Getting Started

Getting Started

This month we have been familiarizing our focus groups of Kindergarten students with the new iPads. We have spent time on learning the basics – turning an iPad on, entering the code [placed label on case for easy reference], turning an iPad off, and being GENTLE when using an iPad.

                                                        

Apps

We have also been investigating various apps with regard to suitability of topic and ease of use. Some of the apps we are looking at are set out below.

Seasons and Weather is an app that captures the interest of 4-5 year olds. It allows students to learn about seasonal changes through various games. It deals with weather concepts, what to wear as seasons change, and what outdoor activities are available as seasons change. It requires students to listen carefully to the directions and information given in order to understand what they are being asked to do.  The Kindergarten students appeared to enjoy exploring this app.

Grandma Love Bugs has been a particular favourite. This app is suitable for ages 4-5.  There are 10 mini-games [e.g., catching fireflies, building a spider web, spotting the difference in bugs, and bug matching]. It also allows students to look at selected bugs under a virtual magnifying glass and watch 8 short instructional bug videos.

LinguisSystems has apps for developing basic questions, concepts, and categories. These apps are suitable for ages 3-7. We are currently investigating the Concepts app for use with students struggling with receptive and expressive language. The Concepts app uses Becca Bunny stories to teach concepts [e.g., shapes, time, counting, and feelings] and is aimed at developing receptive language skills and early expressive language skills. The five Kindergarten students exploring this app repeatedly asked to use it when given an ipad.

Internet Sites

We have been investigating the Internet site – reading a-z.com, again with a view to suitability of topic and ease of use. We have a membership to the site and the various leveled books are appealing to the Kindergarten students.  There are easy to read books about the seasons, nature, insects, and animals [e.g., Winter Level aa, Shapes in Nature, What Lives Here? and Pond Animals Level A,  Ants, Ants, and More Ants Level G].

Photo Gallery

Summary

Next month we will continue to explore various apps relevant to our inquiry question and begin tracking student progress through the use of anecdotal notes,  photos, videos, note-taking [speech to text], oral language checklists, and students’ journals as an expression of their understanding [generating ideas, elaborating on them, identifying them orally, in drawings, and in writing].