Vocabulary fun with Scrabble!

I've been using Scrabble on the iPad as a vocabulary tool in the classroom. Groups of up to four students play against each other, taking turns on the iPad. In these groups one student is designated time keeper; each student is given two minutes to come up with a word.

To setup the activity I ask the class if anyone is familiar with scrabble. I then give them a quick lesson on how to play and the rules.  While the iPad version is excellent, you may find there are several features you will not want to use. For example, Scrabble for iPad allows you to have a best word feature. This feature will automatically insert the best possible word combination for your allotted tiles. The best word feature can be turned off at the time you are setting up the game. If you choose to allow the feature, the students at the table can regulate how many turns each gets to press the button. A good idea on how to turn the “best word” button into a learning experience is to have the students look up the word and use it in a sentence. It’s also helpful if the students have a dictionary handy, it will allow them to look up words Scrabble may accept but the student may not have the meaning of.

To setup the game use the following steps:

1. Press the Scrabble app
2. Press on “Pass N’ Play”
3. Choose the number of player
4. Set “Best Word” to off unless you want the students to use it.
5. Press “Create”
6. The game will now begin.

After the game is over I reward the group's winner with this certificate: 

-- Joe Santiago --

Connecting to a Smart Board

There are two apps that I use that allow me to drive my smart board from the iPad.

1) Remoter ($0.99) - This is an app that allows you to create a VNC network between your computer and the iPad.  The iPad "remotes" into your computer and then you drive the computer.  This allows me to roam the room and present my notebook presentation to the class and it allows me the ability to write on the board from anywhere in the room.  (This is why the stylus is helpful).

2) Air Display ($9.99) This is both an app and a software download for your computer.  Once again, it allows you to remote into your computer and drive the computer.  What is interesting about this app is that you can toggle between different devices, thus giving multiple iPads a turn to drive the computer.  I envision this by having each table have an iPad and then have them take turns "writing" on the board.

-Herrador

iPad Stylus

Hi all,

I have come across the following stylus for the iPad:
Ten 1 Pogo Sketch
http://www.amazon.com/Ten-One-Design-Sketch-stylus/dp/B003VZMJUU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1307497070&sr=8-4

It's $10.16 and it has greatly helped me write on the iPad especially if I am using the device to remote into my computer to drive my smart board.

-Herrador

Ms Bruce's Picks

Hi All!  I'm excited to share all the apps I downloaded on Memorial weekend.  Haven't had the time before but now I think I'm an expert. . . ha!

Scrabble, Martha Stewart Living, O Magazine, Science Illustrated, Gray's Anatomy, Popular Science, Tour Wrist, Eye Chart Pro, Webster's Dictionary, Surgical Anatomy, eClicker and eClicker Host, My Food, Portion Platter, Grammar Dragon, iResponse and Video Science and finally New York Times.  I used some of the info. we learned at the Apple PD like making folders.  I had about $50 and I spent most of it, of course.

My Faves: All of these are apps that think I would use all the time.  I pulled out my iPad on the LIRR this week and I found myself doing a scrabble puzzle to pass the time. 
1. O Magazine
2. My Food
3. Gray's Anatomy
4. Grammar Dragon
5. Scrabble

Coolesr Instructional Tools:  We're always looking for a few new things to do with our kids.  I think tech in the classroom could look like what these apps have to bring to science, or any other subject area.  My Food allows the user to look up any possible item of food, get it's detailed nutritional value, and because it's connected to Wikipedia, you can see even more detailed information and ultimately access anything about that food.  It's a great site I would like to use.
1. My Food
2.Gray's Anatomy
3. Grammar Dragon
4. Science Illustrated
5. Dictionary

Student uses IPad to Practice Fractions

During a tutoring session I decided to use an app I downloaded from the ITunes app store called Fractions Practice by exaApps to help reinforce his experience and knowledge with identifying and comparing fractions.

- Lopez

Mathination

Hi all,

I just wanted to tell you all about a useful app that I've found: Mathination. It's an interactive math application that provides a step by step tutorial for algebra problems. It walks students through the various aspects of solving equations: combining like terms, one-step, two-step, multi-step equations, distributive property, etc. It's easy to use and it does not allow students to do the wrong step. What is also great is that it has an "enter your own equation" feature. This is useful for students who are having difficulties on a homework problem. They can type in the problem and get walked through the steps towards a solution. $4.99 well spent.

-Herrador