Mrs. Wishy-Washy: Review & Giveaway!

I love getting things in the mail! 

I never knew when I started blogging that companies would send me products to review and then keep. This has been such a blessing to me as I have collected some great things and discovered some amazing products! My first classroom won't be as empty thanks to this hidden surprise!

So... what did I get in the mail now? 

Mrs. Wishy-Washy Books!

Oh! I love getting books in the mail. There was a bit of a fight as my sons love them to. Any book is devoured quickly around here and if there is a book in the mail there is always a competition for who can open it first. I lost! =(

Have you read Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle? My homeschool friends will remember my obsession with her. She cracked me up!! Its a little Amelia Bedelia in style but so fun. This is what Mrs. Wishy-Washy reminds me of.

Mrs. Wishy-Washy and the Big Wash is designed for students who are ready to read but still need the support of controlled vocabulary. Most pages have 1-2 sentences.

This particular story focuses on rhyming, onomatopoeia, and compound words. The inside of the back cover provides a list of vocabulary words as well as activities for before, during, and after reading. The information provide allows you to easily align it to the core.

What I love most about this reader is that the story is one children can get into and love. My own children are in 3rd, 4th, and 8th grade. My 3rd grader loves this story. My 4th grader likes it. You know a reader is good if its still loved when children can read way beyond its level.

Wishy- Washy Clothes.... This book would be perfect for my struggling 4th grade ELL readers. They need a book that has controlled vocabulary support but still one that has a story they can loved.

This would have been the perfect reader for my youngest when he was in 1st/2nd grade. He has always been at the top of his class. This has the same focus and vocabulary as the shorter reader but with more details. LOVE IT!

So where can you learn more about these books? They are produced by Hameray Publishing who makes all kinds of fiction and non-fiction (can we say hello common core materials??) books for the early elementary set. You can find them on Pinterest and Facebook. 

Oh speaking of which... they are having a huge giveaway on Facebook! Stop by to enter. 

You can also win a big book from my site by leaving me a comment with your favorite Joy Cowley book. I will use random.org to select a winner on April 23. Make sure you leave your email in the comment to win. US and Canada addresses only.

Hameray is offering a 20% discount on any purchase for my readers through June 30, 2013 with coupon code ZJCC13..... this means we all win!

Just in case you missed my disclaimer above.... I received complimentary products for review. The opinions are my own and I am not compensated for this post. 

Review: QRamel

Have you ever used QR codes in the classroom?

A QR code is a multi-dimensional barcode. My thought has been why use it? I can see it for stores and such. I get it. Plus anyone with a smart phone and a curious mind can find out what the message is but for me... QR codes do not intrigue me.

When I got asked to do this review I thought... hmmm... cute stickers but do I really (1) want to pay that much for stickers (2) have the technology to use this in the classroom (3) have the time to allow my students to use this (4) will it meet any standards and (5) is it engaging and fun?

So... I said sure. Send it on over and I will take a looksy. I left out the part where I was doubting the value of it. After all, I have a few teacher friends who are super techy that I could pass it along to and it would get some use.

QRamel offered to send me the alphabet ones in the first picture but I asked for the pirate set as well as I am working on a new product line with pirates and well... it may have just been a perfect fit for it! The animal alphabet is 1 page and the pirate set is 2. Each page is $8.99 through their site or at Amazon.

When you get the stickers... you will also need to download the free app to use with them. The app is designed for iPhones but you can easily use it on your iPad as well. The app will ask you to create an account.

After you scan the pictures, the above screen appears. This is where I was surprised with all of the options available! I can add a voice, video, text, or picture to the sticker! AWESOME! These expensive stickers just got better. You can only use one of the options and once you have it recorded... that's it. There is no editing available.

I had to come up with a way to use them that would not require a sticker per child.

For the alphabet one, I thought it would make a great review! My buddy Kindergarten Smorgasboard makes a hat for each letter of the alphabet with his students. This could then be a fun review activity. He could add the picture of him in the hat, say the letter, some words that go with it. He could even make it into a video!

Hey... Mr. Smorgasboard... 

will you sing us a song and do a dance in your cute hats?? 

What if I say pretty please??

This would be great for my ELL students too. They love anything with technology but I am afraid I do not have any cute hats or a song and dance for them.

Onto the pirate set... my plans are to create cute little pirate maps and place a QR code on each one. Then I am going to laminate them for durability. These will become the centers to go along with my new product line. I want to utilize all of the options available in the app. So one maybe a picture and yep... its a writing prompt! Another maybe directions in the form of a text, a video with a top secret activity, and an audio clip for a job well done. I am so excited to use this and create it.

So fun... yes. Multiple uses... yes. Expensive on a teacher's budget... yes. So... what do you think?