Ya'll this is EPIC!

I wanted to do a quick post and link up with Tech with Jen for "Don't Worry Be Appy" Monday to tell you all about an app that I found and how I use it in my classroom! The app is called Epic! and currently I am using it on the ipad that I have in my listening center.

Epic! is a book streaming service that gives my students instant access to thousands of high quality, recognizable titles to choose from- its like Netflix for books! My students love the ability to choose books to read that they are interested in annddddd Epic! offers a huge selection of titles with audio that reads texts aloud, which makes it perfect for my beginning readers!

My kids especially love the nonfiction texts! My favorite part is that you can select books to download and save. Once the texts are downloaded, they stay on your device and can be read even when there is no wireless internet available!

Currently, Epic! can be used on iOS devices and on any web browser - and best of all, Epic! offers a free version of the app for teachers. You can sign up for a free account here!

(I was not paid or compensated in any way to write this blog post, I just really like this app and use it in my own classroom!)

I would love to hear if any of you are using this wonderful app in your classrooms and your great ideas for it!

Click here to head to the link up to see more "app-y" posts!

Snow Day Catch Up!

There is no day better than a snow day to catch up on some blogging! We had President’s Day off and we have had snow days ever since. My laundry and cleaning is almost caught up on and I am starting to catch a little bit of cabin fever! Although, truth be told I have LOVED just hanging out in my comfy clothes and just spending time with my husband this week!

I didn’t get a chance to post a picture of the valentines that I made for my class last week so here it is!  Better late than never – am I right??

 

I used the google eye rings that I found in the party section of Target and the monster clipart from KPM Doodles to make them! And I just stuck the rings on using large glue dots…easy peezy! I think they turned out great for doing them at10 o'clock the night before! I have posted the cards here for free just in case anyone wants them…for NEXT year of course!!

Last week, we worked on homophones in language. We read the book, "Dear/Deer" and we watched the Brainpop Jr. video on homophones to introduce the skill.

My kids loved homophones and although they thought that they were super fun, many of them seemed to really struggle with choosing the correct homophone to complete a sentence…I mean they sound the same so without visual cues, they had a hard time! It reminded me of this...

So, I whipped up some worksheets and activities that included the words AND the pictures to help my low babies and they seemed to catch right on -YAY!!! Here are a few examples:

cut & paste printable from my Homophones Activity Pack

another printable from my Homophone Activity Pack

My kids loved these! We used dab markers for the one worksheet, but you could just as easily use crayons!

If you think your students would benefit from these activities, go check out my Homophone Activity Pack that was designed with K-2 in mind!

Stay warm friends!