The IPAD's been a great hit in our class already. All of my students, except for one, are really motivated by it.
We've loaded on about a dozen Apps: mainly maths, literacy and drawing. I thought it might be useful if we can share reviews here about the Apps we're using. I'll start the ball rolling...
Name of App: “Maths, age 3-5”: we're using the Free version from the Apps store. It is very user-friendly. It has a good range of sorting and matching activities – from simple one-step activities such as identifying colours, through to matching shapes, size, finding the odd one out, matching similar pairs (e.g. brush & comb; bat & ball etc), also has some memory card games - maybe this is the one you're thinking of Bobbie? Good sound effects and a large tick or cross appears immediately when students complete a question (so they get instant feedback). Much more engaging and complex than it’s possible to achieve on a similar Velcro activity! There are 10 topics on the programme – and if this first activity is anything to go by, they would all be good - but only the “Matching” part is free. Verdict: Great for my students. One student is deaf and has mastered several matching activities by watching the demonstration (i.e. without being able to hear the instructions)and without needing much in the way of staff assistance. Another student who usually has a VERY short concentration span has been staying seated and methodically working though activities independently for in excess of 10mins! My advice: this App is definitely worth loading.
GM (aka "Anonymous" because I don't have a google account).
Hi Guys, One app all the kids in my class love is 'Music Sparkles - All in One'. This app. fits well with our SPEC programme - exploring percussion instruments. You can't beat the real thing (thanks to Bobbie and Rebecca for bringing some 'real' percussion instruments for us to have a go with) - but this app is very cool. The free part consists of a xylophone, drums and musical notes. The students can alter the 'style' of the tune. As the name of the app suggests sparkles or notes appear as the music plays. Very good for hand-eye co-ordination. Great for co-operation between students - e.g. turn taking. Would be great for students with experience sharing goals. Even the student in my class who I have great difficulty finding activities which motivate was engaged with this app. for several minutes. I would like to upgrade to the full (paid) version of this app. but the free version is great for a starter. p.s. the staff loved playing with it too!!!!!!!!
What an awesome programme! Used it today - the students got right into it, lots of turn-taking etc, but also great to see their absolute delight at producing REAL musical sounds. Something here for all levels of understanding. Thanks Debs!
That's the good thing about lots of these apps. - the same app can be used by lots of different kids - just with different outcomes - less separation and more inclusion. + the other great thing about iPads is - they are 'cool', they have 'street-cred' - they are not just something the 'special' kids use.
I'm getting organised for the use of the iPad in my room; Green bay Primary 9. Learned how to make folders, so it's easier to direct students and staff to the right apps. I have made folders for different levels and subjects. And one for a specific students who functions at a much higher level of understanding. When I have trialed the different apps with the students I will review them here. Thanks for some good ideas Glenda and Debra!
How have you guys organised when which student is using the Ipad, and how much are you actually using it? I want to use it as much as possible, but I need an adult with the student all the time to make sure they are not just playing, but learning as well. My plan is to schedule who is using it when- inspired by who is needing a incentive at what moment of the day the most. I will make a list of what app the students is going to use.
Hi Hetty, I also use folders to organise my apps - just makes it easier to find what you want - loosely organised into literacy, number, sorting, etc - although several apps could be put in several folders. I just made a decision and went for it.
As for who uses the iPad and when - well I am lucky that I have 2 iPads in my class so that makes things a little easier. I do have a scheducled ICT time for which I have a rota for who is on the iPad/class computer/other activity - that has been working really well.
Also for the structured learning sessions I have included iPad activities in this for some students. Also I include iPad usage to enhance what we are doing for some students IEP's e.g. one student has an IEP around numbers - and there are plenty of apps. to support this.
I also use the iPad as a motivational tool e.g. one student has iPad as the last activity on their structured learning list. The student has to complete all tasks (3 of them) before they can get the iPad - because they can see the iPad coming up this seems to aid motivation.
Reviewed apps are all trialed by students. I put some suggestions down of apps that I think are good, but not tried out with students enough to review. All free....
