From Mrs. Hinckley, Math 

"In Algebra, we are fortunate to have the Your Teacher Algebra App on each students' iPad, which includes vidoes, practice problems and self-tests.  The students will use this App for remediation or enrichment both at school and at home.  Khan Academy can be used for the same purpose as the Algebra App.  Students will also practice skills using IXL.  We will explore the graphing calculator app to graph linear and quadratic functions, find slope and intercepts, and solve systems of equations and inequalities.  Students may also take notes using Penultimate if preferred."

From Mrs. Norris, Science

"In science class, we will be primarily using the iPads for textbook use. We can navigate to the textbook via Puffin or Safari. Most assignments will be sent and collected via Showbie. Doodle Buddy is used to enter in information for worksheet given through Showbie. Students can screenshot the attachment and then open it in Doodle Buddy to enter in answers to questions and problems. Science will also be exploring different simulation websites for Physics such as PHeT. I am working with Mrs. Sparks in order to integrate the iPad usage into lab. This would include completing lab sheets through Showbie as well as utilizing our textbook's digital lab options. When we get to Chemistry in the spring, I am hoping to have some apps to help with compounds, chemical equations and again simulations. Currently, we have PMD which is the Periodic Table of Elements on the iPad. We used these extensively last year. I am hoping to use Prezi, an interactive presentation software, for long term projects in the future. iPads will not be used in lieu of a Science Notebook, but rather to enrich the learning experience. With Science Fair, we will use Prezi or Power Point to complete our presentations in February."


From Mrs. Couture, Reading and English 

"Students will access numerous apps to enhance their education here at SPX.  They will use iPads to access the Pearson Literature e-text and complete assignments, both in the e-text and in Showbie.  Showbie is an app that contains a digital copy of worksheets.  In addition, Showbie will be used as a digital file to host completed tests and quizzes.  The tests and quizzes, however, will be taken in the Socrative app.  Students will continue to use their interactive notebooks to record their objectives, warm-ups and notes; however, Evernote will be used to complete short writing assignments.  When we begin the research process, students will perform searches on school-approved sites, including online databases.  They will also have access to Easybib.com to generate Works Cited page.  Lastly, Kahoot is highly engaging app that is sometimes used to review literature and reading concepts."

Hi parents -

I hope this Friday post finds you well.  Please read below for more information about how teachers will be utilizing the iPads in their classrooms this school year.

From Mrs. McGinnis, Social Studies

"Students in Social Studies will use their iPads to access their ebooks both in class and at school.  
The iPads will be used to complete classwork, take tests and quizzes, and to access their ebook during the 
open book quizzes.  As the year goes on, students will use their iPads to research information related to the 
topic being discussed in class.

Students will continue to submit notes, review assignments and classwork in their copybooks. As the year
 progresses, online submissions will replace some of the handwritten assignments."

From Mr. Hammett, Religion

"In the 8th grade Religion Program students have already used the Laudate app to find the daily readings of
scripture and to read about the life of the Saint for the day. In the very near future students will be using the
Kahoot app to play review games. Also students will be creating a class account on the showbie app so they
can complete written activities and assessments. Also assessments will be given using the socrative app. Finally, students have already been using their ipads to access their plusportal account and monitor their progress
and grades. We are looking forward to a highly technological time this year in 8th Grade Religion!"

Parents,

Please refer to this blog as a tool to help you understand how your child's teachers plan to use the iPad in the classroom with the students during this school year.  These posts should help you to see, in a broader sense, how we are using technology with the 8th graders this year.

Thank you,
Ms. Kucevich


From Mrs. Prendergast, Spanish 

"The students will use their ipads in Spanish to do research that will be required throughout the year. They will also use the ipads to review grammar and vocabulary before tests and quizzes."



From Mrs. Neitzey, Library

"In Library, 8th grade students use their iPads every week for all of our class work. This includes completing our warm ups, class activities regarding our novel read, and even turning in the optional extra credit book report. We primarily use Showbie which is incredibly convenient. This app allows me to view and correct their work from anywhere, whether I'm in school, at a meeting out of the building, or even home sick! Students don't have to wait for their work to be corrected and posted, I can get it done right away. 

Students' iPads also give them convenient access to Go.Grolier.com, our encyclopedia database, which includes New Book of Knowledge, America the Beautiful, Land and Peoples, and New Book of Popular Science. They also have access to Easybib.com which is a convenient work citing website. 

I love making our 8th grade students as paperless as possible! BUT, I LOVE when they borrow library books! Most students still tell me that they prefer holding a print version of a book more than a digital version."

iPads Are Now Being Used by 8th Graders!

Today, the 8th graders received their iPads and some ground rules!  Right away, students were delving into the world of technology in education.  In Social Studies, the students took a quiz using their iPads.  Their teacher was able to get students' feedback and responses right away, which is so time efficient.

The new student iPad cases allow for students to have the opportunity to cover their iPads when not in use in the classroom.  Students can also prop their iPads up, reducing the glare of lights.  This week, during Computer Lab classes, students will have the opportunity to sign into Office 365, which will be their tool into the world of Microsoft Office for some of the assignments they complete this year.  Students were asked to write their Office 365 logins down so that they can use Office 365 at home, as well .  The web address is:

login.microsoftonline.com

If your child needs to recover their log in information for Office 365, tell them to come see Ms. Kucevich in the Computer Lab.

REMINDER: iPADS COME HOME WITH STUDENTS ON SEPTEMBER 29th!