Mrs.+Chambers

=**Mrs. Chambers' iPad Page** = We are so excited in 4th grade to be bringing 21st center learning into the classroom with our iPad initiative. We are looking forward to doing projects and reinforcing learning with technology.

**September**

==Throughout the month of September, we spent time getting acquainted with the iPads. We explored the apps that are on our iPads and shared different ways to use our iPads. Students use the iPads during literacy center rotations, during math to practice basic facts, and to learn about the 50 states of the United States. ==

**October**

During the month of October, we became more familiar with our iPads and used our iPads in various areas of our curriculum. Students learned about the Lenni Lenape Indians by doing a webquest using an iPad. Each student was given an iPad and the information that they needed to find out, students were asked to use their iPad to complete the webquest. Students responded very well to this assignment and were able to complete the task and really enjoyed using the iPad to find out more about our current Social Studies topic.

October also brought about a long awaited app, the AR app!!! Students are now able to take AR tests using our iPads. This has proven to be a great motivation for reluctant readers. They are reading, reading, reading so that they can get their hands on the iPad.

Students continue to use the iPads throughout the course of our day during literacy center rotations, Math, Social Studies.

**November **

November brought 2 new really exciting iPad assignments to our classroom. Students were introduced to "Brain Bubbles" and Google Docs.

Brain bubbles are challenges that the students can choose at random to complete when they finish other work early. Challenges are based in the areas of Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science. Students are "challenged" to learn new things in their spare time. Students are using the iPads to help complete the questions in each "bubble". Students are learning things that are not covered in our 4th grade curriculum but are still benefical to the student's educational careers. Some examples of this are; the name of all of the countries in South America, the capitals of all 50 United States, what is a Caldecott Medal book and a Newbury winner book, math logic problems, various systems of the human body, inventors and their inventions. As Dr. Seuss says, //"The more you know, the smarter you'll grow."//

Goggle docs will allow student to work on things like presentations, assignments, documents either individually or "shared" with another student or teacher. The nice thing about using a tool such as Google is that students are able to work on their assignment from any.place. :-) All they need is an iPad or computer that has internet access. This is a great way for our students who are digital natives (meaning they were born in the digital age) to share, show and even possibly teach those of us who are digital immigrants (like me and many of their parents, who were born in the digital age). Students are able to work with classmates on projects done in Google and they don't have to be in the same room, building, or even state in order to collaborate. Our students have already completed 2 assignments using Google and are always asking for more, they are even spending rainy day recess time to create their own projects. Additionally, as part of our Positive Behavior Support System that was implemented this month at Penn Beach, student are able to earn a pass for iPad time for exhibiting the 4 core values of our program: respect, responsibility, honesty and safety. This will allow students to use an iPad during inside recess time. December = =



= = = = With the holidays on everyone's mind, we incorporated those thoughts right into our lesson plans. Students wondered how others celebrated the December holidays and we hopped on our iPads and traveled to far away places to see how people in other countries and cultures celebrated. Students visited countries throughout the world via their iPads and determined what holidays the people who lived there celebrated, when they celebrated, what the weather was like on the holiday, how they decorated, what they ate and even used google earth for a real "you are there" experience. Students really enjoyed learning about their country and then in turn educating their peers on what they learned. The best thing about their "trip around the world" was that they did it from the comfort and safety of our classroom and it was free!!!! = = <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">January

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Our Social Studies curriculum is all about New Jersey. Our students learn the history of our great state, symbols, how our government works and about places around our state. One place that is mentioned in our text book is Princeton University. Our students seemed to be interested in learning more about the University after we discussed the project so....we got out our iPads, transported ourselves to Princeton and began our adventure to learn more about the school. The students then used the Photo Card Lite App to write to me as if they were a student at Princeton University and tell me 3 facts that they learned about their "new school". Whenever our students use the iPads they are engaged in whatever learning activity they are assigned. The silence that often accompanies the activity is periodically broken by shouts of "Oh, this is sooooooo cool" and "Look what I made" and "Wow, I never even thought that I could do something like this". To see this excitement and be a part of it really takes learning to a new level. It encourages and inspires students and teachers alike. We completed this assignment in class today and tonight I received a message from a parent asking me if there were college recruiters visiting 4th grade today, because her daughter came home and told them all about the college she was going to go to someday. She said her parents were going to be so happy because it was right here in New Jersey. The parent jokingly asked me if the next iPad lesson could be on how to get a college scholarship! This project is another example of how our iPad program is unlocking the minds of our students. Here is an example of work:

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