Language Write: Blobble write; 5 stars! Students don't mind to try again and again.
Reading: sight words from photo touch. We have to trial it a bit more, looking very bright though. Simple lay out, you can choose the wordws that are already seperated in levels. You can record your own voice. It's like flash cards, student chooces the word he heard. Gets harder when the student does well.
I found some other very good looking apps, will try them out with students before reviewing them here: Sentence magic, Phonic vowels, books, Sentence builder.
Spelling /phonics: Spelling magic 1,2 and 3. 5 stars Simple, clean, clear letter sounds, easy to teach.
(Little speller; Three letter words, Word family 1, Spelling bug)
Maths Maths age 3-5 from Eurotalk is fantastic, bought the full version. Students are very focusse, while they are never focussed for very long 1-1 'normal' work.
If you've got a student who does maths up to 100; Grade 1 maths 'Splash maths' is good to learn about tens and ones. Also for those students: Zoom . Both 4 stars.
'Concepts' is very good: 5 stars again. You can personalise it; choose the concepts you want to teach, and practise away! Again very focussed students.
I made visuals that say; First listen, then think, then touch 1 x. Also we have to hold students hands in the beginning to slow them down. Students in our class are very busy, visual, impulsive. They are learning fast how to do the activities!
I made a schedule of who can use the iPad when. I decided (against my first plan) to let them learn 1-1 on the iPad every second language and maths instruction time. Every student has a monitoring list, which tell the TA's and me what games the student is supposed to do, what level etc.. We note down the date behind the activities done.
Hi Hetty, Glad to hear it's all going well. I agree Blobble Write is very good and the kids love it! I'm going to check out 'Slash Maths' and 'Concepts' so thanks for the recommendation. Debs P.S. I find the iPad has been great for me to use to video (and then watch back on) for our engaged learning project.
The IPAD's been a great hit in our class already. All of my students, except for one, are really motivated by it.
ReplyDeleteWe've loaded on about a dozen Apps: mainly maths, literacy and drawing. I thought it might be useful if we can share reviews here about the Apps we're using. I'll start the ball rolling...
Name of App: “Maths, age 3-5”: we're using the Free version from the Apps store. It is very user-friendly. It has a good range of sorting and matching activities – from simple one-step activities such as identifying colours, through to matching shapes, size, finding the odd one out, matching similar pairs (e.g. brush & comb; bat & ball etc), also has some memory card games - maybe this is the one you're thinking of Bobbie?
Good sound effects and a large tick or cross appears immediately when students complete a question (so they get instant feedback). Much more engaging and complex than it’s possible to achieve on a similar Velcro activity! There are 10 topics on the programme – and if this first activity is anything to go by, they would all be good - but only the “Matching” part is free.
Verdict: Great for my students. One student is deaf and has mastered several matching activities by watching the demonstration (i.e. without being able to hear the instructions)and without needing much in the way of staff assistance. Another student who usually has a VERY short concentration span has been staying seated and methodically working though activities independently for in excess of 10mins!
My advice: this App is definitely worth loading.
GM (aka "Anonymous" because I don't have a google account).
Hi Guys,
ReplyDeleteOne app all the kids in my class love is 'Music Sparkles - All in One'. This app. fits well with our SPEC programme - exploring percussion instruments. You can't beat the real thing (thanks to Bobbie and Rebecca for bringing some 'real' percussion instruments for us to have a go with) - but this app is very cool.
The free part consists of a xylophone, drums and musical notes. The students can alter the 'style' of the tune. As the name of the app suggests sparkles or notes appear as the music plays.
Very good for hand-eye co-ordination. Great for co-operation between students - e.g. turn taking. Would be great for students with experience sharing goals. Even the student in my class who I have great difficulty finding activities which motivate was engaged with this app. for several minutes.
I would like to upgrade to the full (paid) version of this app. but the free version is great for a starter.
p.s. the staff loved playing with it too!!!!!!!!
