Grade Butterflies access a variety of fiction and non-fiction leveled texts for independent and/or partner reading through the HMH Readers iPad app.

The Readers reference a chart to identify texts that are "just right" for independent and/or partner reading.

The app is-can be utilized during guided reading instruction... using a book in digital format!

a 1st grader reads a "just right" book
-using the HMH Readers iPad app

1st grade Reading Partners
-post-reading and the HMH Readers iPad app

MQuiz Number Line- sequencing numbers

As Mathematicians, the First Grade Butterflies are developing their understanding of number sequence!

To support their development of strategies and skills for counting on and identifying numbers- the MQuiz Number Line app is used for guided and independent application.

The MQuiz Number Line app's capabilities to select number sequences (1-10, 10-20, 20-50, 50-100, 100-1000) and number of questions are used to individualize the application for each Butterfly based on his/her knowledge and Zone of Development for learning counting and number sequences!

a 1st grader identifies the missing number
-on a number line with number sequences between 50 and 100

a 1st grader uses the MQuiz Number Line iPad app
-to sequence numbers between 100 and 1,000

David Catrow and the iMovie iPad app

Through the generosity and support of The Mason Schools Foundation, First Graders at MECC spent an hour with author and illustrator David Catrow!

Prior to Catrow's visit, the First Grade Butterflies learned all about David Catrow as an author and illustrator!

The Butterflies learned how as an "illustrator"- David Catrow is a READER!  

He uses comprehension strategies to understand the meaning of the author's words to create visual images that convey the meaning through pictures!

The Butterflies read- explored- and examined many of David Catrow's books and works as an author and as an illustrator.

The Butterflies are Illustrators!

The first graders used comprehension strategies to create and understand the meaning of Alan Katz's words in the poem (song) of "I Don't Want to Do Homework" (one of Katz's poems illustrated by Catrow).  

   -the Butterflies did not view-explore-examine Catrow's illustration of the poem prior to illustrating-  to facilitate their own creation of meaning and visual text

The first graders created visual images that conveyed the meaning of the Katz's words and the meaning of the poem! 

I used the iMovie iPad app to record digital images of each Butterfly's illustration and to record audio of each Butterfly reading ("singing") the lines he/she illustrated.  I purchased and used an instrumental version of the song "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" as background music.  I used the "create a project" option in the iMovie app to create a multi-media presentation of the Butterflies' learning (view iMovie project through link below...)!

The Butterflies' "original" illustrations were on display in the MECC KIVA during Catrow's visit and presented to David Catrow as a gift of our appreciation as an important "mentor" in our learning!

click the video link below for-

"I Don't Want to Do Homework"

written by Alan Katz

illustrated and sung by the First Grade Butterflies

video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/M5ONg-X8x-I

A BIG THANK YOU to the Mason Schools Foundation for providing the first graders at MECC with the amazing opportunity to learn about, with, and from David Catrow!

the BEST iPad stylus for 1st graders...

After many many (unfortunately too many) broken styluses and money spent (unfortunately lots of money) on styluses- I finally found a stylus that is durable, cheap, and promotes a tripod pencil grip... the "short" Universal Capacitive Touch Screen Pen!

I cut off the string and jack insert (to prevent play).

Most importantly- the first graders love the styluses and initiate use with the iPad! YEAH!


     Bundle of 10 Colorful Short Stylus Universal Capacitive Touch Screen Pen for Ipad 1 2 3 Ipod Iphone 4 4S 3g 3gs Motorola Xoom Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 1 [Wireless Phone Accessory]    

"short" universal capacitive touch screen stylus pens

developing understanding of number sequences and patterns- Little Monkey Mystery Number iPad app

The First Grade Butterflies are developing their understanding of numbers and base ten as mathematicians!

Using the "Missing Numbers" activity in the Little Monkey Mystery Numbers iPad app- the Butterflies develop their understanding of number sequence to 20 (level 1), 50 (level 2), and to 100 (level 3).

