Apps, Apps and More Apps

 There are so many apps available to teachers, students, and their parents as we help each develop his reading ability. I could probably spend days looking through these apps but the list below displays some of the apps that I was able to work through and believe would be beneficial for students at my school. Although most of these apps would appeal to younger readers I believe there is something here for all grade levels.

Voice Reader Text to Speech
$1.99
This is one of my favourite apps so far. Students are able to copy a piece of text from an iPad/ iPod screen and paste the text into the Voice Reader app. Select the play button and the text is read to a student. While there are a number of apps which contain novels and texts that students can listen too, this app enables students to read any text created on the screen that can be copied. It is amazing that such a valuable app is available at such a low cost. It would be helpful if provincial assessments could be created in a format that would work with this app to truly assess the student's ability to comprehend what he or she has read. Students can also use this app to read, hear  and review assignments created by teachers that are sent by email to the student as audiofiles are created by this app.

Magnifying Glass
Free
This is a simple app with a great purpose, magnifying text for students with visual impairments. While there are many handheld devices that would serve the same purpose, it provides the students with the opportunity to read without the need to carry those devices or to appear to be using assistance. It is simple to use: activate the app which turns on the camera, hold it over the text and read. You can also take a picture of the text for later use. I can also see how this could be very useful for students in older grades who are developing map reading skills, as text on maps is often quite small. Students working in all subject areas would benefit from this app.

Word Dominoes
$0.99
This app is fun for the whole family.Various categories are available, some easier and some much more difficult. The user is challenged to connect two tiles at a time to form words based in word families such as colors or trees. It also has a more challenging second level called Bubbles where the word parts float and rotate at the same time. This might be more difficult struggling readers but would challenge those students who have reached a higher level of vocabulary development and word recognition.

Pocket Whiteboard
$0.99
Pocket Whiteboard is a very useful app for students. The iPad screen acts as a whiteboard and students are able to use the screen to complete tasks by using their finger or a stylus. Students can brainstorm ideas, answer questions posed by the teacher or other students, complete calculations or jot down thoughts or notes during class. This is particularly useful for students with pencil grip issues, difficulty in orally answering questions as the teacher is able to see the response or for students with short term memory concerns.  Contrasting coloured pens allow for editing, highlighting, etc. I can see many uses for this app in our classrooms.

Mad Libs
Free
This another fun app for older readers Students are instructed create a list of words based on written cues. These words are then added to a story by "filling in the blanks" creating a story. This activity is often used by teachers to stimulate interest in a reading or writing activity and this app would certainly encourage reluctant readers/writers to see their own words in stories.

My Word Wall  
$0.99
This iPhone app which also works on an iPad is designed to assist students to see, say, hear and write words. Using word families (a concept familiar to younger pupils) children are encouraged to drag and drop letters to form word families such as og or am. This beginning activity assists in the development of hand-eye coordination as the letter must be dragged to the exact spot in order to move on to the next step. Each letter is sounded out, as is the word root. Beginning letters are then added to the word roots and new vocabulary is created or reinforced. Simple sentences and animation assist with the development of comprehension skills. The app continuously reinforces successful completion of each activity and encourages students who might encounter difficulties.

I Like Books
Free
This app contains, at present, thirty seven I Like... stories for young or struggling readers. Each book is based on a theme such as animals, my grandpa or fall. Once a book is selected, students can read the story themselves or have it read to them. There is also an autoplay button where students are able to watch the book as it is read, rather than needing to electronically turn the pages forward or backward. This is a useful feature for students with physical difficulties which would make the turning of pages challenging. Each word is highlighted as the text is read. It is beautifully illustrated and each page allows for a great deal of discussion around the theme of the book.

Pocket Pond
Free
This is such an amazing and simple relaxation and transitional app.  Students are taken to a pond with several types of fish swimming about the screen. Using a stylus or their finger, students are able to add more fish and other items. They can also flick the water, creating ripples and making the fish move away.  This app is useful with developing eye-hand coordination and can be used for students who need a break from their more academic tasks or need a transition activity between tasks.

