I’m gonna brag for a second.
I have smart friends. Really smart. Very talented. Extremely CLEVER friends. And I love to be around them because I have no less than 5,089 “a-ha!!!” moments when I’m with them.
Now let’s change gears for just a second before I go braggin’ on my clever friends. I’ve often been asked how I assess and/or know exactly what my kids are doing when they’re working independently in literacy/math stations. I have a few different things I do, but when my very clever friend, Deedee, told me what she does, I immediately knew I had to change the way I was doing things!
Deedee has the kids take pictures with her iPhone {or was it iPad?!?!} of their hands-on activity to show her what they did! And just to make sure she knows who’s taking pictures of what, she has the kids set out their name/picture cards {the same ones they use for the computer} by their work and then she can scroll through her camera roll and check it at some point during the day just to make sure they did it all!!! HELLO!! I LOVE IT!
Here are her kids showing off their work with my CVC puzzles from my Filling in the Gaps packet! #love
I absolutely LOVE this idea!!!! Guided reading time is oh so precious. SO very precious. And the day seems to go so fast that it can be hard to check everything in great detail. And, of course, there are always those sweet little friends who like to visit a station for a hot second and tell you they’ve done it all, but darnit…they’re just too quick for you to catch and they fly under the radar. I know y’all know what I’m talking about.
And I love what a fun little way this is to incorporate technology…I know we do that A LOT!!!!…and get the kids excited about doing their work so they can show off their accomplishments.
#WINNING
Such a CLEVER idea!! Thank you, Deedee, for sharing!!!
And if you haven’t entered to win the fluency bundle of fun from me & Katie, head over now! There’s still time to enter! 3 winners will be announced tomorrow 🙂
In the meantime, have a GREAT night!!!
Simplify Your Teaching
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Jessica says
That is a clever idea! I'm not so keen on the kiddos using my iPad or iPhone . . . there's too much personal stuff on it. However, I could have a designated device for them to use. Great idea!
What I Have Learned
Kimberly Ann says
Genius!! Thanks for sharing!
Kimberly Ann
Live, Laugh, I love Kindergarten
Stephanie Seigel says
Great idea! I'll start TOMORROW!
Jennifer Tice says
Stinkin genius idea!
Miss Nelson says
I'm in LOVE with this idea! Best Idea I've seen lately. I can't wait to implement this tomorrow.
Melissa Machan says
Such a great idea! I'm pretty sure I have some kiddos who would find a way to include themselves in the picture just for a selfie opportunity. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
Melissa
First Grade Smiles
Tami says
What a genius idea! I love it! better save up for some new technology devices now 🙂
Courtney Niemeyer says
I have found this extremely helpful as well…I have them take photos but never thought of putting the name card with it. So simple and so much better. Similar idea….I have an app that is a voice memo recorder and after writing center they record their stories. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't….but either way I know they are rereading their writing.
Katie Knight says
What a brilliant idea!!! So darn smart! Thanks for sharing and Deedee thanks for being such a smart lady!
Springychick In First says
And this is why we need to talk to each other and have wonderful blogs like this to support each other!!!!
Partly Sunny says
Make sure your kids are not so savvy that they scroll through your phone pics and see a selfie of you and your friends toasting another great day!
m Otherwise a great idea!
Kristen Sullins says
This is an amazing idea! I just shared it with the rest of the 1st grade teachers at my school!
KeepCalmAnd LoveFirstGrade says
Super great idea!! I don't have technology like that available at my school, but I do have an old camera with nothing to do… I think I'll have them use their centers badges in the pictures. This is why the world of blogging is so wonderful!!
Melissa
Keep Calm and Love First Grade
Brittany Daleske says
That is such a great idea! I always thought that there had to be a better way of keeping track of students' work progress during stations! I will have to use this in my own classroom–sharing ideas in blogging is amazing.
Brittany
The Literacy Bug
Cassie says
I LOVE this idea! Adding the name cards to the pictures is brilliant!
Create-abilities
Erica says
I have been using the Fischer Price cameras for a few years now to show work. They are awesome and so cheap off of ebay. 🙂
Erica
Sprinkles to Kindergarten
erica_crowder0612@yahoo.com
Lisa Robb says
This is a great idea!!
L x
http://workingmumy.blogspot.com
Anne-Marie says
Great suggestion! I love how recording an event with photography helps students "own" their work. Somehow translating their hard work into another medium really leads to a feeling of success. Since I work with kids in my private practice, we sometimes create videos to share with their parents. This might record a readers theater piece or a paragraph they composed. They love it and so do the parents.
Alicia says
Uber clever!
Deborah Blea says
WOW! LOVE…Love…love!!!!! It's one of those ideas…"Why didn't I think of that?!?!" LOL! Thank you so much!
Sarah Winchell says
My littles use my cell phone a lot. They use it for games and for taking pictures. They also use the ipads..never had either broken. They love the independence.
Sarah
Teaching Resources for the Classroom Blog
Love to Learn says
Love, love, LOVE the idea of having the kids take pictures of their work! Simple, easy and holds the students responsible for showing their work!
Love to Learn
Mandi Moore says
Cara! I have been using the "take a picture on my ipad idea" and I love it! I even blogged about it today! I hope you can check it out! I linked back the fabulous idea to you and Deedee! Love your stuff, keep the ideas coming girl!
Mandi
MOORE Fun In Kindergarten
Liz Johnston says
This is such a great idea! I don't know about using my personal phone, but I can definitely see about using an old one!
Debbie says
That is a a great idea! How about having a buddy record it for them as they describe what they did? My kids loved doing that! It was nice to have that video to share with my principal and literacy coach, too!
Debbie
K-2 Teaching Resources
Bryce Sizemore says
I love your CVC words activity! I use something similar that I got from FCRR, but these look much nicer. 🙂 I use them a lot during guided reading to help kids have a visual for breaking down sounds in words, as well as blending sounds together.
Thanks for sharing!
Bryce
Second Grade Stampede
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