Usage

I have been using my iPad in my resource room. I am finding it a great tool for the kids to turn to right now when they finish up classwork ahead of their peers. Its great to have a tool for the students to practice their basic math facts on that is user-friendly for them to use. I am finding that my alternate assessment students are more into the iPad than my other students. They are still loving the Motion Zoom app and locating where the numbers fit on the number line. They are also enjoying the kangaroo addition game and trying to beat their time. I am looking forward to get an VGA adapter, so I can use some of the apps as a whole group on the ENO board. A few of my students watched a video on fractions from Brain Pop and enjoyed taking the quiz. Right now, I am working on flashcards that they can practice and keep track of their progress with.

Doodle Buddy

I downloaded the Doodle Buddy app. Our students used it to write their names, addresses, and phone numbers. They enjoyed it. It is a really cool app for writing. Here is the website link for Doodle Buddy... http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doodle-buddy-paint-draw-scribble/id313232441?mt=8

Multiplication Genius

Two of my student use this to reinforce multiplications skills. You can set the games to the multiples you want the students to work on. It shows the student the problem and then gives them a choice of 4 possible answers. My students love it! We have used this game during inclusion math as well.

I just downloaded an APP for Apraxia, called Speak in Motion. It is a free trial version. I have also been using the Talking Tom APP. It repeats what you say in a funny voice. Students working on articulation are able to practice the sounds/words that are difficult for them in a fun and engaging way.

From the ASHA Leader, 10/11/11, article "Apps: An Emerging Tool for SLPs" by Jessica Gosnell:
Receptive Language Apps (prices range from$.99 to $8.99) -- Speech with Milo: Sequencing; iPractice Verbs; Speech with Milo: Prepositions; ABA Receptive ID; Understanding Inferences; Splingo's Language Universe; House of Learning; Preposition Remix; & Name That Category

Expressive Language & Speech Production Apps (prices range from free to $29.99) -- PhonoPix; ArtikPix; Speech Trainer 3D; Smarty Speech; Speech Pairs; SLP Minimal Pairs; Story Time!; 60 Story Starters; & Language Builder

Augmentative Communication Apps (prices range from $29.99 to $189.99) -- Proloquo2go; MyTalkTools Mobile; Assistive Cht; AAC Speech Buddy; Tap Speak Sequence; Grade; TouchChat-AAC; Predictable & Sounding Board

Speech and Language Apps

I found two great resource for SLP's, OT's and Special Ed teachers- www.speechtechie.com and www.therapyapp411.com Both are full of ideas for apps and suggestions on what to use them for during therapy or teaching.

News Article

This was sent to me from someone at the state level. It has a great link to "best iPad apps for kids". Check it out. The article also suggests an app called "Baby Finger", in which kids can tap images and colored shapes that appear on the white background. For anyone who has used a light box with kids, with this program, the iPad duplicates the light box. I know it is geared toward visual impairment, but give it a shot with any of your students with severe disabilities.

http://www.technewsdaily.com/3238-ipads-kids-severe-vision-impairments.html

Lakeshore Learning Apps - FREE for a limited time!

Lakeshore Publishing has recently posted 3 FREE apps appropriate for the primary grades.  Get them while you can....(did I mention they are FREE)??  Click on the links below for more information.

Beginning Sounds Interactive Game

Letter of the Day Interactive Activities

Phonics Tic-Tac-Toe Interactive Game

Math and English Apps from Oz

Many of you have asked me about Math and English/Reading apps, so I'm excited to tell you about Apps in Education, a great blog I follow.  It's published by a visual arts teacher in Australia who must spend an extraordinary amount of time reviewing apps. Aren't the Aussie's fabulous?!?

 The different categories included are:

• Math
• English
• Health & Fitness
• History
• Science
• Music
• Art
• Special Needs

Some of the apps are reviewed, some are not.

There are also links worth noting:  iPad Apps for Storytelling in the Classroom, and Mind Mapping Tools for iPad.

As always...post something on the blog if you find a new app you think would benefit our students!

20 iPads Distributed to Teachers and Speech Pathologists!

Last week we deployed iPads to another group of special education teachers and to all of our speech pathologists - they were a happy group!  The SLPs are excited about the prospect of using the iPads with limited and non-verbal students.  Today we purchased an app called TouchChat for them, and I can't wait to hear the feedback.  It's similar to the ProLoQuo2Go app that we initially purchased for the first set of iPad users, but the reviews on TouchChat as an AAC device are much better.

Not familiar with an AAC device?  Here's what Silver Kite, the publisher of TouchChat has to say...TouchChat is a full featured communication application for iPod/iPad technology. TouchChat fits into the product category of Augmentative Communication (AAC) devices. AAC devices allow individuals who cannot speak to communicate by spelling or selecting icons from a visual display. Words, phrases and messages are spoken with a built-in voice synthesizer or by playing back a recorded message.  It amazes me that such a little device has such HUGE potential!


We have 40 iPads on order; once they've been distributed, every special education teacher in the district that wants an iPad will be able to have one.  How I LOVE technology!

Cargo Bridge Lite

One activity that the students seem to really like and challenge them is a game called Cargo Bridge Lite. The main purpose of the activity is to build bridges to transport cargo from one side to the other but if the students don't use the correct angles to build their bridge will fall. I use this for critical thinking skills and also as incentive to complete their work so they can play this game. I would like to get the full version because it is challenging and entertaining for them.