#Osmo Review and Giveaway

Recently,  I was asked to review Osmo; an interactive iPad game that uses real objects within the digital realm.  I have used this with my own child and with my students.  I love how this game is not limited by age or grade. Rather, it appeals to all ages because it uses logic and creativity.

Osmo comes with a reflector, a base for your iPad and supplies for two of the three games. Set up is easy.  I recommend that you install the free apps (Tangrams, Words, and Newton) prior to playing.

My students were very curious as I was setting up our classroom iPad for them to work with me.  First, we tried Tangrams. The objective is to build the picture as shown on the screen. The colored tangrams coincide with those displayed on the screen.  For some of my students, this was a bit difficult but with the help of a friend, they were able to create.  This is a perfect game for developing spatial relationships and learning how objects can be moved and rotated to build.

Next, we tried Words.  Words comes with letter tiles and has preset word games which you can play.  This is perfect for my 7 year old but not so great for my emerging readers.  Thankfully, Osmo  lets you create your own set of words to use; myWords.  All you need to do is upload a picture and add the word.

Artwork by Whimsy Clips.

This was a bit hit!  Not only were they engaged and wanting to build the words.  They were learning.  They literally clapped and cheered after each word we built. They had so much fun that they begged to play the same game over again.  As teachers, we know that it is not often that our students want to repeat the same lesson again.

Osmo is a great tool for the classroom. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to use one of Time Magazine's best inventions of 2014 in my classroom. And, now, you can too! The folks at Osmo have generously offered to giveaway one to you.

Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hurry so that you can begin the new year in your classroom using this fantastic iPad device.


Good luck!




Please note: This is open to US residents only.  
I received an Osmo device to use in my classroom for this honest review.  

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Common Core Math from a Common Core Kid

I have been thinking about this topic for some time now.  My son is a child of the Common Core State Standards.  Good. Bad. Or indifferent.  He is.

Let me tell you a little about him.  He is in second grade at the school I teach and loves it.  He is an avid reader and reads a wide range of texts.  Once he learned how to decode, reading came naturally.  He does well in all subjects and is proud of his academic accomplishments.

But, in his mind, he is not good at math.  Math does not come naturally.  He has to work harder to understand the concepts.  Memorizing his math facts with fluency was a struggle in first grade.  There were many times where he cried when we practiced this skill.  That said, he knew enough to get by.

But this year, it seems to be changing.  He is beginning to "get" math.  How do I know? Well, it's the way he talks about it.  It's the way he has learned to solve a problem.  Both of which are different from how I learned math or how I taught math as a second grade teacher.

Here is an example of how a problem might be solved.

In the olden days, we may have said that this is subtraction by regrouping or "borrowing'.   We may have told our students to "go next door to borrow more."

But the way he tackles the problem shows me that he understands the Base 10 system, number relationships and place value.  Although, there are many more steps, I am amazed by the thought process involved.  He is learning that there is more than one way to solve a problem.

I must admit that as a mom, I struggle a bit.  It takes me longer to see the number relationships.  I want to revert to my ways to get the answer because I am familiar with it.  But, as a teacher, I am beaming with pride.  Thinking, "Wow, this is what common core thinking is all about."

What are your thoughts about problem solving and Common Core?

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