Top Apps of 2011

I have noticed a lot of sites doing top app picks for 2011. I didn't want to feel left out so I decided to create a list, well more like LISTS. There are so many great apps that I felt I needed to choose the top apps in a few different categories. All apps have been used by myself and/or students within my classroom. These are the apps that I try to incorporate into the curriculum and daily schedule as much as I can (with the limitation of 1 iPad, 1 teacher, 3 assistants, and 7 students). 


If you would like to see a complete list of the most used apps within my classroom, visit my list at the Technology in Special Education website. I have to admit, with over 850 apps in my itunes account, narrowing these down and keeping them all organized was a little difficult!

Also, check out my special ed counterpart from northern Ohio, Miss Kolis. Here is the list of her top 20 or so apps of 2011. 

Looking for app for older students, check out Golden Communications, LLC's list of apps for older students to enhance language and learning skills. This list was created by an SLP working with students grades 7-12 and is the developer of Enchanted Dictionary (an app worth looking into for vocabulary development and language).


~ Melanie

Top AAC/Speech and Language Apps

** AAC apps are suggestions, it looking for a voice output app/device, please consult SLP or AT specialist to request a AT/AAC evaluation **
SonoFlex- LITE version FREE, voice output app, customizable

Answers: YES NO - simple, easy to program AAC app

Toontasic - FREE, create 'puppet show' videos; add characters, voice, and video is created
Verbally - FREE version, w/paid upgrade available; although I do not have a student that can use this AAC app this school year (as it is word based versus picture based), I had to include it because it made quite an impact for a student at the end of last school year

Top Fine Motor Apps

Bugs and Buttons - app that incorporates fine motor, sorting, patterns, colors, visual motor...I could go on! Great for fine motor, but also works on pre-academic skills as well.

injini - a multiple activity app that is divided into levels within each activity; this is the app I use most within my classroom; it incorporates activities that develop fine motor skills, matching skills, patterning, colors, visual motor....and another app that I could continue to list the benefits; Project Injini website has tracing printables that mirror iPad activities

iLuv Drawing Animals - simple learn how to draw app; takes user through picture step-by-step; great for fine motor development, teaching how to add detail to drawings, great feature - can email completed pictures

Top Book Apps

Cinderella by Nosy Crow - all Nosy Crow apps are amazing, but Cinderella made me feel like a kids again; a timely story, great interactivity, amazing illustrations create this superior book app
Chuck and Friends: Friends for the Long Haul - book app with the characters every little boy loves, embedded activities to reinforce letters, fine motor, and story comprehension; my review of Chuck and Friends
Penelope the Purple Pirate - an adorable story of a little girl who turns into a pirate; had to add it to this list as it is the one app a student requests frequently

Top (Pre) Academic

Alien Buddies - my review of Alien Buddies, great to reinforce letters, numbers, shapes, colors

Junior BINGO - bingo app for younger students; bingo reinforcing letters, numbers, and shapes
Kandy Fish -  great app for sorting by color, fine motor

Top Reading Apps

Word Wizard - my review of Word Wizard, great to use as an alternative to handwritten spelling tests

Word BINGO - great app to use with individual students as an assessment tool or with 2 students as a turn taking activity; my review of Word BINGO

My Word Wall - my review of My Word Wall, great to introduce letters and word families 
Photo Touch Sight Words -  great app to use as assessment tool, very customizable with built in word lists as well as ability to set word lists
 

Top Math Apps 

iLEAP Touch Spot Subtraction and Addition - very similar to "touch math" concept; various levels: learn, explore, apply, practice; gives more concrete meaning to subtraction/addition

Jungle Coins - customizable app with various levels from penny to all coins, including dollar; app is also customizable by other country's coins as well; my review of Jungle Coins and Jungle Time
Jungle Time - customizable app with various time levels of to the hour down to minutes
Candy Count - not a well know app and it does contain an in-app-purchase (IAP) which I am against as a selling point, but the concepts are great; sorting, counting, number order, greater/less than all in one app
iLearn With Poko: Addition - fun app focusing on the math skills of counting, grouping sets, and addition; my review of this app

Top "for fun" Apps

All Toca Boca apps

My Underwear - the only time it is ok to decorate and play with underwear

Top "grown up" games/apps

Scrabble

Battleship

Words with Friends
Angry Birds  
Zite  - personalized magazine
Flipboard - personalize magazine

Jungle Coins and Jungle Time ~Review~

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to take a look at 2 apps: Jungle Coins and Jungle Time. It couldn't have been more timely as I was starting both of these skills with of few of the students in my class. I was eager to try them out. Before trying them with my students, I decided to use them with a few students from the kindergarten class first. These apps fit perfectly into the kindergarten curriculum as well as with some of my intervention students. These 2 apps are part of only a handful of apps that i have on my iPad that I can truly say are able to be differentiated across skill levels as well as grade levels.

