I Have an iPad.... Now What?!

I'm so excited! The new school I am going to issued me an iPad to experiment with over the summer so I can use it with my new 4th graders in the fall. So... I am wondering if my bloggy friends can help me out by suggesting some "must have" apps to use in the classroom with the kiddos. Here are a few I already have...

• Dropbox
• Pinterest
• GoodReads - I don't know much about this app, so I will be playing around with it to see what it will be able to do for the classroom.
• iBooks - No books yet, but I plan on purchasing some!
• BrainPop - This app is just for their movie of the day. Good for enrichment, maybe?

I'd love your suggestions for great math, literacy, or even productivity apps. It's my hope as I become more familiar with the iPad I can begin to write some posts geared towards using it in the classroom for instruction. I look forward to reading your comments, suggestions, or ideas! Have a great night!

50 Follower Giveaway & New Blog!

Woot, woot!! I have 54 followers on this beachy blog!! You guys are amazing, and I can't thank you enough for reading my random ramblings. :o)

To celebrate this joyous occasion, my wife has offered to help me out with my first giveaway. I don't have a TPT or a Teacher's Notebook store (yet!), so I thought I'd do something a little non-traditional. My wife is an Independent Director with The Pampered Chef and is giving away a $15 gift certificate to spend on anything you want! Yeah, it's not totally "school-related," but at the same time cooking lends itself well to learning to follow directions, measurement, science... all kinds of stuff!
So, how do you enter this giveaway?  You must...

• Be a Beach Brains Blog follower! This is to show you all my appreciation after all, so you have to be a follower!
• Post a comment about how you can integrate cooking into your lessons. I'm not looking for an all-out lesson plan, but just activity ideas and ways you've incorporated cooking into your lessons.
• You have until 11:59pm CST on Thursday to enter! I'd like to announce the winner some time this weekend! Good luck!!!

Also, if you guys haven't visited yet, you need to boogie on over to Misty's, my new bloggy friend, blog: 3-6 Free Resources. It's chock full of excellent resources to make your life easier, and we all could use that, couldn't we? You can also link up your blog  Plus, it's coffee-themed which is right up my alley. My wife will tell you... I'm a little obsessed with coffee. ;o)

Ok, I'm logging off for the night. Tomorrow, my Beach Brains are making 3-D solids with marshmallows and toothpicks to kick off our geometry unit. Pics to follow! Have a good one!

Linky Party!!

Lorraine over at 4th Grade Froggies is hosting a linky party for all those teacher bloggers out there who teach 3rd, 4th, or 5th grades. Head on over to Fabulous Fourth Grade Froggies and link up! 

As for my little blog, I'm sorry I've been AWOL over the last few days. We're on spring break and I think I've been enjoying myself a little too much! Are you on Spring Break right now? Post a comment to tell everyone out there how you relax and rejuvenate!

Josh