Now Tech That!: September 2017

Appy Friday readers!

I can’t believe I’ve been at Washington University for six weeks already! I am thrilled to share with you that I love it! Teaching graduate students has been really fun and I feel like I am back at school myself reading textbooks again. Yet, I am still missing all my co-workers and staff at Special School District, as well as my special education students. I hope your fall is going smoothly and you aren’t too overwhelmed. I am thinking about all of you!

I am sorry I haven’t posted in awhile, either I have had non-step activities on Fridays or there were so few free apps, it wasn’t worth sharing (very sad). To make it up to you, I took a little time and wrote a review for an “always free, always awesome” iOS app for VC, VCC and CVC words by Bug Brained and it’s corresponding diagnostic app.

Have a great Friday!

Betsy

REVIEW!

ALWAYS FREE, ALWAYS AWESOME

Eight Great Word Patterns 1 by Bug Brained

Free

*Also on Google Play, but not free

This is an interactive app designed for 3rd grade to work on vc (vowel, consonant), vcc and cvc words and digraphs (digraphs are two letters but make only 1 sound). That’s all I can say about what that means, I’m an OT not a Reading Specialist, Teacher, Speech Language Pathologist or Special Education Teacher. Now it says for 3rd grade, but I would check it out first because it looks eerily like some first grade work I’ve seen. The activity builds sounds using letters by dragging and dropping, then students trace and write the letters without a model. The reason I like this app is because it incorporates both reading and handwriting activities to make it interactive as possible. Now the app does not give handwriting feedback like a typical handwriting app you would see or demand certain letter strokes. In my opinion this is fine, this is not billed as a fine motor or handwriting app. That being said, what I don’t like about it is the tracing is of Comic Sans Serif. At least they could use a font that is closer to the handwriting required in elementary school. Important: This app is the first of its series after you do a diagnostic version. This is really awesome when you are trying to not pay for apps that are at the wrong level. The diagnostic version is free for both iOS and Android. Links below:

Eight Grade Word Patterns Diagnostic:

iTunes

Google Play

Also free today!

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Jigsaw Wonder Kittens Puzzles for Kids by Eggroll Games LLC

Normally 1.99

*Also on Google Play, but not free today

ELECTRONIC STORYBOOKS/INTERACTIVE BOOKS

Where are my shoes? - Interactive story with Timmy by Carrots & Hay Creative

Normally 2.99

Appy Friday 9/15/17