Tech Tuesday ---Level it app

Tweet

     Hey y'all!  I have mentioned before that I am obsessed just a little, well a little too much, with my iphone! There are so many cool things that you can do!  Recently, I have discovered that I could catalog my classroom library with this little gem called Level It Books.  I have tried other catalogs for designed for teachers, but I really have not had much luck with them, but this one is really great!  I found it recently on Pinterest and have really enjoyed adding in some of my books!  

      It is not a free app.  However, it is on sale for $2.99 right now.  I have no idea how long it will be on sale.  It is normally $4.99.

      The home page always lists a book of the day.  It will list the reading level, lexile, guided reading level, and the dra level.  It will also list what genre.  Underneath the book of the day, there are other books that have been recently added.  From what I have learned so far, there are lots more books already in their database than in the other cataloging apps I have used.  At the very bottom of the home page are all the menu choices you have navigate through.   

      On the next menu tab, you have to first set up the name of your library.  And you can set up multiple libraries.  I am planning to also add a library for all my professional type books.  Sometimes I forget what all I have bought and they are just a waste of money if I'm not using them!  

      Anyway, there are two ways you can add books.  You can scan them in or you can manually put them it.    Right now, I have been putting all my books in manually because all my school books are at school...and I'm on spring break!!  :)  Once you select a book, all of the levels are there for you.  If for some reason, the levels are not there, you can give suggestions to have them added.  Your books can be sorted in a number of different ways.  Love this!  I normally want them sorted alphabetically, but I may want to find all the books I have by the same author.  So easy!!

      The next menu tab is the wishlist.  I have not used that tab yet, but it looks just as simple to add a book to your wishlist as it does to add it to your library.  

    The roster menu tab is for you to add your students and check your books in and out for students.  I really have no intention of using this feature, but you never know, I may use it one day!

      This is the scan menu tab.  This is where you can scan a book into your library or can manually search for your book to add it into your library.  You would also use this tab if you were doing the check-in/check-out system with your students.  I just thought as I was typing, you could use this if another teacher wants to borrow one of your books!  I always forget who borrows my books!!  This would be great to use!

      Anyway, I hope this little review helps you!  

Till next time...

My Classroom

Tweet

      It's Sunday Funday with Latoya over at Flying into First.  She is hosting a great linky that I am so excited about!  The topic is:  My Classroom!  How great is that?  It's always great to see other teachers' classroom and  see the cool stuff they have and are doing!

                                   

     We will get acquainted today by sharing three(3) of our favorite areas in our classrooms.

      Ok, so my desk does not look like this right now, but I like my little "teacher cave."  It's over in a corner of the room.  I don't get to sit here often while students are in the room, but when they are away, this is usually where you'll find me grading, paperwork, etc...  You know the drill.  :)

      I also love this little corner of the room.  This is my reading area.  I have a little wicker loveseat and chair over there with a few little stuffed friends too.  They get over there and cuddle and read and I just love it!  It is so cozy!  

      Ok, so this is a terrible picture.  It was taken at the beginning of the year when I was just moving into this room, but you can see the beginning of how it's going to shape up.  Anyway, the things I love about this are...my round tables.  I love these tables.  I have moved classrooms three times in four years and these tables have gone with me each and every move.  You can also see my reading area in the background taking shape, and I also love my decorations hanging from the ceiling.  BTW, did you notice how big my room is?  I got to move into a mansion of a room this year!  I hope I never move again!!!  (And, so does my family!!  Ha!!)  

I can't wait to see your favorite spots in your classroom!  

Hope y'all have a great week!

Till next time...

Book Box FREEBIE!

Tweet

      Just popping in very quickly tonight to offer you a quick freebie!  I use book boxes in my room as part of my students read to self and read with a partner.  In order to trade out a book, they must complete this book box form.  It gives me a record of what they are reading on their own and it gives a record of their understanding of the book.  It also gives them an opportunity to state an opinion about the book and whether or not they would recommend it to a friend.  There are two on a page and I print them front to back, cut them apart, and put them in a book box form basket.

      I hope you can use it!  Click on the picture to grab your FREEBIE!

      Also, I am linking up with Classroom Freebies so hop over and grab some great FREEBIES!

Till next time...

Where, oh where has this blogger gone?

Tweet

Where, oh where has this blogger gone?  
Oh, where, oh where could she be?

       I really have NO excuse, except that life got in the way...Oh, nothing life shattering, just life.  I should have had plenty of time since I finished up my masters degree in the summer.  Lots of extra time, right?  Well, I found plenty of things to fill that time! 

   

     Learning the new Common Core standards and incorporating our state frameworks into it has been really easy really kicked my boo-hoo!!  Plus, we have two new administrators and have been trying to keep up with them.  I know, I know...excuses, excuses!!  I have missed you guys and I hope to do better!

     On another note...Does anyone do the Rigby assessment?  This has replaced the Houghton Mifflin Assessement that our school has done in the past.  I was asked to help train some teachers at our school to administer it.  I really do like it.  It is a bit time consuming, but I think that the information gained is very informative in helping teachers form their small groups for guided reading.  It gives you an indication of their accuracy level as well as their comprehension level.  From completing the Rigby, my reading groups have changed somewhat and I have had some students completing some independent study activities.  At first, I was just having them complete some different activities that I already had on hand, but then I came up with some menu-type activities that I could use on a rotational type basis.  They have really loved them!  Some of my other students are asking, "When can we do independent study," which, of course, is awesome!  I have not used them with any other group other than my top readers.  They are reading on high 4th and 5th grade level, but they could be used with any students.

  

 Hope you can use this in your classroom!

Till next time...and I hope it won't be so long!