Favorite IPad Apps for School

     My school is a technology magnet school; which means we have quite a few gadgets and gizmos at our disposal.  Mine (and the kids) favorites are definitely the IPods and IPads.  There are so many apps available out there for education.  Some your basic boring, flashcard-like games; but on the flip side....there are tons of more open ended applications that lend themselves to a variety of things.  Here are a few  of my favorites right now:

#1 Kids Learn Sight Words 1-100 

     Ok, this isn't really open-ended per se, but it is better for sight word practice than just boring old flash cards.  There is a free version, and a pay version ($4.99.)  I would totally opt for the pay version...it's worth it!!  Sight words are presented, one at a time; and you can click on the character for it to say the word, and then you also WRITE the word.  Practice both reading and writing, and there's no "Miss Curtis, what does this say?"  Then, to spice it up....every 8 or so words, there is a game to play with the words--concentration, hangman, etc.  Both the free app and the pay app are well worth your time and money!

#2 (LOVING THIS)  Screenchomp

     In a nutshell, this a recordable white board.  Best of all, it's free!  Use a plain white background, or you can upload pictures from  dropbox and ICloud, or take pics with your IPad camera.  Then, use their drawing tools to draw, make notes,  and doodle on the pics.  Even better....it records your voice while you're drawing.  Then, you can share videos via their website, social media, or just upload it to your blog  (see my example below, starring the cutest dog in the world.) 

Confusing Envision math?  (Sorry, we use Envision math and they explain concepts in the most confusing ways.)  No problem, make a screen chomp of you working through a problem & post it to your website for your kids to get an instant homework tutor!

 

I'm interested to see how you could use this one in your classroom...

#3 Popplet  

     This one reminds me of a giant bubble map-- for all you Thinking Map teachers out there. Once again, 2 versions, pay and free.  Both versions allow you to upload pictures, and then brainstorm in "bubbles."  The pay version allows you to upload them online and work collabratively with other students or classes.  Inneresting...I love me some thinking maps, and an app that helps my little ones make their own is A.O.K. in my book! 

That's all for now....must get back to Olympic awesomeness!  What about you...do you have any favorite apps to share?

And...classroom compulsion is having a giveaway...check it out

This is