James Shin-Gay
These are the apps we're using with K-2 students at the Singapore American School. I'd love to hear what others think about our selections.
My comments are after the developers blurb, if included, in quotes.
"10 Frame Fill" provides children practice with recognizing additive "10 Families" (e.g., 1 and 9, 2 and 8, etc.)."
Probably the only truly (SAMR) Substitution app on the list, but in honor of other Substitution apps, this one takes the place.
"Doodle Buddy for iPad – Paint, Draw, Scribble, Sketch – It’s Addictive!"
Not sure if they really understand addiction, but I like doodle buddy for the stamps and the simple interface. I wish the "chalk" icon at the bottom was something else (paintbrush?).
"The Geoboard is a tool for exploring a variety of mathematical topics introduced in the elementary and middle grades."
No student will shoot the rubber bands around class with this.
"Keynote is the most powerful presentation app ever designed for a mobile device."
I guess you need some kind of presentation app, and lots of people understand keynote. Exporting and sharing are troublesome.
This app allows students to access Raz-kids books on the ipad. If you don't have Raz-kids AND reading a-z subscriptions, there is no need for this.
Great to be able to use the Raz-Kids.com books on the ipad. Somewhat of a scam to force you to buy two subscriptions from Learning A-Z to use them.
"PicCollage is the best way to make collages of your photos."
Currently our go-to app for all poster creations. Simple, intuitive and worth much more than the free cost indicates.
"STAR IN YOUR OWN CARTOON in this creative, award-winning app!"
Video creation for beginners. If you get this, you MUST get the directors pass, not for any extra content that they may give you, but for the ability to use your own photos.
Popplet allows students and teachers to organize information and mind map with text and images..
The official Blogger app. Makes blogging with young students much easier.
"The simple way to create your own beautiful iBooks, right on the iPad."
I haven't used this as much as I would like but it is so easy, compared to other creative book builder apps that I hope to be able to use it. If not with students then with teachers.
We also have the BrainPOP® Jr. app, but I only needed one for the top 20. As a school we have a subscription so you can see the other brainpop movies.
"Brushes is a painting app designed exclusively for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad."
This is great for students to use the layers to annotate diagrams.
"Real Calculator Free is a simple calculator program that anyone can easily use."
Basic classroom resource.
*Likely to be replaced with MyScript Calculator.
Web browser that isn't Safari.
Again, a basic classroom resource moved to the ipad.
"Globe for iPad is a Geography app which shows the countries of the world on a 3D globe..."
Often when I imagine classroom resources, I think of the globe. This app IS that globe.
"iTalk Recorder is a full-featured recording app with a streamlined and intuitive user interface."
Not much more to add. Kindergarten students can use it easily.
"Pages is the most beautiful word processor you’ve ever seen on a mobile device."
Not sure we really like this, particularly with the youngest students, but we still identify a need to have a word processor.
"The most simple & easy QR Reader. 100% FREE."
"Doodlecast Pro is the easiest way to create presentations on your iPad. The app records your voice as you draw to create quick presentations. Doodlecast Pro saves videos to the camera roll."
Aurasma – a new way to see and interact with the world Aurasma is an augmented reality app that’s changing the way millions of people see and interact with the world.
