Okay so I am a little excited and nervous.

I just uploaded my first item for sale on Teachers Pay Teachers. I love technology (I know I have said that before) and I decided to make a writing around the room packet that uses QR codes. I think it’s kind of cool. Now we will see if other people think the same thing and buy it. Here is the link in case you are interested: 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-around-the-room-with-QR-codes-813591

~Erica

I Love Technology!!!

One of the things I love to use in my classroom is technology. I have a projector and ipad that I use everyday in my classroom for things like calendar notebook, using Harry Kindergarten videos on YouTube to teach everything from counting to days of the week, using a time timer for work time, and using the ipad as a document camera to introduce work. I can honestly say that if my projector or ipad broke I might cry. I also have the use of ipads for my students which I often use as part of my literacy centers.

I think it's very important that students have the opportunity to be introduced to technology as early as possible. The technological world my kindergarters are growing up in is not the same world that I grew up in and I want to make them as prepared as I can. There are some people who think we have too much technology and that we rely on it too much. I will not argue about that whether it's good or not, but the fact is it's my job to prepare my students for the future and like it or not technology is the future.


So getting back to the reason that I decided to write this post. Mr. Gower (my husband) is a high school social studies teacher and this week he went to an Apple training on both the ipad and the MacBook. He shared with me many things, but the one I want to share with you today is an ipad app called popplet. There is a lite free version and the regular version that costs $4.99. I downloaded the free version for now. :) At first I didn't get it, but then last night I created these:

Both of these I could and now will do in my classroom using this app. The first one as an introduction to dinosaurs and the second one after we have learned some things about them. I am sure most people have seen these kind of maps, but I love the fact that I can create this (very easily I might add) on my ipad while having the students help me fill it in. I can then print it out to display in our classroom. LOVE IT!!!!

I am sure there are lots of other ways to use this app and I would love to hear from you if you find a creative way to use it. I am sure I will be posting more in the future about cool apps and other technology related stuff. Have a great day!

-Erica

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

If you use to use Google reader, you can now use Bloglovin to follow my blog!!

Summer time!!

So I have now been on summer break for a little more than 3 weeks now. I must confess that I have a lot of mixed emotions about this. On one hand I have been thinking so much about my classroom. I am moving to a new classroom that is in great disarray at the moment as I have moved everything (well almost anything) in it, but since I am waiting for the room to get painted I can't actually put the room together. I want to organize and decorate it so badly!!!! I have been pinning things on Pinterest and downloading new word wall letters etc for a new look for my new room. All this work and I can't actually put anything together yet. It kind of makes me want to scream, but then I remember that the summer is when teachers are not supposed to be in their rooms so that they can be cleaned and painted. 

I will say that even though I want to be in my room I am very happy to have some time to rest, relax and do fun things. My last two summers were filled with things that left little time to enjoy the summer so I am feeling good about enjoying every second that I can this summer. 

Last year at this time I was at the National I teach K conference and I learned so much, so kind of wishing that I was there right now as well. What is nice is that I follow the blogs of several people who are there right now so I am still seeing some of what great learning is going on. Take care and have a great summer!
~Erica

Haven't posted in awhile. What are we doing and survey

It seems like forever since I have blogged. My classroom has finished up dinosaurs and has started our explorations of space. We created our space schema chart which I was pretty impressed with. 

I have been thinking a lot lately about the role and expectations of a teacher. I have created a survey to gather some information about why we do the job, what stresses us, and what would make us happier. Please take a minute to fill out this survey if you are a teacher, have been a teacher, or work in some other capacity within the school. Click the link below to take the survey. It's only 9 questions! Thanks. 

Click here to take survey