Appy Friday! 4/25/14

Here are some great app finds for this week. Once again, I have some ideas for Occupational Therapists as well as Teachers Pre-K to 12th grade. Happy downloading!

App picks:
Early Childhood

Color Find - Autism Series by WebTEam Corporation (normally $0.99)
Color Find shows each flash card individually identifying the color and then the next stage is for the student to select the correct color from a field of four. It was designed for ABA therapists and uses its prompt wording. I thought the reward animations were a little creepy, but you can't argue with free.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/color-find-autism-series/id512961884?mt=8

4/18/14 Appy Friday!

A few free app picks for today! Remember this list is not exhaustive, just what I can get done on a busy Friday. Remember that I'm not just an Assistive Technology Specialist but also an Occupational Therapist, so I am including some thoughts on how this would apply to OT sessions. 

Happy downloading!

Early Childhood Apps:
Jazzy 123 by the Melody Book (normally $1.99)

Demonstrates the number symbol and then manipulatives in a musical instrument theme. Then play the game where you count objects and answering from a field of 3 and drag a specific number of objects from a field of 10. It counts for you, but you can take off the auto count by going into the system preferences. I like that they have to show a specific number, though it is fairly errorless because as soon as you get the correct number, it gives feedback automatically. Occupational Therapists can work on visual discrimination and iPad skills (dragging). https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jazzy-123-learn-to-count-music/id546207474?mt=8




 
Mr. Gin Preschool by Aidpo (normally $0.99)
This preschool app looks like it is taught by the gingerbread man from the movie Shrek with Einstein hair and accent (cute). Using a puzzle format, works on matching various items: letters, numbers, colors, shapes, fruits, animals and counting. For Occupational Therapists, use this for working on fine motor precision (drag), visual closure and visual discrimination.https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mr-gin-preschool/id575538990?mt=8




Elementary School Apps: 

 
Quick Clocks by Shiny Things (normally $1.99)
Focuses on analog clock reading, matching and labeling analog with digital. Uses handwriting to respond to the labeling game. (It has an interface that seems like Lumosity and is timed) It is designed for children grades 1-4.  I like the labeling game since most clock apps focus on just matching from a field. OTs can use this app for handwriting practice with numbers and fine motor precision(drag/spin).
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quick-clocks/id565826811?mt=8



 

 
Spelling Monster by Desire Life Software (normally $1.99)
Make your own spelling list first and then go in and play a game. Has several games that works on matching letters of spelling words. Takes some data (depends on the game). Since many of the activities are matching, this could be used in Occupational Therapy sessions to work on visual discrimination, visual processing speed and fine motor precision practice. All while working on a student's spelling list too! Win-win! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spelling-monster/id640416379?mt=8







Middle - High School Apps:


 
S-Diary by Minuk Kim (normally $2.99)
This is a combination memo/task/calendar, not what I would think of as a diary. What I like about it is you can view your calendar and todo list simultaneously. You can color code and set alarms. It links to your current calendar, but the app developer recommends you back up your device first, just in case. Occupational Therapists can use this for teaching memory strategies.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/s-diary/id455567171?mt=8




 

Maths Millionaire HD by OBAID INC Limited (normally $2.99)

Play a math version of "Who Wants To Be Millionaire?" using Algebra, Arthmetic, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Probability and Logic Questions. There are over 300 questions (updates are free). https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-millionaire-pro-for-ipad/id418312449?mt=8



Remember to check out these links for more deals:
http://www.appfriday.com/ 
http://appshopper.com/
http://www.smartappsforkids.com/
http://bestappsforkids.com/



*Disclaimer: I'm just passing on iPad app deals I had a chance to download, take a few minutes to mess with it and I found interesting. These apps may not apply to your student and/or may not be considered an Assistive Technology tool (An app that applies to your student's IEP goal(s) they are not making progress in despite the modifications in place). 

If you would like to see more App picks (paid and free), please go to my Pinterest page!

4/11/14 Appy Friday

Make room in your iPad folks because there are TONS of apps free thanks to Autism Awareness Month and Occupational Therapy Month! Here are just a few picks. I could spend all day reviewing apps!


