Guided Access

Can I just say how much I love guided access on the iPad? My first time using iPads with Kindergarteners I wasn't expecting them to be so quick to take pictures of each other instead of staying on the app I had set up, who knew?

After some discussions about iPad expectation, my little problem was resolved.  But, then I found that sometimes their little fingers and bodies hit the home button and bring them out of the app on accident.  That's where guided access is so helpful.  It locks the iPad onto the app you choose and it can only be closed with a password.  That means more uninterrupted learning and minimal distractions.

Here's how to set it up!

Step 1: Open settings

Step 2: Click on general

Step 3: Select accessibility

Step 4: Turn on guided access and set your passcode

Then you're good to go!  Just triple click your home button when you have an app open that you would like to lock your iPad onto.  When you're ready to exit, triple click again and enter your passcode.  

Life changing.

:)

Turkeys, Turkeys, Turkeys!

One of the best things about Kindergarten is finding every opportunity to celebrate something.  Thanksgiving themed activities took over just about every aspect of our day.  Deanna Jump is amazing and provides the best resources that are cute AND incorporate learning...which is a big deal.  Activities without a purpose, even if they're cute, are just silly.  Most of our activities came from her pack on TPT which you can find here.  Here are a couple of my favorite activities that we did together. 

 These are our pilgrims which we made after learning the types of clothes pilgrims wore, what chores they had to do, and what their journey over on the Mayflower was like.  They wrote about what one item they would take with them if they were going on the Mayflower. We had lots of stuffed animals, sports equipment, and toys going over. 

Our Favorite Songs

I'm pretty picky with kid's music, I usually pick songs that relate to some sort of math or language so we can have fun, move, and be learning all at the same time.

 I grew up on Raffi, so he makes it to the top of our list pretty often. My little learners are obsessed with The Popcorn Song, I can easily say that's a favorite of ours.  Here are some more Raffi songs we use:

The More We Get Together

Willoughby Wallaby Woo

Mr. Sun

Shake My Sillies Out

Heidi Butkus has amazing phonics, math, and classroom management songs.  When we run across areas that need reminding, like bathroom procedures....her songs are great.  These are our favorites:

Please and Thank You Song

Potty, Potty, Flush, Flush (yes...this is a real song!)

Right Hand, Left Hand

Smarty Pants Dance

Lastly, we use Dr. Jean quite a bit as well.  Our favorite song of hers is definitely, Kiss Your Brain.  There is nothing cuter than seeing kinders kiss their brain's during worktime.  Here are some others:

Rime Time

Gumball

Macarena Math

Dr. Knicker Bocker

Shake a Hand

Month Hop

My Favorite Apps

I have a few favorite apps that I tend to gravitate towards when using the iPads in the classroom. Most are free, some are paid for.

One More Story-Reads a picture book aloud to the kids.  I will usually have them listen together, then do a response worksheet after.  The worksheet will have them rate the book and then draw a picture using details from the story.  I’ll also sometimes have them stop in the middle and make a prediction about what might happen on a worksheet.

Endless Alphabet-Dragging letters to vocabulary words.

QR Code Frenzy

I've been on a little bit of a QR code kick lately, there are so many fun ways to use them around the classroom.  My most favorite revelation is that I can easily use them to differentiate work for different students AND they get to have control over some aspects of our activities using them. Here are some of my favorite resources I've found so far:

This shape scavenger hunt is free here through TPT.  It gives me lots of great ideas for alternatives to write the room.