News-2-You on the iPad

News-2-You (N2Y) is something I use in my classroom regularly. If you haven't heard about it check out the website here. I like N2Y for a few different reasons but my favorite thing is that it available on the iPad. Yes!!! NO PRINTING :))))) Here is how I utilize this awesome feature in my classroom **Disclaimer-these pictures are horrible!!!.

Download the app for free in the app store. Once it is downloaded make sure to enter in all of your N2Y account information in the settings tab to be able to access the articles for free. The other cool thing about the app is that all of the previous articles are available to read, unlike online which only gives you access to 2 weeks at a time.

Once you are in you will have to download each article you want (once you download it, it's available forever). You click the cloud with the down arrow.

Once the article is downloaded you are able to select which level your students will read. This makes it easy to modify for all of your students.

After you have selected the level the article will open. This is the regular level. The students can read themselves, in a group or use the text to speech option by pushing the play button on the bottom (which will read the entire page). If you would prefer them to read but want to encourage them to continue going when they come to a tricky word they can select the word and it will read just that sentence.

After they are done reading they can even do the comprehension section on the iPad. Students select their answers. Once they are finished they can check their work by pushing the check at the bottom. It gives immediate feedback.

Now are you wondering how the heck you can get the tests off of the iPad? Hold you breath...you can export them. I personally haven't had luck with email BUT......I use SeeSaw in my class (check out more about that here) and these go directly to each students portfolio. AMAZING!!!! All the kids do is hit the export button.

Select the pages you want to export. I only have them export their assessment pages but I am sure you could do the entire thing if it's easier for you. Click export.....

Tell it where you want the pages to go. In my classroom we select SeeSaw.

It then generates the file and sends it over to SeeSaw. The "turn in" screen pops up and the kids select their name to turn it in.

Once it's turned in, the file is available for me to review in their personal portfolio. This makes collecting data and keeping evidence of work sooo easy!!!

Do you use N2Y in your classroom? Have you tried the iPad version? Do you know anymore cool tricks?

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Digital Student Portfolios Using SeeSaw

If you are anything like me you're always searching for new and easy ways to keep track of student work to have on file for conferences/IEP meetings etc. For years I struggled with binders, file folders, digit files on my desktop and so much more. I was so tired of it and knew I had to find something that would make my life easier. Tah-dah!!!!!!

SeeSaw is a FREE (you can pay for certain subscriptions but the free one is perfect!) app that allows you and your students to build digital portfolios. It is super user friendly, the kids love it and best of all.....it makes collecting student work samples SOOOOO easy.

Once you get signed up, add your students, download the app and connect it to your account (simply snap a picture of the class QR Code) you are ready to start.

The students are able to add photos, videos, drawings, notes or links right away. We use photo and note the most in my classroom.

Here are a few examples of student work from my classroom.

1) Rainbow writing. I snapped a picture of our worksheet and the kids select different colors right inside the app. It is also easy to differentiate. Notice how one of my students has one large word instead of all 5.

2) Using the Note option, I had my students type sentences using their spelling words and respond to a question following a story I read.

3) Using the drawing feature I had a student draw a picture after listening to a story I read aloud.

4) I took a picture of a vocabulary card and had my student write about it using the caption feature. For the second picture we took a picture of the work a student did on the Smartboard.

5) We are working on counting by fives so I used the video feature to record my student counting by fives. We took a picture of the chart and she touched the numbers while counting out loud (this is just a screenshot so the video portion will not work)

What I love about this app is once kids "turn" in their work you are able to approve it, make comments, like it. It is very similar to a Facebook news feed. As you can see here I have 13 items to approve.

Once you approve the items they are sorted and stored in each students individual folders. It makes searching for their work quick and easy.

There is also a parent feature where you can give parents access to their child's portfolio. I haven't explored this option yet. I am thinking about just sticking with the classroom option for now :).

I cannot tell you how fast my students picked this up and how nice it has been to be able to have instant data collection/digital portfolios. Make sure to sign up for a free account at http://web.seesaw.me/

Have you used SeeSaw before? Do you have another digital portfolio app that you use?

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