First Step Grade 1 Math

"First Step Grade 1 Math" is a free app that is for four to eight year olds. It has five different categories that consist of counting, addition, time, subtraction, and geometry. It includes more than 900 questions and more than 100 math skills that are aligned to common core standards. It has a zoo picnic theme that keeps children interested and motivated while learning new skills.

How it works: It's a fun app that gives the student coins for getting answers to math problems correct, which they can use to add more animals to their zoo and buy picnic items. They can also "visit the zoo" and interact with the animals and learn fun facts about them.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-step-grade-1-math-establishes-new-standards-for-kids-education-mobile-apps-229567671.html

StudyBlue

StudyBlue is a free app that allows teachers to create flash cards, study guides, and quizzes for students, with the option of adding audio and video. The possiblities are endless with this. This is something that could be used in class, as well as provide extra help for students outide of class.

Students can also create and share their own flashcards. It remembers where you left off, so you can pick it up right where you left off. Students can quiz themselves, track progress, and set reminders. Additionally, the mode of study can be changed from flipping flash cards to review sheets. Students can collaborate with each other inside the app through discussions, questions, sharing flashcards and other materials.  The app also allows you to search for related user generated content. There are some paid features within the app, but there is a free membership available.

Once you create a free account, login and either enter the class or subject information. Then you can begin creating content and sharing with students. It also allows you to link it to a specific school, so you can connect with other classrooms within the app. 

https://www.studyblue.com

TeacherKit

TeacherKit is a free IOS app that helps the teacher stay organized in one place. They can take attendance, record grades, make seating charts, etc.

I would use this app everyday so that I can have everything I need in one place instead of in a ton of places.

http://www.teacherkit.net

English Writing Skills

Description:

English Writing Skills is a free IOS app for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. It's an accessible app where students can learn how to effectively write a variety of papers including biographies, cover letters, reports, and essays. There are also many tips including how to improve writing skills, use tables and figures, use punctuation and write introductions and conclusions.

How it Works:

It provides accessible knowledge on how to write a variety of papers which will help my students immensely because of its easy accessibility and descriptive explanations.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.springz.english_writing_skills

AP Exam Prep

Description:

AP Exam Prep is free downloadable app with in-app purchases for different courses around $9.99 compatible with iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. Deriving from the successful McGraw-Hill AP series, AP Prep is a great app for questions and detailed explanations for a variety of subjects from Calculus to Geography to History.

How it works:

After downloading this app, there are 25 free questions and after you can buy more from these AP topics, testing your overall knowledge and discover weaknesses and strengths.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ap-exam-prep-calculus-ab-bc/id491347585?mt=8

Vocabulary Build

Description:

Vocabulary Build is a free app compatible with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Combining flashcards and quizzes, this app helps build vocabulary for your students providing 5,000 words and a 150,000 word dictionary and thesaurus. This can applied to middle school, high school and AP classes.

How it works:

Flashcards lists are built upon the lists of words you get right or wrong in the multiple choice quiz sections. You can also customize it to a compiliation of words to your liking. Can help students create word wall in the classroom.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vocabulary-build/id553379017?mt=8

iTunes U

iTunes U is an interactive app where teachers can build courses or utilize courses that have already been created by other users.  This app has courses in just about every subject imaginable.  As a teacher, this could be an invaluable resource to share with students.

How it works

iTunes U includes courses in just about every subject.  Students can download the free app onto the thier iPads and use these free courses to suplement and enrich what is being taught in the classroom.  The app itself is fairly easy to navigate, however as with any user created content, the teacher must screen the content to make sure it is what the students actually need to know.  Teachers can also create content for students to work through on their own.

http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/

National Geographic Explorer for Schools

National Geographic Explorer for Schools

This app brings National Geographic into the classroom through the use of iPads.  This is a free app that gives students an interactive issue of National Geographic explorer every month of the school year.  The best part of this app is not that it is free, but that it has applications and suggestions as to how to link this text to common core and state social studies and science standards.

How it work:

Students open the app to find this month's issue of National Geographic Explorer.  The text is clickable, and has the functionality to be read aloud to the students.  There are also various activities that allow the child to interact with the pictures and images throughout the issue.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/national-geographic-explorer/id556957976?mt=8

BuzzMath

BuzzMath is an application that can be used on the desktop, iPad or Chromebook and is free with the option to upgrade to a premium package at $20 for one month, $40 for three months or a special offer of $40 for one year,.  The app is for students, teachers and parents.  Students can go there and practice with the different activities.  Parents can go on there and set up an account for their child or children.  Teachers can go there and set up an account for all their students.  The app reviews Common Core math for grades 6-8 and NCTM for grades 6-8 also.  The app contains high-quality problems with immediate detailed feedback.  Teachers are given detailed results of student progress that will allow them to guide students learning.  The app is more centered towards the student but has the flexibility to be used by the teacher for introduction or review topics. 

            The teacher is able to create accounts for their students.  Once the teacher creates an account the teacher is asked for their classes and number of students in their class.  The teacher will then get a PDF of the activation codes listed by class.  Once students get their code they only have to use it one time and then each time after that they will just log in with their user name and password. The teacher is able to give assignments to entire classes or just certain students.  Once students log on they will be given a prompt that they have assignments that need to be completed and they can go into them and complete them.  Once they have completed one assignment if they have another they will be directed to that assignment to complete.  When students complete a set number of activities within a topic special missions will be unlocked which relate to math history that challenges students to help mathematicians recover lost knowledge.  Students also have access to BuzzLab that connects the theme of the missions to the storyline and motivates the accrual of gold stars.

            BuzzMath has activities and missions.  Activities on average are 10 pages of practice questions covering a particular concept to help students improve their skills.  They are varied from direct practice to interactive components.  Students must complete the activities with 100% accuracy to unlock missions.  Missions are more challenging problem solving activities that link students to math history and to the BuzzMath storyline.  Students must find solutions on each page in order to move to the next page.  Each mission features a famous mathematician in a fictional storyline that is integrated with mathematical history.  Upon completion of a mission, students collect an object that will help restore lost mathematical knowledge and ultimately the beauty and architecture of BuzzCity.

            Students are able to monitor their progress on their home page by viewing their gold stars total.  Questions are given to students in many different ways but limited multiple choice questions are given.  Students are not given a time limit to complete their activities.  Teachers are able to view student’s reports which include accuracy, completion and the time spent on activities.

https://www.buzzmath.com 

Educreations

Educreations

Educreations is an interactive whiteboard and screencasting tool. This app is free and compatible with iPads. Teachers can create short instructional videos and share them instantly with their students. It also gives students the option to help other students on topics through this app. I would use this app in my classroom to make reviews for lessons, give additional instruction outside the classroom, and free up class time for hands-on learning and projects.

How it works:

After making your Educreations account, you can create classes that students can join. Your lessons will be synced automatically between teacher and student iPads. Students without iPads can access classes and lessons on the Educreations website. Your Educreations account securely keeps up with your lessons so that they are available whenever and wherever you may need them. Lessons can be shared via link, email, messages, Facebook, Twitter, blog, or website.

Link:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/educreations-interactive-whiteboard/id478617061?mt=8