Start of the School Year - Illustrate Me!

At the start of each new year activities like these are really great for children to get to know each other.  In the past I've had children creating a visual mihimihi.  This is similar to the below, though makes more reference to your whanau (family), whakapapa (family tree) and Turangawaewae.  Children can have a photo of themselves in the middle of the page, then a design that represents their whanau (ie koru/kowhaiwhai pattern), something that represents their culture and so on.

This year I decided to try more of a comic style approach.

Some ideas that children could use to 'illustrate' themselves.  What is your favourite:

• Colour

• Piece of clothing

• Toy

• Food

• Book

• Pastime (i.e. going for a walk)

• Sport

• Place to visit with your family

• Memory

• Pet/animal

• Music/musical instrument

Start of the School Year - Why not try a QR Treasure Hunt...

Do you have access to iPods?  Then why not do something at the start of the school year that will get your class buzzing!

I first noticed QR codes on the cover of some 'new release' DVD's down at the Video shop.  I also saw QR codes in the newspaper, under some movie reviews.  I read the movie review then scanned the QR code which loaded the movie trailer.  I thought that was really cool!

I then surfed the net and came across a few QR generators.  I used a QR code generator to convert my class blog web address into a QR code.  I then put this QR code onto my first classroom newsletter.

For a treasure hunt the 'QR Treasure Hunt Generator' is brilliant.  The QR codes generated are text files, so you don't have to worry about your iPods having a Wi-fi connection.

Most of the children in my class had limited experience with QR codes, so they had some practise at scanning the front page of the quiz before they embarked on their hunt.  There were about five children in each group and they each had a piece of paper to record their answers.  For more advanced users you could get children to use an app, like 'Notes' to record the answers on the iPods.

There were twelve questions to answer and they related to school rules and routines. You can write your questions in a Word document and then copy and paste these to create your QR codes.  Your questions and answers need to be written in a specific format: question*answer, How many children in our class?* 27

I tapped the printed QR codes on the outside of classroom walls and hid some in the playground.

With Sunblock applied and sunhats on off they all went...they loved it!

For more ideas on using QR codes in the classroom click here.

iPods in the Classroom...

Last year I decided to focus on numeracy apps because my school had professional development in Maths.  I really wanted children to practise their numeracy skills in many different ways.

This post is aimed more at a beginner level, as I know there are many of you out there already using these technologies in the classroom.

• It is really useful to sync all iPods to one school computer, so this makes it really easy to sync new apps and update the iOS (mobile operating system), on the iPods. 
• You could purchase different iPod skins and screen protectors (there's a variety on the market: Belkin Touch Screen Overlay, Cygnett Optic Clear...).  They're a bit like cover seal and protect the screens.  
• You could set up each iPod like this: iPod (school name) 1, iPod (school name) 2 and so on. 
• It's good to engrave each iPod, on the back, with the school name and iPod number.  

Suggestions for organising iPods for the class:
I searched the iTunes App store for a variety of maths apps that would suit a range of abilities.  I also talked to the children and parents, as many of them were using some good apps at home on their own iPods/iPads.

At this stage I avoided apps that required children to use an Apple ID to login to the Games Center or a Wireless connection.  Last year my wireless internet connection was unreliable and due to earthquake damage will likely be the same this year.

In most cases I purchased and downloaded the full app.  A lot of apps have a free version/lite version then a full version that you can purchase.  I avoided the free maths apps, as the children in my class discovered you could only access some of the levels in the game.

Be aware that many apps need updating, so you do need a wireless connection for this.  A red arrow will appear on your iPod screen, on the 'App Store' icon.

This is what the screen looks like in iTunes, click on the iPod under DEVICES and then click 'Apps.'  If you untick the box next to the app, i.e you don't want it on the iPod anymore and click the bottom right 'Apply,' the app will be removed from the iPod.  If you want the app back on the iPod, re-tick the box, then click apply.  I've got the bottom ticked 'Automatically sync new apps.'  You can also remove an iPod app by clicking the app on the iPod's screen, a black cross will show up, if you click this it will remove the app. 

A snapshot showing how I organised some of the maths games.  Any with a strong multiplication and division focus went into the 'Times & Div' folder, other games focusing on a combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division went into 'Maths Games.'

Inside the 'Math Games' folder.  There are two ways to make a folder, if you are new to this the easiest way:  When the iPod has loaded under DEVICES, in iTunes, click on the iPod, then along the top bar, next to Summary click on 'Apps.'  Drag one maths game and put this on top of another.  The screen, like the above, will open.  You can name your folder. If you don't want the app in the folder, just drag it out of the folder and this will remove it from the folder.