Tech Tip Thursday - Word Ball

Word Ball is one of our favorite apps on iPad! The great news is this app is available for Droid and Nook users as well, it ranges from a free version to 1.99! It is similar to Boggle - but on speed! The balls {letters} bounce around the screen and you must create words by tapping on the balls. Words are based on a leveled point system, the more challenging a word is, the more points it receives! It also receives points for what letters are used - vowels get the smallest amount of points, but letters like Q and Z offer the most points. As time goes on the balls {letters} you don't use shrink and eventually disappear - making it more challenging to create words. Words also have to be at least 3 letters long. If a words is misspelled, it will let the play know and not award any points. When the game is finished, students can review the words they created. This app is perfect for your word work station! It is appropriate for students of all ages, even I enjoy playing it. It naturally lends itself to having students focusing on spelling patterns.

You could have different variations of this game to make it more interesting & challenging:

• Play regular - allowing students to create any words
• Create words only using a certain spelling pattern
• Each word they create they must create a word that rhymes with it
• Only words that begin with a certain letter
• Only words with a certain theme or subject {vocabulary}
• Class challenge - by keeping track of students scores

WARNINGS: The program is set up to be able to play against others, however the option must be setup. Students could potentially try to get in and change these settings, so a discussion about this may be necessary. Also on the opening page, there are options to buy different versions. It is important to make sure you have your settings in place that a password must be used to purchase apps! The free version has banner ads, as we know you never know what you are going to get with the ads!

Organizing Word Sorts

This year our district is getting a new spelling adoption. Word sorts are a big part of the book {which I love!!} The sorts are differentiated and have 3 different levels for each unit. This summer I printed all of the sorts on color paper, laminated them and cut them out so I am ready to go for the year. At a GT training that I attended, they said when you differentiate lessons, you want the lessons to look the same for everyone - so that no one knows that another student is doing something different. So I printed the entire unit on the same color of cardstock. I was trying to find a way to organize all of the tiny cards!

I originally took file folders and stapled up the sides. I put the cards in little baggies and labeled them, then put them in the little file folder sleeve. These were great - however the folders were so thick, and I honestly don't have the space for them!

When I was cleaning up my craft/office/work room, I found this container that I had used to hold my thread. I originally purchased it for my son's matchbox cars when he was little. I know I've seen them in Walmart's craft section, but I did have trouble finding it online. I know I paid no more than 10$ for it! I knew it would be perfect to organize the sorts!!! Especially since there are 3 rows across {the same number of levels for each unit}

I pulled the sorts out of the bags and used a binder clip to hold he unit together. I just slid them into their slots. I'm holding on to the bags so that I can keep them together when they go into my word work center. I made a label for each side of the container...and there you go....the perfect way to organize word sorts that doesn't take up a TON of space!