Skitch

Click on this image to visit the official Skitch website.

Skitch is an app which is available on both Android and Apple markets.  Here at Pleasant Hill Elementary we use Skitch for several different activities.  Perhaps the most powerful one is to annotate the text.  Skitch allows you to take a photo of a page from a book, a letter, or any selection of words.  Then you can load that picture into Skitch and use the tools provided in the program to highlight, circle, underline, and even write thoughts about the text.  These are important skills for students to learn.  Beginning in 3rd and 4th grade, we focus on getting students to give us details from the text to support their answer.  Skitch allows you to take a picture of your child's current independent reading book, ask her or him a question about it, and give the opportunity to highlight the exact words that helped answer the question.

Skitch also allows you to create a blank drawing using different shapes, pens, and text styles.  Last week, 3rd graders used this to create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting their hobbies and interests with a partner.

Tips for Parents:

• Take a picture of a page in a book, a letter, or other passage of text.  Ask your child to read it and tell you what it is mostly about (main idea).  Then have your child underline or highlight three details that support her/his answer.
• Write a letter to your child using a "boring" word (think:  good, bad, cool, fun, hot, nice, etc.) over and over.  Have your student take a picture of the letter, highlight the words, and replace them with better, more interesting words.  This hits the important writing traits of word choice and voice.
• Using a blank Skitch, use t-charts or Venn Diagrams to compare and contrast objects around the home, characters in a book, or even two different books your child or family has read.
• Upload a photo of a map, then have your child outline or circle different geometric shapes found on the map and explain how he or she knows what shape it is. 
• Also using a map, give your child directions and have him or her trace the route on the map.  This practices grids and cardinal directions.

These are just a few activities possible with this powerful app by Evernote.  One quick note:  you do not have to have a Evernote account to use Skitch.  Simply touch "maybe later" and go about using the app.  Once you have created your Skitch, then you can either email it to yourself for later or take a screenshot by pressing the "home" and "sleep" buttons simultaneously.  This will save your screenshot to the camera roll.