Kindergarten IPads

Imagine your kindergarten students each had access to their own iPad preloaded with ELA specific apps aimed at helping them learn basic skills around oral language, basic phonemic awareness, early phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.

The school board has been clear that K-3 literacy is a high priority, and thanks to a district grant, each of your kinder students will receive one iPad for use both in class and at home exclusively to build reading and writing skills!

Kid

To Get Started...

1

Once you have received your cart, grab the keys attached to the power cord and familiarize yourself with how to open the front door. (You won't need to open the back panel until you are ready to send iPads home). Please put your keys in a secure place and consider attaching a ribbon or something to them.

2

Find a spot for your cart in your classroom near a power source and plug it in. PLEASE LET THE CART CHARGE OVERNIGHT BEFORE USING THE IPADS. When the iPads are ready, they should look like this. NOTE: If an iPad doesn't look like the picture, please email [email protected] with the barcode number on the back and it will get fixed.

3

Be sure to assign an iPad to each student. Label each iPad where you can see it when you open the cart door so you and your kids know which one is theirs. Ex. you can number them, put stickers on them, etc. The important thing is that the student uses the same iPad over time - some apps save their progress on them.

4

Look at your student data and see what skill/s you need them to practice and assign the corresponding app to them to practice with during centers. Please make note which students are assigned to which app and how long they are practicing. (This info will likely be in your lesson planning book - don't worry about writing that down elsewhere at this time).

The App Map and App Descriptions

Literacy Apps

Duolingo ABC

Duolingo ABC is an app from the makers of Duolingo that is specifically geared towards helping young children learn their ABC's. Duo ABC provides activities that are developmentally appropriate for students and "gamifies" these lessons. Duo ABC includes opportunities for children to write, speak, identify, and listen, all while building on previous knowledge.

epic!

Gives families and classrooms instant, unlimited access to thousands of books, videos and quizzes from leading publishers to help kids everywhere read, learn and grow. (Please note that this works during school hours of 7am to 3pm only)

Learning A to Z

Raz-Plus is a comprehensive blended learning platform that includes the curricular support teachers need and the personalized resources necessary to improve students' reading skills. With more than 50,000 resources that include more than 3,000 leveled books and readers available in multiple formats, Raz-Plus makes it easier to strengthen the connection between what is being taught and what students are practicing.

Seesaw

APS approved LMS for P-3 students. Seesaw is a platform for student engagement. Teachers can empower students to create, reflect, share, and collaborate. Students "show what they know" using photos, videos, drawings, text, PDFs, and links. It's simple to get student work in one place and share with families, and nothing is shared without teacher approval. Take a look at wonders linked seesaw lessons here!

Teach Your Monster

Teach Your Monster To Read

Teach Your Monster to Read is a phonics and reading game app. Teachers claim it's a wonderful and captivating classroom tool that helps their students learn to read.

Sora

APS e-book library includes picture, audio, comic, print books. Whether you're reading for class or for fun, Sora's ebook reader makes it easy.

Book Creator

Book Creator enables students to create and read multimedia digital books. Check out the Foundational literacy section that Bookcreator has provided! It is an ideal tool for enhancing student engagement through story creation and multimedia design.

i-Ready

Learn how to print K-1 Login cards here!

Tips for Logging into Each App

Note: to avoid issues with logging in and students having their progress saved accurately, it is crucial that every student use the same iPad always. Feel free to add labels on the back of each iPad for this purpose.

iPad Take Home Support

The Kinder Literacy iPads were purchased with grant money for literacy support at school and at home. Below are some resources you can use to guide students and parents on appropriate use at home. Click on the documents below to make a copy in your Drive. Please take a look at the infographic first to see our recommended approach to take home and how the resources below tie together.

Sending iPads Homeby Kyle MontBlanc

letter home to parents - translated versions included!

letter home

one-pager for Duo ABC

Duo ABC

one pager for Teach Your Monster to Read

Teach Your Monster

Recommended steps for communicating on a weekly basis with parents about the iPads:

Before sending home the iPads, utilize Talking Points to send a SMS in your students' home language to inform parents the iPads are coming home for the weekend.
Also, set up a scheduled Talking Points message to send on Sunday to remind parents to bring iPads back to school on Monday.

Watch the short video below to see how to schedule TalkingPts messages. As always, feel free to reach out to your Ed Tech Coach for support.

Use Talkingpoints to Keep Parents Informed!

Short Overview of TalkingPoints!

How Can students play Wonders games on a iPad?

Wonders Games on Ipads

Use Apple Classroom to help with Guided access!

Apple Literacy Resources

FAQ

Learning Center - Apple Education CommunityVisit the Apple Education Community to discover great learning resources and learn new skills to become an Apple Teacher.

Click here

Click Here to Learn More!

Apple

Learn some Ipad Tips and Tricks here!

FAQ

How will the iPads be stored?Each classroom will receive an iPad cart with charging cables for in classroom storage

What apps will be on these iPads? In an effort to keep these iPads literacy focused, the Kindergarten Advisory Group of APS kinder teachers has selected

Can I add different apps to the iPad? Not at this time. One piece of feedback we got from many teachers was that iPads become to bogged down with too many apps . These iPads are solely focused on literacy, so at this time we will not be adding any apps outside of the ones chosen by the advisory group. However, we will continue to examine what is working and what might need to be substituted out. So if you have an idea, please feel free to share it with your ed tech coach.

Will I be able to provide input about the apps and/or make suggestions about future apps supporting literacy?YES! You will have an optional opportunity to provide us feedback at the end of each quarter. The Kindergarten Advisory Group meets once a quarter and will review your feedback captured on a Google form prior to meeting.

What is the plan for sending iPads home successfully? Will my parents know about this?At this time (Q1 and Q2) we are focused on deploying the iPads to your classroom and helping you and your students get used to using them during centers. We will have more information, resources, and communication you can use for parent outreach so that they are comfortable supporting their child at home. We will also look to leverage your family liaison at your school to help promote and make connections with parents.

When I'm ready to send iPads home, what about students without internet access at home?Because this grant does allow students to bring these ipads home…. Any student who lacks internet access at home is eligible for an Aruba device. Click here to request an Aruba Device for free!

Apple

Would you like to learn more?

Check out our Apple Training Resources here!

The Ed Tech Support Team

For support, please reach out to your ed tech coach!