I don't know about you, but I have seen these Hot Dots all over the web. They are cards with multiple choice answer and a fancy pen that lights up when you choose an answer. Cute, right? But, to be honest, I thought that there was no way they would work in my room. They are WAY too babyish. Boy...was I wrong!Educational Insights sent me a set of their Hot Dots for spelling. There are a whole bunch of funny jokes on the cards, with a word misspelled within the joke. The kids then need to find the correct spelling of the word. When they find it, they use the nifty Hot Dot pen to check their answer. By putting the pen on the black dot next to their choice, it either lights up green for the correct answer or red for the incorrect answer. There are also sound effects....which is what my kids LOVE!
What is great though is that there are a TON of different Hot Dots cards available from Educational Insights. I am eying the Comprehension and the 5th Grade Math Review ones as we speak. How much more fun will that be for the kids than just using a pencil and paper??!!
Do you want to get your hands on a set of these Hot Dots Cards and Pens? Well, today is your lucky day. Educational Insights is giving away one set to one of you! All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter below. I will have Rafflecopter choose the winner on Wednesday, April 10, 2013. So get on it, enter today...and good luck!
Have you ever used Hot Dots in your room? How do you set it up for the kids? I would love to hear about how other upper grade teachers use them in their room! a Rafflecopter giveaway
I have looked at them also but was afraid the kids would just play with the dots and not actually do the work. Discussion with a partner is a great idea! I hope I win so I can try them out!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest with you, I was also worried about that. I did, for the first time we used them, give them that opportunity. ;) Then, I enacted the "discuss your strategy" rule and it became a much more focused activity (there still is some laughing when the kids choose the wrong answer...and I suspect they do choose the wrong answer on purpose at times just to hear the red buzz ;))
DeleteI haven't used it, but I sure would like to. I think my 3rd graders would love it!
ReplyDeleteI have seen these! I think they look like a fun way to help with some test prep. I am glad you got to review them....
ReplyDeleteI have seen these but haven't used them! I have 3rd grade special ed kids and some are non/little readers, so that's a concern, but I love your idea of grouping the students!!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen these - they look so cool! I know my students would love them. Thanks for a great idea and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI have eyed these as well for my 5th graders
ReplyDelete..
I haven't tried them, but I love them for spelling, which is a weakness all around, I think!
ReplyDeleteThese would be awesome to use in extended day with my struggling readers and writers!
ReplyDeleteI would love to share them with the teachers at my school who work with the remedial classes.
ReplyDeleteHaven't used them but would love to now!
ReplyDeleteMy old school had a reading set. We used them as a center when I was with a small group. Students would fight to take a turn with them! I did turn the sound off/down and put masking tape over the sound button so students wouldn't use it.
ReplyDeleteI love them and my kids love to use them as a center. I usually have the kids partnered or single and each kid uses a different topic card.
ReplyDeleteThese look so cool! I haven't ever used them before. I'd love to try them!
ReplyDeleteAmber :)
Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher
I've never seen these before, but they look like they would be fun for intervention groups.
ReplyDeleteMelissa O'Bryan
Wild About Fifth Grade
I've used them in literacy stations. I also like the idea that you can purchase the dots and create your own cards.
ReplyDeleteI've never hear of Hot Dots until seeing them here. They are WAY COOL! My kiddos would go nuts for them. I definitely would like a set or two or three. LOL!
ReplyDeleteAngela
The Teacher's Desk 6
I have NEVER heard of them before - where have I been? Living under a rock? I don't know! But I LOVE the idea of them :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting the giveaway.
~Jessica
Joy in the Journey
I have used them in the the lower grades, but not in 5th. I, too, was afraid they would play and not attend to the task at hand.
ReplyDeleteI have never used these, but have drooled over them in the catalog! Nice to know they did work with the 5th graders in a positive way!
ReplyDeleteLike you, have never really considered using them with my older kiddos. Thank you for letting us know that they would be a wonderful resource for upper elementary, too, AND for the opportunity to win a set!! U Rock, Stephanie...ALWAYS!! :)Take special care! :)
ReplyDeleteJody
I would love to try these out with my upper elementary students! Thanks for the opportunity! :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard of them but never used them. I love how you have your students talk out their strategy-can we say common core? Explaining!! :)
ReplyDeleteShannon
http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com
I have not seen these, but they look like tons of fun! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough last year to borrow a set from the resource teacher. She left this year...and I miss them!! Yes, I use Hot Dots with big kids, too :)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Fun in Room 4B
I think they would be awesome to use during RTI time.
ReplyDeleteI have not used them in the classroom. I used them when I tutored and the kids loved them.
ReplyDeletelittlelearnersinc.blogspot.com
I’ve never used them, but have seen them around and would love to have a set! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteerin.m.varley@gmail.com
These look like a fun way to practice skills. Love your discussion idea.
ReplyDeleteHow fun! And I really like the group discussion about WHY!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen these before! So cool. I bet they love them!
ReplyDeleteMandy
Caffeine and Lesson Plans
I love these! I would use these for fast finishers or indoor recess without a doubt! But, in our classroom we need some serious help with test taking strategies. I would use them to teach my kids about the art of multiple choice questions. We would focus on studying how some questions have answers that can be eliminated right away, and some questions have answers in which you don't always need to be knowledgeable on the content, but can easily look at the answer choices to select the correct answer. We are currently working on this strategy in our classroom, and these would be perfect for this! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYoung Teacher Love 5th Grade Blog
I have never used Hot Dots in my classroom, but I would love to!
ReplyDeleteI've picked em up and put them back down numerous times in our local teacher store. Having the students discuss the reason behind their answer choice is a wonderful idea that I use frequently and it's obviously perfect for this!
ReplyDeleteCarla
Surviving Sixth Grade
I have never used Hot Dots in my classroom, but some of my students have used them in other classrooms. They love them! I would love to have a set of my own!
ReplyDeleteI've never used these, but they look like a lot of fun for my students!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen these before, but they look awesome! I would love to have a set of my own.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie, this is the first time that I've heard of this product so I've never used them in my classroom before, but they look really fun! Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteJenn
DoodlingAroundin6thGrade
I have never seen these before, but think they would be a great center activity! So cool!!!!
ReplyDeleteJenny Y.
Hi Stephanie! The Hot Dot cards and pens look so cool! I haven't seen them before but now....I really want some. ;) I bet the kids would love them! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThese look great as they give immediate feedback to students! I know my kids would love them! Thanks for sharing and for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteœKaryn
A is for Apple B is for Blog
Kideducator@comcast.net
I've never heard of these, but my kids would love them. I will check into these!
DeleteHaven't used these, but would love to try them!
ReplyDeleteI have never used these, but would love to have them in my classroom!!
ReplyDeleteI've never used hot dots but I know my 3rd graders would love it!
ReplyDeleteI've only seen these for lower grades. Very clever to make sets for upper grades!
ReplyDeleteSarah
MissKinBK