iPad Apps for School

We're a very technological family. Robby and I love "gadgets" so when the iPad first came out, we both looked at it with fascination. For me, it reminded me of a PADD from Star Trek and therefore owning it would serve my inner-geek. I didn't realize at the time just how much it would be used both by us and, eventually by the kids!

 I've downloaded a number of educational apps over the last few years and wanted to share some of the ones we use to teach and reinforce skills with the girls.

BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr have fun daily/weekly videos about any number of topics. Last year there was a great one about Rosa Park and one about Martin Luther King Jr. Moby, the robot, helps give a brief introduction to a topic. BrainPOP Jr. is geared toward K-3.

The TeachMe series has a Toddler, Kindergarten, First Grade and now Second Grade (which I haven't looked at yet). They reinforce math, spelling and sight words appropriate to each grade level and reward with coins or stickers in the app.

Word Bingo and Math Bingo are just what they sound like, Bingo games centered around sight words and math facts. These are both great for helping the kids memorize those things without having to bust out the flash cards.

Rocket Math, Sushi Monster and Math Drills are all Math based apps. They can be customized to the level or operation that needs to be practiced. Rocket Math and Sushi Monster are math games. Math Drills, though not a game, we use daily and for end of week assessment since it keeps records and I can email progress reports from the app.

Stack the States, Stack the Countries and Presidents vs Aliens have been entertaining the girls (and me) all summer! They give basic information about the subject matter in a fun, game like environment. Monster Physics is made by the same company and teaches basic physics principles without them even realizing they are learning!

Articulation Station is a great app if you have a kidlet who needs a little extra help articulating certain sounds. You can either buy the entire collection or select the individual sounds your child needs.

Beyond the more free-play, game apps, we also have some reference material apps that do not get used daily but come in handy. These are generally more science or history based but I recommend them - especially This Day in History and Science360.

Enjoy!