Integrating the iPad into Literacy

Subject:  Language Arts

Grade:  1

Technology tools:  Computer(s), Interactive Slate, iPad, Document Camera

Tools used:  Interactive website, Digital text / ebook, Show me app on ipad

Activity type:  Lesson, Teacher presentation, Assessment

Language arts:

Competency Goal 1: The learner will develop and apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.

Objective:  1.01 Develop phonemic awareness and demonstrate knowledge of alphabetic principle:

count syllables in a word.

• blend the phonemes of one-syllable words.
• segment the phonemes of one-syllable words.
• change the beginning, middle, and ending sounds to produce new words. 
•  create and state a series of rhyming words that may include consonant blends (e.g., flag, brag).

1.02 Demonstrate decoding and word recognition strategies and skills:

• generate the sounds from all the letters and appropriate letter patterns which should include consonant blends and long and short vowel patterns.
• use phonics knowledge of sound-letter relationships to decode regular one-syllable words when reading words and text.
• recognize many high frequency and/or common irregularly spelled words in text (e.g., have said, where, two).
• read compound words and contractions.
•  read inflectional forms (e.g., -s, -ed, -ing) and root words (e.g., looks, looked, looking).
•  read appropriate word families.

We used the projector and the iPad and the document camera to allow the students to become teachers using the ShowMe app to explain special parts/features in our high frequency words. This program is a white board program that records their work and it allowed them to be teachers as it was placed under the document camera. This is one part of a word wall lesson we do everyday.

We have also used the iPad during small group to check understanding of spelling patterns and phonic skills by allowing students once again to use the ShowMe app, the Doodle Buddy app, or the Magnetic Alphabet app to explain one thing they have learned to the group.

It would be nice to have multiple iPads, but having just mine is enough to allow the kids a chance to learn. They will build or write the words or identify phonics skill they have learned and explain to the group. This allows me to see who is grasping my lessons and the skills being taught.

My students really enjoyed using the iPad and explaining as the teacher what they were thinking. I like being able to see their thought process and hear it. With the ShowMe app you can record not only what they do but what they say and this was very helpful for me to use to better see where students were struggling and I can use in conferences to let parents see this as well. If I could change anything, well I would like more iPads to allow students access to the apps at once. But this is something that will take time, so for now I'm not sure of anything else I would do different.