Jungle Coins 

Initially, I was a little overwhelmed by the "jungle theme" -  the sounds, lion graphic, and set up that accompanied this app. My first goal was to find the options section, hoping that there was a sound on/off option. Thankfully, in settings, there were several options for sound (thank you!). Now that I could back to focusing on the app itself, I was happy to notice the options and the ability to customize the app for individual needs. The app has the option to change the currency from US dollars to over 10 different currencies. It contains various levels: Level 1 is for pennies/nickels only through Level 5 is for all coins, including half dollars and dollar coins. Within each level, you have the ability to FIND (sorting coins), COUNT (app gives you coins, you count amount and set dial to correct amount), COMPARE (gives 2 groups of coins, you determine <,=,>), CORRECT CHANGE (app gives you item cost and how much you paid, you slide coins to side to tell change), and LEARN (step by step tutorial of coins). All students I tried this with enjoyed it. They were not bothered by the roar of the lion, nor did any of the excessively flip the coins as I had thought. Lastly, I think the price for this app is fair considering the activities and the ability to customize.

Additional IEP applications:
Obviously, this app can be used in conjunction with money identification and counting skills; however, it can also be used just for simple sorting. By using just penny and nickel, you can work on sorting "brown" and "silver". The FIND section could also be used for working on "touch and drag" practice.

Suggestions
There are a few things that I saw as issues and would like to see changes to make this app even better.

1. Due to some of the fine motor issues of my students, the "tool bar" at the bottom of the page was accidentally activated many times during the sessions we used it. The student would inadvertently activate it with the heal of hand due to trying to stabilize hand before touching screen. It would be helpful to have tool bar at top
2. A couple of students found setting the dial to tell amount very difficult. I think having an option of calculator like input or dial would help with access for all students.
3. The reinforcement "roar" if student gets an answer correct didn't seem very motivating and students often were unsure if the answer was correct. A way to better acknowledge correctly responses.
4. The buttons "DONE" and SHAKE" also took some time getting used to using. For students with special needs, something more concrete like "GO", "FINISHED" might be more appropriate. I can picture a student reading "SHAKE" and shaking the whole iPad.
5. An option of having the directions read to user would be helpful. I have a couple of students who are working on money or sorting, but cannot read yet. Although I used this as an interactive tool between me and the student, the still needed to rely on me even if they wanted to 'practice'.

Conclusion

Overall, I think this app has some great educational value. This app would be a definite asset to a classroom or any student who needs an activity to reinforce money skills. The jungle theme may be a little more busy for some students, but with the sound options and the activity variations, I see this app working for ALL students. Not only is it a nice tool for student independent use, I found it to be a great interactive tool as well.

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Jungle Time

Initially, (AGAIN) I was a little overwhelmed by the "jungle theme". I quickly looked in settings and found the sound options. I was thrilled to see the options and the ability to customize the app for individual needs was similar to Jungle Coins. The app has the option to use 12 or 24 hour clock. (Since my husband is law enforcement and frequently uses military time, I may be using this app to brush up on the whole 24 hour option!) It contains various levels: Level 1 is times in hour intervals through Level 5 which is 1 minute intervals. Within each level, you have the ability to TELL TIME (app gives you clock, you set dial to correct time), SET TIME (app give auditory prompt of time, you move hand of clock to set time), TIME ELAPSED (app shows 2 clocks, you must set dial to show difference), SET ELAPSED (app shows 2 clocks with same time, app give auditory prompt of elapsed time, you must move hands of one clock and set time), and LEARN (step by step tutorial of clock, describing face and hands). The students enjoyed this app as well; although, most of them really struggled with the time concept in general (both Kdg and intervention students). Again, I think the price for this app is fair considering the activities and the ability to customize.

Suggestions
The things that I saw as issues and would like to see changes are similar to the above review.

1. The "tool bar" was accidentally pressed.  (see above)
2. The dial for the answers was difficult for the students to maneuver, possible change to give the option of typing in numbers
3. The buttons "DONE" and SHAKE" continued to be an issue. They need to be more concrete and universal.
4. Option for the directions be read to users if needed.
   

Conclusion

Overall, I think this app is a great was to introduce time (through the LEARN section) as well we reinforce skills already taught. I see myself using this app with several students next year. 

Lastly, I showed these 2 apps to my teaching partner who teaches students grades 2-5 (multiple disabilities). She immediately contacted our tech department to purchase these apps. She is currently using them as well!

APP INFO
developer: Andrew Short
website: http://jungleeducation.com/
itunes: Jungle Coins AND Jungle Time

category: education
recently updated: February 23, 2011

~Melanie