Pobble 365

This is an interesting teaching website: Pobble 365 puts a picture online each day along with questions to discuss and ideas for writing. You could use the sentence ideas as part of a grammar lesson, or the whole thing for a Big Writing lesson.

The Numeracy Shed

If you have any spare time (!) then this website is well worth a look for loads of maths and numeracy resources, including starter activities, printable mats and games, as well as videos and teaching ideas.

http://www.mathematicshed.com/

Brain Breaks Website

Helen recently recommended this fantastic website which is full of videos to show your class when they need a break - there are hundreds of interactive videos to choose from. You could use these to make your class think, energise them, get them moving or stretching, improve fitness or to calm down.
You'll need to register to access the videos, and you can then choose a class character which will evolve (level up) each time you watch a video. Take a look at GoNoodle.

Chatterpix

Kay recently recommend this fab app - Chatterpix. It creates animated talking pictures. You take a photo, draw a line on it to make a mouth, and add other features. You can then record your voice and the picture will become animated, 'saying' whatever you said. It would be a great way for children to practise talking clearly, and practising their Spanish, French, German or English.

It's free to download on the app store.

Smartboard Notebook Software

There are several good videos available for teachers teaching how to use the Notebook software which is worth a look to remind you of some of the things you can do. It's a powerful bit of software, and I think its easy to forget what it's capable of. It'd be a great use of your CPD time! Take a look here:

Basics - adding text and using the pen

Using objects - adding pictures, shapes etc

21 Essential Tips - a fantastic detailed blog with great ways to use the tools in the classroom

Notebook Tutorial - looking at downloading ready to use notebook files and adapting them.

Looking after your iPad

I thought it might be helpful to have a post here with information for using your iPad, so that it's all in one place for you to refer back to when you need to.

It's important to connect to wifi every once in a while to keep your iPad updated with the latest software and apps, or it will stop working well. If you do this regularly then it's not a big job.  This could be recorded as CPD.

To update your operating system - you'll get a pop-up message from Apple telling you that an update is available. Then a little red number will appear next to the settings button. Just open settings, then software update, and tap Install. If the memory is too full (very likely with iPad minis) then you'll need to delete some videos and photos or apps to make space.

To update apps:
Open the app store, then tap on 'Updates' in the bottom right. There's a glitch that sometimes opens the apps instead of updating them. To update these apps, search for them in the App Store, tap on the app title, and update them from here.

Useful links:

How to remove videos and photos and put them on your computer (scroll down to 'Import media to a Windows PC)

How to reset your Apple ID (itunes password)

How to reset your iPad if you forget the passcode

I'm happy to help with any iPad queries, just let me know.

Typing games to improve keyboard skills

This website: typing.com is amazing. There are tutorials for improving keyboard skills and lots of brilliant games that I'm sure your classes would enjoy. There's the option of creating a teacher account so you can track progress if you like too.
The downside is that there are adverts on here. You should check first to see if you think it's suitable for your class.