Using an iPad in the Classroom

Do you have an iPad? Combine it with an Elmo and you now have a terrific instructional tool for the classroom. The following are just a few apps you can get free or buy for just a dollar or two that will help differentiate instruction.

Evernote: This is a free app. It allows you to take notes on your iPad and be able to access the notes from any computer, anywhere, just by logging on to Evernote.

Penultimate: This app costs $2.99. it allows you to write on your iPad screen with your finger or a stylus that you can purchase for about 15-20 dollars at any store that sells computers. This gives you the ability to handwrite on your iPad at any time and then save your notes.

Shakespeare in Bits: A little pricey at $14.99, this app has full cartoon versions of Shakespeare's plays that are read aloud while showing the printed text. This is a great app for students who struggle with reading comprehension.

Algebra Touch costs $2.99 but is worth every penny. It is an algebra tutorial that is interactive. Students know immediately if they get the wrong answer. If the student does not know why he/she got the wrong answer, they can click on a very thorough tutorial/explanation. This would be great for small group or individual instruction.

Video Science: Free These are videos of science experiments or demonstrations. This is a great way to introduce a new topic or preview an experiment that students will do on another day. Also, for schools that struggle with having enough funds to purchase all of the science materials necessary, these videos would be an alternative to hands on instruction.

USA Today combined with Read it Later: These are both free. The USA Today app gives you online access to all of the news stories for the day. However, if you also get the Read it Later app, then you can save any article you read for a later date. you can then access the article without being on the Internet. This allows you to find an article in today's newspaper and then save it for future use in your classroom.

These are just a few really terrific apps that I have found that could be very useful in the classroom. I think anytime we can use technology with our 21st Century Learners, we are better able to engage the students so they can master the content.

Geeks and Nerds

When my three children were in middle school and high school, we had a discussion one day about "nerds". The discussion began when one of my children mentioned a child in her class who was very smart but"nerdy". I promptly went into "teacher mode" in order to educate my offspring on the merits of "nerdiness". I explained all of life's benefits that are bestowed on the well-educated and the non-conformists and ended my speech by telling them that the people they think are nerds will someday be very successful people. Unfortunately, now the joke in my family is that every time my adult children see a person who appears to be "nerdy" or "geeky", they say, "Look Mom, there's a very successful person". Although we joke about it, my children see now that I was right! It reminds me of something my friend Jennifer Hogan said to her high school students. She said, "You will never regret making good grades in school". It was a simple statement that packed a ton of wisdom in it. Have you ever thought, "Gee, I wish I didn't make all of those darn A's in school!"

Recently, I read a book called, "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth" by Alexandra Robbins. It is a study on why outsiders thrive after high school. Robbins follows seven high school students in their struggle between individuality and inclusion. She uses the term "cafeteria fringe" to describe the students who are not the traditionally popular students. Robbins advises us to respect the significance of the cafeteria. She encourages educators to study the cafeteria, looking for socialization trends as well as psychologically harmful behavior.

I know I was correct when I told my children that the nerdy kids are often the most successful adults. However, I do not think we do enough to protect the "cafeteria fringe" from the hazards of being different in high school. This year, I am going to talk to the teachers at my school about this topic and encourage them to read "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth". Teachers need to treat all groups of students equally, offer a safe haven to students having a difficult time dealing with the pressures of peer groups, and offer marginalized students the chance to be visible.