Sharks and Boxes

I just cannot tell you how excited I am about this idea!!  It will truly make things easier and more helpful for me and my students.  And it is something so simple!

At the end of the school year, I was blessed to get a set of iPads for my classroom.  I already had an iPad of my own at home, but knew I needed to learn how to best utilize it for my class.

First, I started out with learning game apps.  But I quickly knew that that wasn't the main way I wanted to use these iPads.  Games are okay once in a awhile, but I need ways to enhance the way I teach and to bring technology to my students in a real world way.  

I already had Dropbox.  If you don't use Dropbox, you should be!  What an incredibly easy way to share files.  Some of our files are so big, they take FOR-EVER to email.  Place them in your Dropbox and then you can access them anywhere!  Click the picture to go sign up.  If you sign up, I would love for you to use me as a referral so I can get more space.  Once you sign up, you can refer others too.  It's free!

So here is where I was struggling at school.  I have my students practice their sight words in class and during RtI.  I had even created cute Powerpoint slides for them to make them more interesting.  

So I thought, hey I have already placed these Powerpoints in my Dropbox.  I will just have the kids go through the slide show on the iPads.  WRONG!!

The slides did not all format correctly, by just opening them from Dropbox.  So I had to do some thinking...I knew there must be a way to do this.

Enter Slideshark app!!  I downloaded this free (doesn't that word free make you happy?) app and now my Powerpoints are accessible and formatted correctly.  This makes me soooo happy!  I will be able to differentiate my students learning so much more now.  

Instead of everyone having to practice the same list and take turns, I can now direct them to the list most appropriate for them and they will practice all the words!!!  Yay for Technology!!

My slides now can be utilized in so many different ways...on the Smartboard, on computers, printing them off into books to be sent home for practice...And now on my iPads!

I love learning about how technology can enhance teaching, not just be a tool for playing games.  I have been inspired by Aylin's technology posts over at Learning to the Core.  She and Amanda have a great blog with lots of technology tips!

  

Link up with Shelly for her Appy Friday!