We are still here...promise!

First of all-we have to apologize to all of you! We have been missing for the last few weeks and we are so very sorry! Between Angie working hard at her new Tech Integrationist position and my switching schools, it has been a uber busy start to the school year! To be honest, we both have been getting home the last few weeks and crashed (a 8 o'clock bedtime isn't that lame---right?!?!?) But I promise we haven't given up on you or our mission to help elementary teachers integrate technology easily and successfully into their classrooms!
This week I have been working hard on a grant proposal to obtain a small group set of iPods for my classroom. My new school does have some iPods for us to use, but to have a set that I can use during both my math and reading times every day would be HUGE! So if you are like me and trying to obtain more (or your 1st set) of iPods to use in the classroom, I thought I would share with you a few different options for grants out there.
Heres some of what I've found:
***A great article titled 5 Opportunities to Get iPods Into Your Classroom. Gives good info on how to start obtaining iPods/iPads to use in your classroom.
***Donorschoose.org I'm currently working on writing my own proposal for here. Might as well try and get it out there!
***Your school's PTA and/or other school/community groups

Also, from what I read, it is worth the effort to ask for donations from your local businesses-ie Walmart, Target, Best Buy or whatever you have near. These businesses may be willing to donate even 1 iPod or iPad (hey you got to start somewhere!), even if it is refurbished it will still work for the classroom! Another great idea-ask people to donate their old iPods as they are upgrading to new ones. Its a tax write off for them and a great way for you to bring in the community as well!
Good luck hunting down those iPods! If you know of any other ways to get iPods into classrooms let us know!

What a Whirlwind!

Whew! What a week!! This week was our workshops and open house night. With both of us being in our new 'homes' it has been a learning experience for sure! In one workshop we had an amazing speaker who discussed writing down the things you value in your life, and making sure you are devoting the appropriate amount of time to all of them-otherwise you are on the fast track to being burned-out. Well, I for one, am not holding a very good balance right now (and I can definitely feel a little of that burn-out igniting!)  So to our friends in the apps world, we will do our best to get our balance corrected and make sure that we are devoting the time needed to bring you the most current and up to date info we can find about the best education apps out there! There should be something coming out very soon...so stay close!

iPod/iPad Presentation was a BLAST!

We had an amazing day presenting to a great group of educators from a neighboring school district about all things iPod/iPad related! It was a challenge as everyone has such different experiences with iPods, iPads and even using apps, so we really hope that each person was able to walk away learning at least one new thing (I know I learned about some great new websites and some other fun new apps that I can't wait to check out!) Isn't it fantastic when educators come together and share resources?! We really got to see the great things that can come from collaboration today.  This is especially important since the wonderful world of apps can be very overwhelming at times!!!  But as overwhelming as it can be, we know what a great teaching tool it is for our students...and that's what really counts! So if you are just learning how to integrate iPod/iPad technology into your classroom-WELCOME! You are going to love it!!! Be sure to check back in with us often as we will be posting lots of great resources to help you navigate your way to being a techie teacher! Find us on Facebook and Twitter to get the most current happenings in our techie teacher world!!!!

We are up and running!

Ooftah! We have been hard at work and are happy to say that we currently have 11 great products on our TPT store! They range in price from FREE to $5! Our App Menus have already been downloaded over 25 times (woot woot!) and we hope that many more people will be able to utilize them!!!! Our iPod App Activity Packets are an affordable and easy way to increase student accountability and extend student learning from some of the most current popular educational apps. Everything is ready for you-just download the app (you know its high quality and student tested if we are recommending it!), download the corresponding App Activity Packet, print and VIOLA! you have an instant learning center that is engaging and fun for students! Now that's what we call technology integration at its best!!!

We've got a great FREEBIE for you!!!

We are SUPER excited to say that we have finally got our iPod/iPad app menus available for FREE at our TPT store! Check out our TPT store by clicking here!! We both use these app menus within our classrooms and they are really a great resource!!

A close up of our app menu-I made mine double sided and put it in a 3 ring binder and just flip the  pages when needed.  I love that it stands on its own and all the students can see it at that center! The app icons can be found in our app packets at our TPT store

They are super easy to use! Just print, laminate, and velcro on laminated copies of your preferred app icons! Change the icons around as you see fit!

As you can see by the pictures, it truly allows the students to be independent and make appropriate choices for their learning, all while allowing us (the teachers) overall control of what apps the students are focusing on.  This is great for so many reasons, one being that research shows when students make choices within their education they are more likely to retain the information.  Another great reason is that it allows students multiple choices, thus increasing their ability to find a 'just right fit' skill level app.  For example, I switch out the app icon choices each week depending on what skill we are focusing on in math/reading.  I pick 3 different skill leveled apps that pertain to the appropriate skill set, creating an independent differentiated activity that students love (and I love because I know that they are getting that ever important skill practice, practice, practice!)
Because the students are able to make choices and have access to multiple skill levels, they are able to work hard and focused-with truly minimal behavior issues. These app menus are not only a great way to integrate technology into your everyday teaching, but they are a wonderful classroom management tool as well! We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

A student hard at work at our iPod center! 

We are soooo close!!!

We finally have our TPT store up and running! Now we just need to add our products (including some great freebies!) and we will be ready to go! This has been such a great learning process, the blog world is completely new to us and we are so happy to have found many great people to help us on our journey! Stay tuned-by this time tomorrow we will be unveiling what we think are great products that will really help teachers integrate technology into their classrooms! Til then, back to work we go.....

Caribou Company

We are working hard to get everything ready to share with you! Our favorite meeting place has been Caribou. Sara's drink of choice is a Turtle Mocha, while Angie's is a hot green tea and ice water.  What would we do without you Caribou?!?