These stations encourage independent learning while offering the opportunity to differentiate according to needs and abilities. Every Friday, a fabulous website, SmartAppsForKids, offers free apps for a limited time. Bookmark the site! Below, I'm introducing you to several apps that we have used. The pictures will not take you to the app store, but you can search the names and choose downloads for iphone or ipad capability. Some may be available for PC, etc.
Paint Sparkles is the first app that we tried on the iPad.
It is easy to use, fun to print!
I've taken screenshots of many finished products; some are very detailed and others show room for fine motor improvement. This may be a glorified coloring book, but the children enjoy making choices!
The lite version is free; the extended pages are worth the price.
A kindergarten colleague introduced me to Subtraction Lite. Her class experienced success with subtraction mastery by practicing this game. I tried it with our class and I am pleased with the results!
This is a free app!
Letter School is a new discovery, and I was able to grab it for free, through SmartAppsForKids!
I've noticed that some of my students are forming letters from the bottom up, or are adding curves after picking up their writing tool. We use D'Nealian, and
this app includes a D'Nealian set of letters and numbers!
I'll be using it over the next four weeks with the children,
and I'm encouraging the parents to use it over the summer.
I have not tried the next two apps, but both look relevant and interesting!
Need to know what NOT to do with an iPad?
Check out this article at teachingwithipad.org
Do you use iPads in your classroom? Please comment and share the apps that are working for you!
I have an ipad for the classroom through a grant our school is doing. I just received it in January and it's been great! We have Reading Eggs at our school, so I use two of the apps Eggy Alphabet for my one that still does not know his letters and Eggy Sight Words for sight word practice for all students. They are great.
ReplyDeleteI have more that I use but can't think of any right now. I love the website that you gave I can't wait to get over there and check it out.
Thanks!
Nicki
Mrs. Thigpen's Kindergarten
Nicki, I'm so glad that you stopped by! I'm hoping to add another iPad to our classroom next year!
DeleteWe just received 2 iPads for our classroom and I am looking for any tips that I can get to use them. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteWe get iPads in our room once a week. My students love our iPad days and I'm getting better at using them! I love Little Writers for students who are bottom starters! I'd love to have a couple in my classroom all the time...Some day!!
ReplyDeleteJenny
Owl Things First