Using Nearpod in a Digital 1:1 Classroom

Hi friends!  Teaching in a 1:1 school can be overwhelming with so many Web 2.0 tools to choose from!  This is a great one!

What is Nearpod? 

Think … PowerPoint with benefits.  Whatever you put together on Nearpod is sent directly to your students’ screens by entering a code.  YOU control moving forward.  What’s even better, it provides options for interactive elements that you could NEVER do in PowerPoint!

There are quite a few pre-made Nearpod lessons that are FREE and some for a small fee.  Trying out some of the free ones will be great inspiration.  Give a search and see what you find!

Once you create your account and are ready to get crackin’, you’ll want to go to the Create section and delete the two useless slides.  Not quite sure why they are there, but I always get rid of them.

You will be left with the “Add Slide” section and you are ready to roll. 

Once you click that button, you are provided with three options.

By clicking “Add Content”, you can either create a basic slide and type in your content OR you can insert a saved file, image, etc.  Lots of options are there for places you might be saving your files.

Adding activities is what REALLY sets this tool apart.

I really love giving my kids the chance to answer Open-Ended Questions.  Here’s a sample of how this might look. 

I like to create the questions in PowerPoint.  I typed up a question and added a screenshot from my teacher’s manual and slipped it right in.

While the students are responding, the screen that is displayed on your Promethean board will show answers in real-time.  I like to click on “Freeze” so that no one can see each other’s answers until I am ready for them to share.

It is great to quickly read through the responses and find the good points.  The kids really excited when I share their responses—both those that are good models or common misconceptions –with the class.  They can see the answers up close!

Creating quizzes is another great tool to do a quick formative assessment!  Type up a few questions and answers, click the correct choice, and you have a self-graded quiz!  Once all the answers are submitted (again, I will freeze the screen), I will quickly look through the responses on my computer to see who needs remediation.

If you are like me, creating PowerPoint presentations for teaching is not new.  In fact, you might have so many already created that the THOUGHT of redoing them doesn’t seem like a great idea.  Well, I’ve had a blast reusing those old presentations. 

It is super-simple!

1. Pull up your old presentation
2. Go to File: then Save As Pictures
3. Name your New File!

Once you are in Nearpod, just reinsert each of the slides as a picture to create an interactive presentation!  Now all you have to do is add a few activities to take the learning ever further!

I hope you’ll give this Web 2.0 tool a try!  I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface with this tool, but it is now one of my “keepers”.   

Want to try out 30 days of a GOLD membership?  Create your new account now using my Referral Code!  Click over to NEARPOD and enter: E7R1UK
Invite 7 more friends and you can have it, too!

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Are you ready for THIS!!!

I’ve been keeping a secret y’all!!!  

Guess what's finally HERE!

Wait for it……

Yep!  It’s TRUE!!!!

Finally a blog for all things Third!  I am BEYOND honored to be joining an AMAZING group of teachers to share tips, ideas, and support to those that are walking the same path.

We are kicking off the event of our blog opening with an awesome giveaway!  A giveaway where EVERYBODY wins!  Head on over to our blog, then follow the steps to receive your 11 FREE products from our stores!

You’ve only got two days to grab ‘em!

I know you’re ready to head over so I’ll just HUSH!

Before you go…..check out the ladies who will be contributing!  I bet you ALREADY follow them, too! 

Click on the image to head on over!  See you there and be sure to check out ALL the tabs!

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Multiplication Fluency Game: Kaboom!

I'm am ashamed to say that I haven't participated in Monday Made it in WAAAY too long!  Guess that just says how my school year has rolled!  Let's not even look at when I am linking up.  Umm....not Monday, but maybe you can whip it together by Monday!

Have your kids ever played Kaboom?  Maybe you call it Bang!  No?

It's a super quick game, great practice for any skill.  Sight words, facts practice, you name it.

I've seen it played with facts written on popsicle sticks.  Here's the game:

1. Pull a stick
2. Answer correctly (whatever you are practicing)...Keep your stick
3. Miss it...return the stick
4. Keep taking turns until......
5. Someone draws a KABOOM!  All the player's sticks go back in the cup
6. Winner is the player with the most sticks at the end of playing time.

So, here's how I put together a quick game for my classroom!  I whipped it together in one afternoon!  Writing on popsicle sticks drives me BATTY, so I decided to whip together my own version.

 I found a super great deal on scrapbook paper at Michael's for 5.99.  Used my 40% off weekly coupon.  Can you say SCORE!!!!

After creating a template on powerpoint, I printed the strips on my printer.  The paper is pretty sturdy, but you know that I laminated it, too, right???  Duh...I'm a teacher!

Next, I cut them up and put them in baggies until I was ready to use them in my classroom.  I searched and searched for cups to glue my cute labels, but they all bent kind of funny.  Hmmm...why am I OCD about silly things like that?  It's not just me, right?  Anyway, as I strolled around Dollar Tree, I was reminded of how I did my December centers!  Gift bags are Perfect!  Super easy to story later, too.

Finally, I decided to make to answer keys to throw in the bags.  BAM!
Quick and easy centers for my kidlets to practice the Multiplication Facts!

Hope you like my version of KABOOM! and try it in your classroom!

UPDATE: 5/23/15

I've added this Bundle into my store if you'd like to whip this up a bit quicker!  I've got you covered for all of your fluency needs!

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Here's the secret!

No!  It's not an April Fool's joke!  It's true!  Educents had opened their site to be a marketplace for people to find teacher-created items ANYTIME!  I'm joining over 500 fellow teacher-creators in this kick-off!  You won't want to miss entering to win $50 of Educents credits!

I want you to hop over pretty quick and check it out!  But first, let me give you a sneak peak to my forever freebie that is available to you there.  It's a sample of one of task card sets-perfect to use for small group instruction!

If you like my sample, you might just LOVE my full bundle!

Be sure to check out the stores' of my bloggy buddies who have joined Educents!  And be sure to enter the giveaway!  Who can't use $50 to spend for helping our kidlets learn!

You MIGHT just want to head over to my Facebook page tonight!  We have a Blog Hop with an ADDITIONAL prize you're gonna want!  But, I'm going to keep that a secret until then! Head on over at 6pm EST!  Click HERE to get there in a snap!

Okay.....this is it....click the link below to take you to the GIVEAWAY!

Educents Marketplace $50 in Edubucks Giveaway #8 - 3rd & 4th Grade Stores

You can link to our stores below to check out the freebies super quick!

An InLinkz Link-up

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