The Butterfly Mathematicians develop and apply understanding of number sequence, 100 chart patterns, counting by ones, and number symbols to manipulate a set of number tiles that correlate to "missing number" tiles in a 20, 50, or 100 chart.

a first grader develops her understanding of number sequence
with the Little Monkey Mystery Number iPad app

a first grader applying her understanding of number sequence on a
50 chart-  using level 2 of "Missing Numbers" in the Little Monkey Mystery Numbers iPad app

a first grader interacts with a 100s chart-
using level 3 of "Missing Numbers" in the Little Monkey Mystery Numbers iPad app

using Notability to record learning as Scientists

The First Grade Butterflies are Scientists!

The Butterflies have been learning all about matter and have been exploring properties of matter!

As Scientists, the first graders worked cooperatively and collaboratively with a partner as "Science Properties Detectives"!

The partners accessed a recording sheet through the class shared Science Dropbox folder and imported the recording sheet into Notability.

The partners used the "take a photo" and annotation features of the Notability iPad app to document and record their learning as Scientists.

Partners "exported" (saved) the recording sheet to each of their individual "Science" Dropbox folders (providing parents and teacher access) and emailed the recording sheet to me (teacher).

first grade Scientists use the "take a photo" option
in the Notability iPad app
to photograph and document the object identified as matter with a specific property

a first grader photographs an object identified with the color property of blue
and inserts into the Notability iPad app

first graders use the Notability iPad app
to record their learning as Scientists

Reading Raven 2- supporting understanding and application of blends and digraphs

Supportive of students' learning and application of blends and digraphs, as readers and writers, the Reading Raven 2 iPad app is utilized by students within the blends and/or digraphs stage of spelling development.

The app is "customized" to provide the support the individual student needs for his/her greatest learning and development!

a first grader learns and applies the "cl" blend to write words
in the Reading Raven 2 iPad app

a first grader engages in activities that support her phonetic understanding and application
using the Reading Raven iPad app

a first grader identifies the initial digraph sound
in the Reading Raven 2 iPad app

Little Reader iPad apps- supporting decoding skills

The First Grade Butterflies are READERS!

Supporting the Butterflies use of phonetic word features to decode words... the Butterflies utilize the Little Reader iPad apps (the 3 Letter Words app and the 4 Letter Words app)!

Relative to their individual stage of development, the Butterflies utilize the Little Reader 3 Letter Words app or the Little Reader 4 Letter Words app.
The app is "customized" to the reader to provide scaffolding that promotes greatest learning!

first graders decode 4 letter words
in the Little Reader 4 Letter Words iPad app

Word Their Way word sorts on the iPad

Using the Corkulous Pro iPad app, I created word sorts to correlate with Words Their Way word sorts within each spelling stage of development.

I created a "corkboard" for each word sort focus (ex: short vowel word families) with 6 correlated word sorts.

I emailed each of the "corkboards" to the student iPads and imported the corkboards into the Corkulous Pro app on each of the 26 student iPads.

Using Bear's Primary Spelling Inventory, I identified the individual stage of spelling development of each student.

For word sorts supportive of their individual stage of spelling development, the students access the appropriate "corkboard" within the Corkulous Pro app and a specific word sort within the "corkboard".

...digital Words Their Way word sorts on the iPad!

the "initial sound sort" board
with six Words Their Way initial sound picture sorts

"initial sound sort #1" -initial sounds of B-M-R-S
created in Corkulous Pro and mirrored on the SMARTBoard

a first grader completes an initial sound word sort
on the iPad -using the Corkulous Pro iPad app

a first grader self-checks her sound sorts for accuracy
-using the Corkulous Pro iPad app

counting tubs... on the iPad

The First Grade Butterflies are developing number sense and counting skills.

Using the "options" in the Count Sort iPad app, the Butterflies have learned how to customize the "counting" option within the app to correlate to their individual stage of development in counting!

After counting (and double counting to verify accuracy) and identifying the corresponding number symbol for the total quantity counted- the Butterflies take a "screenshot" (by pressing the Home and Power iPad buttons simultaneously on the iPad.

The Butterflies access the "Count-Match-Write-Make-Show" recording sheet from the shared Butterfly iPad Math Dropbox folder and import the recording sheet into the Notability app.

The Butterflies insert the "screenshot" into the recording sheet (in the "Count-Match" box) and use a stylus to write the number symbol of the total quantity in the "Write" box on the recording sheet.

