Not just for gaming...

As some of you might know, Megan and I have been in one -to- one classrooms for the last 6 years.  What that means is that we have iPads in our classroom for every student.  Now, since the pandemic this has become a much more common practice.  One big concept that we stress to our students is that technology is just not for games, because for many of our younger students that is all they know technology/tablets to be used for.  We teach them that technology is a tool that allows us to learn so much about our world and allows us to create what was once not possible.  Technology is a powerful learning tool when used the correct way.  ​

Throughout our years of experience with being one-to-one classrooms, we have come across many different apps and resources; some great, some not so great.  In light of so many of us using technology to teach our students now, we thought we’d share with you some of our favorite learning apps for our students!  We have so many apps/resources that we love. We like to categorize them in different ways.  We have our “creative/creation” apps, learning apps, and teacher resources/planning apps.  We have recently posted a blog about our favorite creation apps for students, linked below.  Now it is time to share with you a few of our favorite student learning apps!  ​

Get creative with Technology Blog

Google Arts and Culture: This app is great for students to explore virtually different museums, arts, history, and so much more. This would be a great app to use to integrate the arts into your instruction or to show artifacts of a history lesson. (Grades 2-12)

Google Earth: This app literally gives you the world at your fingertips. Are your students learning about an ecosystem? Habitat? Maybe you are incorporating map skills. (Grades K-12) ​

NASA: Yep..NASA has an app. Do we need to say more? ​

Youtube Kids: You can find just about any learning hook, video, or lesson introduction you need on youtube. This is a great way to keep it safe for your kids! ​

Epic!: This is such a great resource and it's FREE. Epic gives you access to hundreds and hundreds of books and videos. You can search for your favorite topics, read to me books, watch learning videos, and so much more. ​

RAZ Kids (paid): Reading A-Z is another great place to get students into books digitally. Raz-kids is a leveled library for each of your students. Students can listen to the book as they follow along, read the book, and then take a comprehension quiz to earn stars to purchase incentives. You can also purchase other pieces of this program like science and writing. ​

Kahoot/Blooket/Gimkit: These are all great digital ways to create or use the pre-made quizzes to practice skills and content in a fun competitive way. ​

Nearpod: This app has free pre-made lessons that can be teacher driven or student lead. These lessons are also interactive! ​

Classkick: This is great for all ages but we love it for primary. This app allows you to see students working in real time. You can create problems or questions, use voice recording to read the problem to them, give stickers to student work, and so much more. ​

Flipgrid​: This app is great for students to video their response, listening to others and comment, or respond to an assignment you have created. ​

Teach My Monster (Grades K-3): This app is a great way for students to practice phonological awareness and phonics. If you use the teacher dashboard you can set your students on a differentiated path. ​

EdPuzzle:  Here is another great app that gives students and teachers a little more  freedom in going through a lesson. Teachers do not need to take students through lessons, they can simply assign them.  There are free premade lessons, paid lessons, or you can create your own lessons as well.  IIn going through assigned lessons, students can be asked questions to check understanding before completing the lesson.  It is also compatible with Google Classroom. ​

Two teachers for teachers, 
                                    Meg and Kara