Just found this quote over at Techie Teacher Tales. Head on over there to check out their wonderful site.

I Found a New APP!!!

I FOUND A NEW APP......

So my principal came to me weeks ago and said he was having NEARPOD put on my IPAD and the students IPADS. I had never heard of it, but I think I may love this app. 

For those of you that aren't familiar with it, do to www.nearpod.com, create a free account and play around with it. It is like powerpoint, but with more features and that the kids have right on the IPAD infront of them. I first create a PDF based file that has all of my info on it. Each page becomes a new slide in the app. I can add videos, quizzes, drawings, slideshows, searching the internet, but the very best part is .........

1.  I control the pace and what is on each IPAD. When I"m ready to move on, I slide my finger across the IPad and every IPad in the class moves on with me. 

2.  I get real time data from the quizzes, drawings, and poles that I create in the presentation. They show up right on my teacher IPAD where I can see them and alter instruction or assign grades. 

I"m so excited to try this next week and see what the kids think.

Step One....

So I began my mix of self-paced learning and guided math this morning. I started back from the break with a 1/2 year review test. Being in a school focused on moving 6th grade to Standards Referenced Learning next year, I often wonder if students are retaining the information that I present. From the preliminary data review, I'm please with the concepts that the students have retained. I could have guessed most of the ones that they didn't do well on.

I will continue the transition tomorrow. We will analyze the assessment tomorrow and start tracking by learning targets. The goal is to begin a data point for the learning targets that we have already covered. We'll see how it is to get all of the learning targets matched up with the questions and charted. I'm learning this all as I go.

Currently

Holiday break is winding to an end. I really don't want to head to bed, because that means that it is over. PD day tomorrow, then back to the normal routine.

I'm rolling out a refined math system for the new year. I've been experimenting with self-paced math, but have about half of each block of kids that aren't growing and thriving with keeping up and learning. I'm starting some guided math philosophy with those kids, while trying to keep the rest of the kids self-paced. In short making my life difficult while trying to make sure that everyone is learning. I didn't record a single math video this break, so I"m starting the new year behind, and will have to record several this weekend. Oh the fun of an experimenting teacher.

I have to thank Farley for the Currently's. I very much enjoy blog hopping and reading the Currently's that are out and about. Check out the trend at: http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2012/12/currently-january.html