The Butterflies self-select a math manipulative and "make" the quantity (remembering to double count to verify accuracy).

Using the "take a photo" option within the Notability app, the Butterflies insert a photo of the quantity made with manipulatives in the "Make-Show" box on the recording sheet.

The Butterflies use a stylus to annotate the inserted photograph to "show" how the manipulatives represent the quantity.

...digital "counting tubs"!

The Butterflies export the "Count-Match-Write-Make-Show" recording sheet into their individual Dropbox Math folder... providing parent access, teacher access, and student access.

a screenshot of a first grader's "count-match-write-make-show" recording sheet

making shapes- iPad Geoboard

The First Grade Butterflies are learning about shapes!

The Butterfly Mathematicians have been exploring the attributes of shapes and learning to identify, compare, and contrast shapes by sides and points.

The Butterflies explored shapes on a geoboard using the Geoboard iPad app!
The first graders created shapes by name (ex: "rectangle"), created shapes by attributes (ex: "3 sides and 3 points"), and defined shapes by attributes (ex: "I made a trapezoid. It has 4 sides and 4 points with 1 short and 1 long side and 2 diagonal sides").

a first grader uses the Geoboard iPad app

a first grade mathematician creates shapes on a geoboard
-using the Geoboard iPad app

tangram puzzles- Lets Tanz Kids iPad app

The First Grade Butterflies are learning about shapes!

Tangram puzzles provide an opportunity to explore and manipulate shapes and to develop spatial intelligence.

The Butterfly Mathematicians use spatial reasoning, knowledge of shapes and attributes, and problem solving skills to solve tangram puzzles in the Lets Tanz Kids iPad app.

first graders manipulate shapes to find solutions to tangram puzzles
on the Lets Tanz Kids iPad app

using syllables to spell unknown words- with the iPad

Syllable awareness is an important component in developing students' knowledge of words and skills for spelling unknown words.

Segmenting an unknown word into syllables and segmenting syllables into onsets and rimes or sounds is a skill that supports spelling of unknown single and multi-syllable words.

After direct instruction and guided application in segmenting multi-syllable words to hear, identify, and record sounds in unknown words, the First Grade Butterflies applied syllable segmentation to spell unknown words with a partner- using the Word Wizard iPad app.

Utilizing the "movable alphabet" option within the app and the settings customized to "read on touch", the first graders worked cooperatively and collaboratively with a partner to apply syllable segmentation for spelling unknown multi-syllable words.

After collaboratively hearing, identifying, and recording the sounds in the unknown word, the partners used the "read on touch" capability of the app to check for accuracy.
With an inaccurate pronunciation of the word, the Butterfly Spellers discussed, analyzed, and manipulated sounds within each syllable... and rechecked for accuracy.

identifying syllables- on the iPad

Knowledge and understanding of syllables is an important component of phonological awareness. 

Syllable awareness facilitates fluent and effective decoding (identifying an unknown word in print) and encoding (hearing and recording the sounds in an unknown word in writing).

The Syllable Splash iPad app is utilized to support student identification of the number of syllables in a spoken word during guided and independent application.

a first grader using the strategy of "clapping"
to support her identification of the number of syllables in a word
while using the Syllable Splash iPad app

a first grader identifies the number of syllables in a word
using the Syllable Splash app

a first grader uses the strategy of putting her hand under her chin
to "feel" each syllable
while using the Syllable Splash iPad app

counting on the iPad- with the Count Sort iPad app

Counting is a fundamental math skill.

The Count Sort iPad app is utilized in the classroom as an instructional support in developing students' counting skills.

The "options" within the app are customized to facilitate accurate counting for each student within his/her Zone of Proximal Development.

The selection of circle counters that change to blue when touched and the capability to manipulate and move the counters supports students' accurate counting skills and strategies.

a first grader counts "chips"
in the "count" option of the Count Sort app

a Butterfly Mathematician counts and identifies a set of 10-32 chips
using the Count Sort iPad app 

a first grader "double counts" (to check for accuracy)
on the Count Sort iPad app

a first grader counts a set of 1-10 chips and identifies the total quantity (with 2 options)
in the Count Sort iPad app