Assignment+2

10 Apps to use in the classroom

1. WordVenture - 3.5/5 Similar to Madlibs. [] Work on recognizing and producing parts of speech. It starts with multiple random writing prompts "What happened one morning..." The next page asks you to input adverbs, past tense verbs, etc. and gives you about a dozen entries. When you are done you can save it and read your funny story.

2. QuickVoice Recorder -3/5 This app allows you to turn recorded voice into text messages with an upgrade. The free version, lets you email them to your iPhone to make personalized ring tones. You can translate up to 5 Meg. on the free version. []

3. Bluster - 4/5 work with prefixes, synonyms, rhyming words, and adjectives to strengthen reading vocabulary. [] I like this app because you can use it as a single player, team (where your correct answer helps your teammate), and versus (split screen) where you compete against each other. There are three levels to practice and really gets students to focus on analyzing words and letter patterns. This would be a good activity for children working below my grade level.

4. A+ Spelling Test -3.5/5 Fun ways for the class to take spelling tests together [] I like this app because you can setup spelling lists ahead of time and speak the word as students try to spell it. For example, I setup a list of spelling words and type them individually and clearly record speaking each word. They can get audio support in one spelling activity. Another practice activity is to hear the word without seeing letters. You can take a final test after practicing over the week and email your test results to the teacher.

5. Dictionary.com Dictionary & Thesaurus for iPad -4.5/5 Electric way to look up definitions and similar words [] Home page has a word of the day to increase vocabulary. As you type a word to look up it's definition, it suggests words if you didn't spell it correctly. It also provides you with rhyming words for assisting in poetry writing, and gives you synonyms to increase vocabulary.

6. Word Mover - 4/5 Writing poems using word lists provided by teacher [] This application allows you to take a selected word bank and re-create a poem from existing data banks. Some of the examples are of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" and Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." Students can enter new words into data banks that rhyme and create word blocks and manipulate them around the screen to write a short poem.

7. Write About This Free -4.5/5 Fresh ideas for students to write about in class. [] I like this app because it gives students more opportunities to elaborate about writing prompts. It gives you 125 random pictures, 375 audio prompts, unlimited saving and sharing of writing prompts, and a searchable database for additional prompts. For the hard to reach students, you can have them take a picture and create a writing prompt about their own unique picture and save it to storage.

8. SlideShark - 4.5/5 [] Create a slide show using your iPhone as a remote for a projector presentation. You can upload powerpoint presentations to slideshark and take advantage of laser pen, highlighters, and many other eye catching tricks.

9. Middle School Vocabulary 7th Grade - 4.5/5 [] This app allows students to strengthen their vocabulary by defining new vocabulary words through the context of the sentence. It allows two versions of the game. You can move the iPad to steer a car on a winding road or just play with flashcards. You can track your score and improve your rank by finishing faster. You can also email the results to your teacher.

10. Just 2 Words - 4.5/5 [] This app shows 2 pictures and challenges users to solve the 2 word puzzle by unscrambling the given letters. It is useful for practicing spelling and challenges students with coming up with new vocabulary words. You can shake the iPad to scramble the given letters which might help you see words if you have trouble solving the puzzle.


 * 5 Personal and Professional apps**

11. Google Earth - 3/5 [] Absolutely love that app! You can pinpoint an address, take a virtual tour of the Grand Canyon, get a street view of the neighborhood. It's a fun app to surf around the different terrains of different countries and see things up close that you've always wondered about. ‎ 12. Google Maps - 4/5 [] Probably the best invention ever! I love getting around the city looking for the shortest route, least traffic, or avoiding construction. A very handy app that can get you where you want to be without the hassles of getting lost.

13. Chase Mobile - 2.5/5 [] I really like the ease of banking through this app. I haven't had to stop at my bank in a long time with this app. I can deposit checks by taking a picture, be alerted everytime a withdrawl is made over a specified amount, view my balance and pay bills from my couch!

14. Learn Spanish - MindSnacks 4.5/5 [] I like how you can track your progress on learning numbers and basic vocabulary words in Spanish. You login and get initial tests for free. It asks you your background and starts you off at an appropriate level. Additional advanced tests are able to be purchased. 15. Google Translate - 4/5 [] I've used this app in class to settle some disputes and when meeting new people. You can translate English to many foreign languages through text or speaking to the app. It has come in handy when writing specific report card comments or relaying messages to parents.