HOT Apps 4 TOTS

 
This is a session created by Yolanda Barker and myself (both mommies of preschoolers) to showcase how an iPad can support and supplement the acquisition of multiple skills necessary to enter the Kindergarten classroom. After completing some online research, we created a Google Form. Over 80+ Kindergarten NorthEast ISD teachers shared their take on “What are the top 3-5 skills you wish your Kindergarten students had before the first day of school?“.  Based on their input, “iPrep 4 Kinder” was born to showcase how the iPad and apps could support fundamentally essential skills (e.g. spelling name, letter and sound recognition, rhyming, keyboarding skills, following directions, building social skills, color/shape recognition, etc…) which will give preschool students the leg up upon their entrance into the Kindergarten realm.
 

Excellent video created in Smilebox to showcase how to manage a classroom of iPads.

An interesting article on Schools.com.

Using the iPad beyond a digital worksheet. Examples from the early elementary classroom.

There's debate over whether iPads really help preschoolers, and questions about needing more evidence/studies to be done in the area.

At a recent Mothers of Preschoolers’ meeting, I had the pleasure of listening to two Kindergarten teachers share a list of of skills needed for preschoolers to be ready for Kindergarten. While there was no mention of actual technology skills or the idea of technology working to support the readiness items they mentioned, my mind instantly  began assigning apps to each one.

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