Starfall ABCs
$2.99
This fun app is used by beginner readers to see the shapes of the letters (both upper and lower case) and hear the sounds that they make. Select a letter from the blocks and both the upper and lower case letters are displayed. Pushing a button produces the sound. A series of objects that begin with that sound are then displayed, highlighting the sound and giving the student the opportunity to repeat the sound. Various simple letter combinations are also produced which allow the student to develop an understanding of vocabulary words such as on and off (a lamp illuminates and dims when you press on or off).

Bob's Books #1- Reading Magic
$1.99
This app provides lots of opportunities to students to learn to spell words in a fun and exciting way. Students are shown a picture and the letters appear at the bottom of the screen. Once the student clicks on the letter, the app pronounces the sound. When all of the letters are placed in their proper order, the word is pronounced and the animated picture becomes coloured. The app has several layers where the hints and assists become fewer and by the tine you reach the upper levels the student is expected to worked independently of prompts. This app can be used by young and beginner readers to develop vocabulary and phonological awareness. Students can increase the volume on the iPad and, using earphones, hear sounds without distracting others. This app is certainly worth the $1.99.

Dragon Dictation
Free
Students are able to see their spoken words become text using Dragon Dictation. Students will need to speak clearly for this app to work. Text can be saved, emailed and printed. This provides students who have difficulty in writing the text to put their thoughts on paper.

Bookster

Free

Bookster is a read-along storytelling app that reads to kids, records and plays their voices, and teaches vocabulary along the way. Designed by educators to help kids of all ages develop literacy skills, Bookster makes beginning to recognize and read new words fun and easy for even the youngest of readers.

Bookster has:
Entertaining illustrations
Engaging narration by kids their age
Read-and-record mode that records as they (or you) read out loud
Listen-to-recording mode that reads the book with their narration
Read-along mode that highlights words as they are read aloud, teaching word recognition and vocabulary
Easy-to-use interface
Turnable pages that let them move at their own pace
Interactive pages with tappable words

Reading Bug   

$0.99

The Reading Bug is a story about a little chameleon that is out to catch a new kind of bug: the Reading Bug! Join him as he travels his neighborhood trying to find someone to help him catch it.
It Features:
- Automatic navigation and narration for ease of use
- Narration Options: Child voice, adult voice or silent for self reading
- Automatic or manual page turn
- Helps early readers make connections between the words they hear and see

Oh the Thinks You Can Think

$3.99

 This app allows children to use their imaginations by giving them a chance to imagine it themselves, and ultimately, leading the child to tap the colorful dancing question marks and see the story appear as Dr. Seuss imagined it! From the GUFFS that go by to the BLOOGS in the sky, there is no limit to what Dr. Seuss THINKS up. . . Follow along with the great doctor, or THINK up your own THINKS in this fun interactive storybook app!

Three ways to read this omBook (Oceanhouse Media digital book):
1. "Read to Me" — listen to the narrated story with words highlighted as they are read
2. "Read it Myself" — read the book in its traditional form
3. "Auto Play" — plays like a movie, automatically reading and turning pages. Great for younger children!

Big Contacts-Large Font for Easier Reading 

$0.99

Do you find yourself reaching for your glasses every time you need to make a call? Then BIG Contacts is for anyone who has trouble reading the default text. The bold and condensed Helvetica font one of the easiest fonts to read, so you can use this app whenever you want to make a call, send an email, or send a text message.

   
ABC Pocket Phonics  

Free

ABC Pocket Phonics Lite This app is three apps in one that can teach kids the following: Letter Sounds-Helps children learn to read by understanding the sounds that letters make. Letter Writing-Visually demonstrates how to write each letter.
First Words-Teaches how to sound out and spell over 170 frequently-used words. There’s about 20 words in the Lite version. The lite version is a free app that can be used to teach children who are beginning to learn how to read. The hands on writing application teaches kids how letters are written which kids will find very easy to use and enjoy.