Early childhood apps:
Shiny Party - Shapes & Colors by Shiny Things (normally $2.99)

Shiny party has a book that introduces two characters and then games to help the characters learn shapes and colors. I like that you can skip the back story and go directly to the interactive games: find a shape, build a cupcake, shape puzzle and match blitz jr. Works on visual discrimination, dragging, matching, and step by step construction.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shiny-party-shapes-colors/id618658350?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 


Thinking Time Pro by Kiko Labs (normally $4.99)

This early childhood app has four games: memory, reasoning, sorting and rule switching. Honestly, this app is worthwhile when on sale for free, but I wouldn't purchase the full version. Mostly because I didn't like the patterns game. The pattern was put in a 2x2 array which is confusing. The sorting and rule switching games could be frustrating to some little ones at first, it is deliberately tricky. However, I really did like the repeat the sequence game that works on visual memory and sequencing. You follow the pattern and then repeat it in the same order.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/thinking-time-pro-brain-training/id727848493?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 



Elementary apps:
Happi Connect & Collect by Happi Papi (normally $2.99)

The purpose is to play an association game where they give three flash cards and you have to identify the word that it has in common. Works on vocabulary, spelling and categorization. I like that it verbally describes the pictures as they pop up so you don't have to guess what the picture is (sometimes drawings are obscure) and provides cues if the user gets completely lost. When you get it correct, you get a silly or strange collectible card.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/happi-connect-collect-word/id793368327?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 




Montessori Math: Add & Subtract Large Numbers by Les Trois Elles Interactive (normally $3.99)

This app has three games: the stamp game, the bead frame and the magic slate. There are profiles so you can track individual students' progress.The games use base ten strategy to teach addition and subtraction. This is a great way to help students with fine motor difficulties to virtually use math manipulatives.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/montessori-math-add-subtract/id661156236?mt=8







Middle-High School
Hark - Quick Text to speech (normally $0.99)

This is a simple word processing app with text to speech with highlighting. You can do the same thing just using the accessibility features built in the iPad (speak selection). However, if you have an iPad 1, you might want to check it out.


https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hark-quick-text-to-speech/id715455614?mt=8






Chemist - Virtual Chem Lab by THIX (normally $4.99)

Tap and drag chemicals, beakers, pipettes, etc. from toolbars to set up a virtual lab experiment. This would be good for high school students who were homebound or have physical impairments and cannot use lab equipment. It's not a standalone instructional app, but more of a school tool to be used within a classroom activity.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chemist-virtual-chem-lab/id440666387?mt=8

Can you match? by Raja Mohammad Zishanullah (normally $0.99)

Can you match? is an extreme version of the memory game where it shows you face up all of the cards, flips them over and then moves the columns on you as play. Works on visual memory, visual discrimination, matching and eye tracking skills.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/can-you-match/id514730264?mt=8

4/4/14 Appy Friday!

Here are my picks from this week's Free App Friday for Pre-K-12th graders. I pull from several websites and app finder apps to come up with this list. Remember these deals might be only for today, so hurry!


Elementary:

Giraffe Cards by Patrick Wibbeler Productions
A simple math flash card app where you can select by number groups and allows you to turn on algebra. Plus no ads!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/giraffe-cards/id515772156?mt=8

What time is it Mr. Wolf? by Teacher's Pet
An app that works on both matching analog to the words of telling time (half past, quarter to, etc.) as well as matching analog to digital. You can also customize the answer field (2-8 answers). 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/what-time-is-it-mr.-wolf-by/id514350448?mt=8  

Place Value Chart by Ulrich Kortenkamp

This is a school tool app like a calculator. It does not teach concepts, nor is it a game or activity with music and cute animals. This app is great for a classroom activity. It is also good for students who have fine motor problems and could not easily use physical manipulatives. User tip: You shake the iPad to clear the chart. 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/place-value-chart/id568750442?mt=8

Middle-High School

LoiloNote
A photo mind mapping and multi-media presentation app that allows you to create with photos, videos, text, web contents, maps and own drawings. Has sharing feature if you are connected to the same wifi (called a tunnel). It is also connected to dropbox. Most of the app is intuitive to use and you can tap the help icon to figure out the rest. Great for collaborative projects! (Can you say technology standard (NETS-S)?)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/loilonote/id588649391?mt=8
 
All grade levels:
Timer +Touch
By SixAxis LLC
A visual timer that is easy to set up and use. The time is color coded: minutes in read, hours in blue and seconds in green. There is a long list of different alarms.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/timer+-touch-hd/id520487966?mt=8


*Disclaimer: I'm just passing on iPad app deals I had a chance to download, take a few minutes to mess with it and I found interesting. These apps may not apply to your student and/or may not be considered an Assistive Technology tool (An app that applies to your student's IEP goal(s) they are not making progress in despite the modifications in place). 

If you would like to see more App picks (paid and free), please go to my Pinterest page!