AIMSweb
    So to begin we have talked about using AIMSweb.  We have already been trained on the different report options at our school, so that was pretty easy.  I think that these reports are interesting to look at, but I also think that our district places way too much weight on them.  They stressed that this test was just a snapshot, but almost all of the instructional decisions for grouping are based on these results.  I have a few kids that I know did not perform to their best ability and I am sure that there are more than the ones I know of. 
Reading Street
    I have been playing with the ReadingStreet materials that are available online.  I like all the different resources that are available there, but it's hard to know what is most valuable seeing as I don't have much time.  But I don't see the same kinds of assessment resources.  They are more geared toward instruction.  Oh, but now they are addressing the assessment part. 
   The whole thing on Skyward would be really interesting except that we can't have our students go online and do it themselves.  Maybe someday. 

Group #1
    This was my group!  We talked about using checklists for assessment.  I actually was really glad that this was my subject because it is something I will use a TON in my classroom.  I can't say that our presentation was the most creative or original, but I think that we brought up some good ideas. 

Group #2
   This group did peer evaluations.  I loved their little parody song that they started out with!  They give a few ideas of ways that peers could evaluate each other.  They used GoogleDocs and SurveyMonkey to collect responses from the students on their evaluations of their peers.  I think that both of these tools would be great for the students.  The little star thing as a great idea for my age students.  Polldaddy.com.  Gotta remember that one!
   They also talked about using VoiceThread.  I think this is a great way for students to assess each other because they can just record their voice and thoughts without the restriction of writing ability. 

Group #3
    Exit Tickets.  I think this is a great way to get a quick evaluation of what they learned.  I think that the tools they recommended would be great, but hard to use with Kindergarten.  I think if we had the Early Childhood clickers and the students got really good at using them they could be a great way to do an exit ticket. 

Group #4
    Comic Life.  I liked the idea of using comic life for students to re-tell stories.  They also talked about making timelines for history.  I also liked the idea of having students put pictures of objects and bubbles that tell what that object is and how it is used.  Most of these ideas sound like a lot of fun.  But I don't think that Kindergarten would be able to do it independently without a whole lot of work and preparation which requires time that I don't have. 

Group #5
    Wordle, and Tagxedo.  Fun and Easy!!  Both applications make word clouds.  I have used Wordle before and it was really easy.  Definitely enjoyed that one!  I think that my kids would love making one of these if they had help.  Unfortunately they wouldn't be able to read them when they were done.  It might be fun to try them with our sight words though.  I have never used Tagxedo, and I am excited to try it.  They look like a lot of fun. 

Group #6
    GPS.  These assessments sound like a lot of fun!!  I would have loved to do the little treasure hunt type activity if I was in school.  I like that the assessment was kind of self-correcting depending of where they ended up.  I think it would be a really fun assessment if my students had an older grade buddy to help them. 

Group #7
    Prezi.  I guess I am a little confused as to how you use this one for assessing.  I like what they were doing as a lesson, but I am unsure of how it's an assessment.  I guess you could assess their responses as you put together the prexi together.  Or maybe I misunderstood and the students are the ones putting together the prezi.....hmmmm...

Group #8
    Digital Storytelling.  I definitely liked the little movie that this group put together!  It made a lot of sense and I was able to see a lot of ways that digital storytelling could be used.  I liked the idea of a book synopsis.  My kids would be able to put pictures from a story in a movie and then narrate what happens during that story.  I also liked how the group gave the pros and cons of using this method.  It really is a time consuming project, but our learners  catch on quickly to technology and they are motivated to use it. 

Group #9
    Storybird.com.  I am at the end of my attention span here.  It sounds like a great tool though!  I like that the pictures are already there.  My Kindergartners would have a blast making up a story to go along with the pictures.  It would have to be with help, but it could definitely be modified. 

So this class was all about using the UTIPS system.  I have to be honest, this is probably the class that I have gotten the least from, just because it's pretty much completely inapplicable to Kindergarten.  #1, my students can't read, so if they were to take a test this way it would have to be one on one, which I don't have time for.  #2, I feel like I can get a better understanding of their knowledge in other ways because they wouldn't get what they were supposed to do.  #3, it would take a whole class time to just get them logged in! 
Haha....anyways, I did learn a bunch though.  I never really understood what Utips was before, or why it was used.  I now understand that it is a good way to get questions that relate to the core and put together an assessment.  I liked how it showed different graphs to communicate the results.  I also really enjoyed taking the test from the 5th grade core!  I have forgotten a lot!!  :)

So today we are doing rotations to learn about the different assessment tools that we can use online. 
   Flubaroo--
The first rotation I went to was Camille's about GoogleDocs in conjunction with Flubaroo.  I think that this is a really neat tool for doing an online test.  Unfortunately like many other tools it is difficult to use in Kindergarten.  My kids can't read on their own yet, and this tool is completely based on that.  I would be able to use it if I had a parent helping them, but that is almost the same as just doing the assessments one on one. 

     Neo2
Once again I really like this tool, but I am trying to figure out how to adjust to Kinder.  It is so difficult when there is any type of reading/typing etc.  But I think that it could work.  It would be a great tool for a really quick assessment if we could get the kids trained on it.  Especially using the ABC or number options.  Just like the clickers I wish that we had an Early Childhood version to use in Kindergarten!!

   Arcademic Skillbuilders
First thing I notice....games are from grade 1-6.  Bummer.  Haha.  Kindergarten gets shafted again!  Hopefully a lot of the 1st grade games can apply to end of year Kinder.  I like the idea of games for learning as well as assessment.  The kids would absolutely love it!  I am always surprised at how quickly they catch on to games online too.  So I think this kid of thing is right up their alley. 

   Quizlet
I found something applicable to Kindergarten here!  They have letter flashcards and I love it!
I especially like that it will say the word or sound for you and the kids have to hear and match it with the letter.  I think it would also be fairly easy to make my own beginning sound type flashcards.  I would have to help them getting into the app on the Ipad, but I think from there they would love it! 

eClickers
Also something I think I could use with my Kinders.  It would be easy for them to use an IPad in a small group and answer questions that a leader asks.  There is just the $15 app fee, so it's also cheaper than buying the expensive technologies.