Since our last blog, our classes are continuing to enjoy having the iPads in the classroom readily available for quick research questions. We have implemented Xtra Math for math fact practice and some students are requesting to use their recess time to work on this program in order to have access to the technology. MobyMax is another online program that all of our students are beginning to use. EasyCBM is another tool our school is using for reading and math assessment. With the iPads in the classroom students can complete a progress monitoring assessment without having to go to the computer lab. We already find ourselves wishing for more iPads so that all students can work on these programs at the same time.  Laurie is experimenting with the iMovie app because her students have been making videos to send to another class in the Ukraine. The students have really enjoyed having the ability to use the iPads in this way. Ryan, from the district technology department, is going to teach a group of students how to use iMovie so they can teach others. 

     Our highlight last month was attending the IntegrateED conference in Portland. This was a new experience for us but we came away with many new ideas for technology in the classroom. It was great to chat with other teachers from near and far about how they are using technology in their schools. We were jealous of the classes that had one to one laptops or iPads; however, we are so happy to have what we do have! Our biggest challenge is finding a source for read aloud text, which was what our grant was initially about. In the meantime, we are going to integrate technology in to writing and in responding to literature with many of the applications we learned about and experimented with. Next blog….what worked and what didn’t.