Jumbled Sentences

Jumbled Sentences is an app that helps students create complete sentences. Students can improve their writing skills and have fun doing it. I installed Jumbled Sentences 1-6 onto my iPad. All of the apps are very similar they just have different themes. I really liked Jumbled Sentences 3. Students have to drag the words into the correct boxes to make complete sentences. The words move around in a circle and students have to choose the correct word to complete the sentence. There is a picture in the center of the circle that represents the sentence. The words are read aloud when you tap on them. There is also a hint button. You have three minutes to complete each sentence and you earn money for creating correct sentences before the time runs out. There are three levels that increase in difficulty. When you earn money you can then visit the sticker page. On the sticker page you can use your money to purchase stickers for your sticker collection. Below are some iPad screenshots from the app Jumbled Sentences 3. If you would like these apps on your classroom iPads please let me know! Thanks!

Write About This App!

Write About This Free is an app that I just started to explore with a student in 4th grade. I have been searching for an app like this one for a long time! The app is for elementary students. Students can choose more than 50 prompts (text or voice) on the free version or you can create your own. The prompts were created by teachers who had the Common Core State Standards in mind. A teacher named Brad Wilson created the app. The app is a visual writing prompt. In the settings you can change the prompt level to 1, 2, or 3. You can also add your email address as the default email and all of your student's writing pieces will be sent to you. It is really easy for students to publish and to share. This app can be used as a journal in your classroom. If you click on "random" you can scroll through tons of writing prompts. Students can have the prompt read aloud to them and they can use the picture that is provided for ideas. Below are screenshots I took from Write About This Free on my iPad. I have my iPad set to prompt level 3.

Please let me know if you would like to use this app in your classroom :)

Trading Cards App & Trading Card Creator

ReadWriteThink's Trading Cards is an iOS application that allows students to create their own trading cards. Students can create trading cards about a fictional person, real person, a fictional place, a real place, an object, an event, or a vocabulary word. Each category has questions that are explained on the app which makes it easy for students to follow. You cannot create your own category or questions on the app version. This does make it difficult when you want to use specific questions. The app is a great tool to have students apply what they know about summarizing or to show their understanding about what they are learning. Once students select a category they can upload or take a picture to place on their card. They can resize the picture right on the app. They can also choose from 12 different card designs. Once you create your card you can save it to your images, print, or email your trading card. On the app you can create multiple usernames which is a great feature especially if your class is sharing iPads. Below is a sample trading card I created on my iPad. If you do not have iPads in your classroom you can use your laptops or netbooks. Click here to get started using Trading Card Creator (Flash Player is required). On the Trading Card Creator site you can create your own category and questions, which is great!

Below is a screenshot of Trading Card Creator (here you can insert your own questions)

Click here for lesson ideas using Trading Cards app!
Click here for lesson ideas using Trading Card Creator on the web!