I was asked today to think of some apps I would recommend to others. Here are just a few that I came up with. There are many more that can be added...
Apps
Class Dojo- this app is a classroom management tool that can be
used to award points to children for positive behaviour.
The you create a class you can then download
an invitation for parents.
When they
sign up they can see their child’s account.
It has another facility called class story, this can be used to send
photos and messages to the all parents.
In the messages you can send individual messages to parents.
I use it to share positives with parents or
to send a quick up date if a child came in upset.
I have had very positive feedback from
parents regarding the use of this. Cost: free
Seesaw- This app allows you to keep digital portfolios of pupils
that can be shared with parents. Each
parent is given an access code and can download the seesaw parent app. Within the app you can take photos, videos,
voice recordings, notes drawings and links.
You can also share to all parents using the blog. Each child can be given a code to take
responsibility for uploading their own work as well. It is a great tool for engaging parents in
their child’s learning. Cost: free
Dyslexia Quest- Important:
This does not diagnose
dyslexia. This app is great for
finding out quickly pupils strengths and weaknesses in the following areas;
working memory, phonological awareness, processing speed, visual sequential
memory, auditory sequential memory and visual memory.
The children have to complete a series of
quests.
The results at the end can then
be emailed so you have a record of how the child performed in the different
quests.
Cost: £2.99
Hairy Letters- A simple app that helps children to learn the
letters and the corresponding sounds.
Children then trace the letter.
It is great for reinforcing letter knowledge.
Children can then build simple words as they
collect more letters.
A simple but
effective game.
It is an English app
rather than American so the phoneme pronunciations are correct, which is really
important.
Cost: £0.79
Clicker Sentences- This app is expensive but has some fantastic features. If you have used clicker software before it
is quite straight forward to use. You
create word banks each word bank is for one sentence. You can choose whether the words are jumbled
or in order. The app reads the sentences
back to the child when they reach the end of the sentence. It has the facility for children to type
their own words using a keyboard as well.
Pictures can be put with the words to support children.
Cost: £24.99
Book Creator- Children can create their own books using text,
pictures, videos, drawing and sound recordings.
The books can be printed as pdf’s, saved to iBooks or uploaded as a
video that can then be shared in other apps such as seesaw.
There is a choice of formats that can be used
including comic strips.
It is great for
encouraging even the most reluctant of writers.
If you use the free version you can only make one book but with the paid
for version you can make numerous books.
Cost: £3.99
Squeebbles: There are a range of apps now all covering different
maths skills. They engage children
through challenges in which they can then collect different squeebles. The activities help children to practice at
their own pace in which they can try to improve.
Cost: £2.99
Spellfix Y3-Y6 word lists-
You have to find 8 spelling in each level using the clues on screen and
the letters you are given. It helps to
ensure that children are developing an awareness of the meaning of words not
just how to spell them. There are 30
levels in total and it’s very addictive.
There are a number of other spell fix apps such as the ll pattern
and ar, ay and oy.
Cost: £0.79
