Spotlight On: 1st Grade English Math Number Stories using the My Story App

Spotlight On: 1st Grade English Math Number Stories using the My Story App

This year I worked with all of the first grade English students and teachers to create addition math number stories using the app My Story.  My Story allows students to create projects and explain their thinking while integrating iPads and technology into the classroom.   

Twitter @MyStoryApp

Twitter @Seesaw

In the fall, first grade students learn how to solve math number story problems using addition and subtraction.  The Common Core Standards are here Grade 1 Operations and Algebraic Thinking

This is a fun and exciting project that allows students to create and explain their thinking while using the iPads.  By learning how to use the My Story App for addition math number stories, students will become more independent while using the iPads in Math centers.  As the year continues, they could practice creating their own stories by adding three whole numbers or creating subtraction number stories.

Here are the steps to the My Story project: 


1) First, I shared a sample My Story App math project on the SMARTBoard.  This is my second year working with the first grade English teachers on this project, therefore we had a student sample from the previous year.

2) Next, using the SMARTBoard, the classroom teacher and I modeled how the students would fill out their own "project prep sheet".

The classroom teacher and I modeled for students how to fill out the project prep sheet.

 3) The math unit options were then shared with students, based on the available stickers in the My Story App.

4) Students then worked with their partner to fill out their own project prep sheet.  

Here is an example of a completed project prep sheet.

 Here is a link to the 1st Grade English Prep Sheet

 5) Once students were finished with their project prep sheet, I then mirrored the iPad onto the SMARTBoard. While working in the My Story app, I modeled how to create each page by adding text, stickers, drawings, and adding background colors.

One way to mirror an iPad onto a SMARTBoard is by connecting it via VGA adapter. Here is a link to Apple VGA Adapters

6) Students were then ready to begin creating their project with their partner! Using one iPad, students took turns creating each page.

Students created their My Story project and referred to their project prep sheet.

7) When each group finished their story, they were then ready to record their voices reading the text.  The classroom teachers and I helped the students to record their math number stories.

8) When the projects were finished, I created free Seesaw accounts for each of the 1st grade teachers, where I added the student projects.  This allowed the teachers to share the student projects on the classroom SMARTBoard, as well as share the projects with parents at home. Here is the Seesaw website http://web.seesaw.me/

Below are two examples 1st Grade English projects.
(One thing that is omitted from these videos... the actual cover page is a picture of the student partners who created the project.  The students were all very proud of their hard work and the cover picture was a fun add-on to share who created the project.)