What an awesome programme! Used it today - the students got right into it, lots of turn-taking etc, but also great to see their absolute delight at producing REAL musical sounds. Something here for all levels of understanding.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs!
GM (aka Anonymous)
That's the good thing about lots of these apps. - the same app can be used by lots of different kids - just with different outcomes - less separation and more inclusion.
Delete+ the other great thing about iPads is - they are 'cool', they have 'street-cred' - they are not just something the 'special' kids use.
This is an app recommended by Prof. Rita Jordan to support speech for students with Autism:
ReplyDeleteGrace App
http://www.graceapp.com/
I'm getting organised for the use of the iPad in my room; Green bay Primary 9.
ReplyDeleteLearned how to make folders, so it's easier to direct students and staff to the right apps. I have made folders for different levels and subjects. And one for a specific students who functions at a much higher level of understanding.
When I have trialed the different apps with the students I will review them here.
Thanks for some good ideas Glenda and Debra!
How have you guys organised when which student is using the Ipad, and how much are you actually using it? I want to use it as much as possible, but I need an adult with the student all the time to make sure they are not just playing, but learning as well.
My plan is to schedule who is using it when- inspired by who is needing a incentive at what moment of the day the most. I will make a list of what app the students is going to use.
Hetty
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi Hetty,
DeleteI also use folders to organise my apps - just makes it easier to find what you want - loosely organised into literacy, number, sorting, etc - although several apps could be put in several folders. I just made a decision and went for it.
As for who uses the iPad and when - well I am lucky that I have 2 iPads in my class so that makes things a little easier. I do have a scheducled ICT time for which I have a rota for who is on the iPad/class computer/other activity - that has been working really well.
Also for the structured learning sessions I have included iPad activities in this for some students. Also I include iPad usage to enhance what we are doing for some students IEP's e.g. one student has an IEP around numbers - and there are plenty of apps. to support this.
I also use the iPad as a motivational tool e.g. one student has iPad as the last activity on their structured learning list. The student has to complete all tasks (3 of them) before they can get the iPad - because they can see the iPad coming up this seems to aid motivation.
Hi you all,
ReplyDeleteReviewed apps are all trialed by students. I put some suggestions down of apps that I think are good, but not tried out with students enough to review.
All free....
Language
Write: Blobble write; 5 stars! Students don't mind to try again and again.
Reading: sight words from photo touch. We have to trial it a bit more, looking very bright though. Simple lay out, you can choose the wordws that are already seperated in levels. You can record your own voice. It's like flash cards, student chooces the word he heard. Gets harder when the student does well.
I found some other very good looking apps, will try them out with students before reviewing them here: Sentence magic, Phonic vowels, books, Sentence builder.
Spelling /phonics:
Spelling magic 1,2 and 3. 5 stars Simple, clean, clear letter sounds, easy to teach.
(Little speller; Three letter words,
Word family 1, Spelling bug)
Maths
Maths age 3-5 from Eurotalk is fantastic, bought the full version. Students are very focusse, while they are never focussed for very long 1-1 'normal' work.
If you've got a student who does maths up to 100; Grade 1 maths 'Splash maths' is good to learn about tens and ones. Also for those students: Zoom . Both 4 stars.
'Concepts' is very good: 5 stars again. You can personalise it; choose the concepts you want to teach, and practise away! Again very focussed students.
I made visuals that say; First listen, then think, then touch 1 x.
Also we have to hold students hands in the beginning to slow them down. Students in our class are very busy, visual, impulsive. They are learning fast how to do the activities!
I made a schedule of who can use the iPad when. I decided (against my first plan) to let them learn 1-1 on the iPad every second language and maths instruction time.
Every student has a monitoring list, which tell the TA's and me what games the student is supposed to do, what level etc..
We note down the date behind the activities done.
I hope this is helpful,
Hetty
Hi Hetty,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it's all going well.
I agree Blobble Write is very good and the kids love it!
I'm going to check out 'Slash Maths' and 'Concepts' so thanks for the recommendation.
Debs
P.S. I find the iPad has been great for me to use to video (and then watch back on) for our engaged learning project.