More Free Apps!

(H)appy Saturday!

Here are some fun free apps:

Cut da Cheese --basic geometry
Coin Catcher --a game about coins and needs vs wants
Flock da Sheep --a sorting game
Animal Smarts Re-mixed --a puzzle game
Draw Along with Stella and Sam --a drawing app
Piece me Circus --an educational game about the circus, has literacy practice

Free Apps!

I'm writing this using the free Wi-Fi at McDonalds in Mount Pleasant while waiting for my train to take me to the east coast! That being said, just writing this just about took down their Internet, so I haven't tested any of these apps like I normally do. I do have most of them in queue to download though, when I have better Internet. Here are a few apps that are free for a limited time: Coop Phonics --highly rated iapp store Grimm's Frog King The Dnow Queen --interactive musical book Sea Stars Match Animal Opposite Match Three Little Pigs, a play HD Roly-Poly (interactive fairy tale) PINOCCHIO: HelloStory Cloown Dress Up (interactive story) Hansel & Gretel Learn ABC's Kids Maths Fun 1 OWL with Numbers Super Shapes (aligned with common core) Math Play Shop (practice spending money/budgeting) [MV]Children’s Songs Also, Google just released their Chrome browser app and a Drive app which is the new Google Docs. Score!

Free App Friday

It's free app Friday! Here are the free apps you should check out today:

Toy Story Showtime --an interactive book
SoundingBoard --a great app for students who have a hard time communicating through speech
Marble Math Junior --preschool through 2nd grade math skills
iLuv Drawing Monsters --a app with step-by-step drawing instructions
Agnitus --preschool & kindergarten math, alphabet, colors, fruits, shapes, counting and animals
Spy Mouse --a game that gets progressively harder as you go, working on critical thinking skills

Check these out ASAP, they won't be free for long!

ICCA #3

I Survived #3: I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 by Lauren Tarshis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I can see why boys like this series--action packed on every page! Plus, the book is a fast read, at only 95 pages.

The main character's name is Barry, and his family gets stuck in New Orleans after trying to evacuate but being stuck in miles of traffic with a sick toddler, Barry's younger sister Cleo. They move to the attic, then on to the roof. While on the roof, Barry gets swept away. This story is about his time being trapped in the flood away from his family.

It was hard for me to read this book because I went to New Orleans about a month after the hurricane. I saw the destruction and talked with people who were there. While this story is entertaining, its not very believable. Things were much, much worse--especially in the 9th ward. Too many coincidences for me, but I see why elementary boys like it.

View all my reviews

ICCA #2

Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marino
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Honestly, I didn't really understand this book. The characters are fairly well developed, but there isn't much of a plot. There are a lot of things that happen, but they don't tie together very well and I didn't ever sense that there was a problem. I didn't really care what happened in the end. The historical parts of this book are somewhat interesting, which is about the only part that held my interest.

I'm hoping the rest of the Iowa Children's Choice Award books get better from here!

View all my reviews

Born to Fly: Book 1, ICCA

Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'd really like to give this book 3.5 stars, but I couldn't quite justify giving it 4.

Bird is a 10 year old girl who loves flying. Her dad has been teaching her how, though she isn't very good at it yet. Her best friend has just moved out of town, she doesn't get along very well with her mom, but she is very close with her dad. Unfortunately, World War II is upon them, and Bird's dad is sent off to fight in the war.

One day at school, a new boy shows up: a Japanese boy named Kenji. He is an instant target for the school bully, Farley, because he is Japanese. It is assumed that him and his uncle are rooting for the Japanese, and are maybe even spies.

Kenji and Bird end up friends, and when Kenji's uncle is accused of killing Farley's dad and blowing up the factory, they find out a hard lesson in friendship that almost gets both of them killed.

Once I got "into" this book, about 1/3 of the way through, I loved it. There were a few too many references to bras, though, for an elementary book (subtract those and my rating would be up to 4). A lot of action, explosions, flying, strong female character, murder, mystery...a little bit of everything here!

View all my reviews

April Things

Our "Poet Tree" (get it?) sprouted some famous poets' names this week. Next week, I have the feeling it will be sprouting some famous poems!

I'm obsessed with Titanic. Everyone knows it. That excitement has definitely fired up our students about the ship, as well! Everyone loves learning about it. This is the bulletin board of facts I put together. Its really one that you have to stop and look at and really spend some time at.

These kids love reading about Titanic and learning by looking at pictures! Its contagious, I tell ya!

Doing a little light reading while I enjoying breakfast.

Listening to kids read their books to each other (and their stuffed animal buddies) is always the best part of my day. 

The least best part of my day--a messy desk after Spring break, and a long to-do list after Spring break. Don't worry, I got a lot more boxes crossed off by the end of the day!