Engaging hands-on way to incorporate technology
Community Review for Numbers for Osmo
My Take
I love this as a highly engaging activity for them to do on the iPads. It's great when I need to meet with smaller groups to provide targeted intervention. The other students can use the Osmos. It would be great if I could tailor the content specifically to what I am teaching, but that is a lot to ask in an interactive app. The best part is that it combines screen time with cooperative learning. As a parent, I love letting my own kids use it when they want screen time.
How I Use It
My students beg to set up the Osmo every day (while the apps are free, you have to purchase the Osmo kit for 79.99-99.00). I've conceded and let them set up my two kits every morning. Students ask to play it throughout the day. During math workshop, students rotate through stations including Osmo numbers to maximize class time. It works best to have 2 or 3 students working on it at a time. I love that the levels increase in difficulty. My fourth graders can be challenged or supported depending on the level they choose to compete. I love that they manipulate actual number tiles in front of the iPad so it is interactive and multiple students can play at once. The only downfall is that the Osmo kit is not free and you have to remove the iPad case in order to set it up.