⬆️ Click on the image above to access this month's Google Doc ⬆️
To use the Bitmoji Classroom link with your students, click on the picture above ⬆️
Copy the url and paste it into a Seesaw activity/post, Google Classroom, or an email for your students.
** This link is also located on the bottom of this month's Google Doc **
BITMOJI CLASSROOM UPDATE:
I'm always working to try and improve EpicPals and to make things as easy as possible for our youngest learners (and you as the teacher). After a recommendation from an EpicPals teacher, I've made a small tweak to the Bitmoji classroom which will simplify things for classrooms utilizing Epic Books on the web.
When your students access the Bitmoji classroom they can now click on the book cover to access the book directly on Epic (as long as they're signed in). I've also added a Padlet icon that will take students directly to the coordinating Padlet board.
Please Note: If your students utilize the Epic app, you will still need to assign the collection
located on the bottom of the Google doc or have students type in the name of the book.
The direct link will not open the corresponding book when using the app.
What is EpicPals?
Each month 5-6 books are chosen from Epic (both fiction and nonfiction) and a coordinating collection in Epic is created so you can easily assign the monthly colletion to your students. The link to the collection can be found on the bottom of the month's Google Doc. Padlet boards are also created for each book where students can respond to the stories and read other students' responses as well. These Padlet boards are easily accessed by students by scanning the QR codes or clicking on the links in the monthly Google Doc OR by clicking on the Padlet icon on the monthly Bitmoji Classroom (link above and on the Google Doc).
How Do My Students Access EpicPals?
* Print the Google Doc each month for each student or post in your room
OR
* Send a link to the Google Doc to students
OR
* Share the Bitmoji Classroom link with students
Each month's board will be posted here, on the main page of my blog, and on Twitter using the hashtag, #EpicPals.
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** The current year's EpicPals Padlet boards and Google documents will remain active from the beginning of the month they are released and will remain accessible until the end of June of that school year. The share settings on the Google Docs will be turned off in July so I can update the boards for the upcoming school year.
First, decide how you want to use the project with your class. Many have used this project as a way to challenge their higher level readers or as part of a guided reading group, or even as a weekly whole group read-aloud and then have students leave their own comments on the Padlet.
Next, print the Google Doc with the book choices and QR codes or share a link to the Bitmoji classroom with your students. The current month's Google Doc/Bitmoji classroom are linked at the top of this page.
Then, locate the EpicPals collection link on the bottom of the month's Google Doc. This will take you to the coordinating Epic collection which you can copy and assign to your students in Epic. This makes finding the books super easy for your students!
Finally, model for your students how to access the collection based on the method that you choose to use.
For this to be a meaningful activity for all, PLEASE spend some time modeling how to leave a quality response. (Remind your students to leave their first names and what state you are from on their Padlet posts- it's always fun to see where everyone is from).
*The links on the Google Doc are clickable in case you want to share the doc out to your students through email, Seesaw, Google Classroom, etc, If you go this route, be sure to "Make a copy" of the doc before sending it out to your kiddos.
Do we have to use Epic Books to read the books?
Do students have to read all of the books? Do they have to read them in a particular order?
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me.
You can email me at: sjmalchow@pulaskischools.org
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Brand new to the project?
Here's what you need to know....
First, decide how you want to use the project with your class. Many have used this project as a way to challenge their higher level readers or as part of a guided reading group, or even as a weekly whole group read-aloud and then have students leave their own comments on the Padlet.
Next, print the Google Doc with the book choices and QR codes or share a link to the Bitmoji classroom with your students. The current month's Google Doc/Bitmoji classroom are linked at the top of this page.
Then, locate the EpicPals collection link on the bottom of the month's Google Doc. This will take you to the coordinating Epic collection which you can copy and assign to your students in Epic. This makes finding the books super easy for your students!Finally, model for your students how to access the collection based on the method that you choose to use.
For this to be a meaningful activity for all, PLEASE spend some time modeling how to leave a quality response. (Remind your students to leave their first names and what state you are from on their Padlet posts- it's always fun to see where everyone is from).
*The links on the Google Doc are clickable in case you want to share the doc out to your students through email, Seesaw, Google Classroom, etc, If you go this route, be sure to "Make a copy" of the doc before sending it out to your kiddos.
TIPS:
- If using a mobile device to scan the QR codes, it's best to use the embedded QR reader in the Padlet app. Students do NOT need to login to the app, simply click continue as a guest.
- Please don't be overly concerned about spelling. EpicPals is meant to be a place where students can read and respond to text authentically. All posts are moderated and if there is any questionable phonetic spelling I will fix it.
- Please know that all inappropriate posts and posts containing irrelevant links will be deleted.
- Emoji use: Emojis are all the rage and while I don't mind emojis on the posts, please have a discussion with your students about using them sparingly and in context of their post not just for the sake of seeing how many they can use. Posts containing poop emojis and any other inappropriate emojis will be deleted.
FAQs
How should my students respond on the boards?
How should my students respond on the boards?
That's really up to you and what's best for your learners! Are you learning about text-to-self connections, character traits, retelling, summarizing or simply writing complete sentences to share your favorite part? Have your students respond in a way that matches your current learning objectives. Feel free to have your students include images, screenshots, or drawings if they'd like. Most important, have fun! A question will be on each board for students to use but these are simply there as a springboard if needed. Students are are NOT required to respond to the specific question.
Do we have to use Epic Books to read the books?
If you have access to any of the books in another format, feel free to utilize it. Books do not have to be read on Epic although I will say my class is so completely engaged when using Epic now that they have the ability to also earn badges for reading (using iOs devices). Gamification is a wonderful motivator and engagement factor and being able to assign the collection to students makes it super easy!
Do students have to read all of the books? Do they have to read them in a particular order?
No! Your class/students can do any, or all of the books and there is no particular order. Let your students' interests gauge where they start.
You can email me at: sjmalchow@pulaskischools.org
Great questions. The books are not officially leveled. I started this project to challenge my higher readers in 1st grade. I try to find books in what I consider to be the K-N range for the primary version. Books on the list are not all at the same level so you will need to use your teacher discretion and/or have your students decide what is most appropriate for them. My students became very good judges of what they knew were "Good fit books" for them.
ReplyDeleteI will also say that the Sept-Nov books are a bit easier so students/teachers can focus on learning how to use Epic and Padlet independently.
Wow! This is such a great resource! I am so glad I found you! I teach first grade in Colorado and can't wait to use this with my students!
ReplyDeleteHow do we get the previous months of Epic Pal links?
ReplyDeleteYour best bet would be to click on the EpicPals in the Oodles of Tags area to the right. You'll then see all of the posts with the EpicPals boards and can scroll through and click on the ones you want. Only the current school year's posts from Sept to current will be open as we update over the summer months and open each month as it comes. Hope that helps you out. If you need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out again.
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