Stick Around App

Stick Around by Tony Vincent & Explain Everything

I have mentioned this app a few times on social media and there always seems to be interest. So at the request of one follower I am writing this post as a tutorial.

So if you follow me, you know that Seesaw is my #1 favorite app! I love it so much that I became a Seesaw Ambassador. Stick Around is definitely up there in my top 5 favorites. I will start by saying it is a paid app. I do not use many paid apps, but those that I do use are open ended in that I can use them to create activities for my students and they can use them to create as well.

The main reason that I wanted Stick Around was to do word sorts. We use Words Their Way in my district and in addition to the students doing traditional sorts with paper, I wanted to have an activity on their iPads too. Stick Around was perfect!! After purchasing it ideas just kept coming to me of different puzzles that I could create for my students to do. I felt like I was seeing the world through "Stick Around glasses"! :) Here are some examples of what I have created:

Words Their Way Sort

Number Bond

Venn Diagram

Creating a puzzle is pretty easy, especially once you get the hang of it. Here's how you do it:

Step 1: Purchase Stick Around and install it on your iPad.

Step 2: Open it! :)

Step 3: At the top of the screen you will see "Projects", "Puzzles", "Recordings", etc. To create a puzzle you will want to make sure "Projects" is selected.

Step 4: Tap the "+" on the top left corner of the screen. I always select "create new project".

Step 5: Choose one of the images. I always go to "Blank Project" and create my own.

Step 6: Your new project will open. First go to the top and select "info" so that you can name your project. Then select "Background".

Step 7: Choose a background from the right by dragging it to the workspace. If you'd like you can insert your own image.

Step 8: Add what you'd like to have for the background of your puzzle (ex. text, shapes, images).

Step 9: Once the background is set select "Stickers" at the top of the screen. You can add text stickers, image stickers, or stickers combining those items.

Step 10: After you choose the type of sticker it will give you options (ex. changing the color of the stickers). Add the words and/or images of your choice.

Step 11: When you are done creating the stickers, choose "Answer Key" at the top of the screen. Make sure your stickers are where they belong and then draw the shape around them for the answer area. 

              *Creating an answer key is not a necessary step. If you want students to be able to "check"

              their answers then you must do this. However, sometimes I don't want them to be able to

              check their work before turning it in. For example, if I am using this as a formative

              assessment or if there is more than one answer (ex. the Number Bond puzzle pictured above).

Step 12: After you have created the answer key (if you choose to do so), I highly recommend that you press "Play" at the top of the screen. This allows you to test it out and make sure it's exactly how you want it to be.

Step 13: Once the puzzle is how you want it to be, press the export button on the top right. This makes your Project into a Puzzle (meaning not editable).

Step 14: Make sure you save your Project so you can make changes if you desire. I choose to export these to Dropbox so they don't fill up the storage on my iPad.

Step 15: Go to "Puzzles" and export (button at top left) the puzzle. This is what your students will use to play. I export mine to Dropbox, but there are a few different options.

Step 16: Since I can't share the puzzles directly on Seesaw, I put the link to the Dropbox folder.

Step 17: Then I print a QR Code (through Seesaw) and hang it up in my classroom. When students scan it they are taken to the Dropbox folder.

Step 18: They select the puzzle and export it to Stick Around. Tap "Export", "Open in...", "Copy to Stick Around".

Step 19: Then Stick Around will open and it will be in their "Puzzles". They tap it, "Start", and then their off! They get the hang of it really quickly.

   

Step 20: When the puzzle is complete if gives a "Save to Photos" option (if there was an answer key). I have them do this (or screen shot if it's not an option). Then they upload the results to Seesaw.

I really hope this helps people out. If you have questions or need help, please feel free to contact me! I have been thinking of starting a Teachers Pay Teachers store to share the items I create. Let me know what you think! You can find me on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat: @mlambitz.

Analog Twitter Wall

Last March I was fortunate enough to attend. the MACUL Conference. While I was there I was thrilled to be able to learn from Drew Minock (@TechMinock) and Brad Waid (@techbradwaid) of Two Guys and Some iPads.

*Side note, if you ever have the chance to hear them speak, TAKE IT! They're incredible!

Anyways, one of the things that they spoke about was using an Analog Twitter Wall in the classroom. Check out their post about it here. I created one of these in my classroom immediately upon returning from the conference. However, before introducing the concept to the students, I first began by asking them to raise their hands if they have ever heard of Twitter. Every single hand went up! To me this validated the importance of discussing the topic of Digital Citizenship in regard to social media before students are of the age to have their own accounts.

I first introduced our new classroom Twitter account (@Lambitz1stGrade). The students were so thrilled! We discussed the concept of Twitter and how we would be using it to connect and learn with people around the world. I discussed with the class that before we send out a tweet we must always ask ourselves if our words positive, appropriate, and do they represent us well? Then we ask ourselves if we want to put our words out into the world and never be able to take them back? It is my hope that by repeating these concepts daily that the students will learn to ask these of themselves when they do have the opportunity to put their own words out on the internet.

I also use our Analog Twitter Wall as part of our ongoing discussion about Digital Citizenship. The students treat these Analog Tweets as if they are actually being put out on Twitter. In fact, sometimes, we do use the thoughts and questions from our wall on our classroom Twitter account. The students love having the opportunity to write their own "tweets"! Writing tweets is part of our morning routine. After the students complete their morning work, they write their tweet and then post it back on our wall.

I have continued with the classroom Twitter account and the Analog Twitter Wall with my class this school year. As I mentioned in my Classroom Setup post my Analog Twitter Wall got a makeover this year. I was going to create my own "Twitter Cards", but thought to check Teachers Pay Teachers first. I found exactly what I was looking for! I downloaded these "Twitter Exit Cards" by The Pioneer Teacher. They're perfect! I laminated them and put magnets on the back. Students use a dry erase marker to write their "tweet" everyday.

   

I have really enjoyed using both a classroom Twitter account and an Analog Twitter Wall with my students. I have found both to be very positive! I hope you give it a try with your class and find the same success that I have.

Marshmallow Challenge

Okay, so this post is WAY over due. With this being my first year as a 1:1 classroom I have focused so much time and energy on integrating the devices to the best of my ability. Therefore, this blog has been at the bottom of my to do list. Hopefully I can post more consistently in the future.

That being said... this post takes me WAAAAY back to the first week of school. Like so many educators, I spend the beginning of school year building a classroom community. This year I led my students in the Marshmallow Challenge. This was my first time doing this, and it was a HUGE success!

The students worked together in teams for this activity. It was all about teamwork, communication, and having fun!

Materials needed for each group:

• 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti
• 1 yard of sting
• 1 yard of tape
• 1 marshmallow (regular size)

The objective is for the each group to work together to build the tallest, freestanding tower using these items. The marshmallow needs to be at the top. I gave the groups 20 minutes. I displayed the timer on the screen so that the students could manage their time.

Before we began I explained the challenge to them and we also talked about using positive words and working together.

Then they were off! They were so excited and the conversations they had were amazing!

The tallest tower!

I was so pleased with how well this activity went and I will definitely do this again in the future. It was a wonderful experience for the class. I would definitely recommend trying it with your students!