Free Books - 23,469 classics to go













https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/free-books-23-469-classics/id364612911?mt=8

Cost: Free

Pros: This app has got a wide spectrum of books to pick from.  Some of the topics/authors to pick from include Young Readers, Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau, The Great Poets, William Shakespeare, Plato, and Banned Books. Each of the topics/authors have at least ten books to choose from if not more.  When looking for a book you can search by title, author, popularity, and rating.

Cons: Might not offer a whole lot to the younger grades beside the young reader books. Audiobooks are offered for an additional $3.99.

How would you use it: This app could be used in multiple different ways.  You could read aloud from this app.  Could be used as free time reading for you as the teacher or your students.  As an educator you can refresh your educational knowledge by reading books from Plato and Aristotle.

Math Duel

Cost: FREE

Pros:  With this app, learners can challenge a friend to a math fact duel. In this game, students are able to test their speed in performing math facts. It is also possible to adjust the various operations and the difficulty level.

Cons: This game does not have a single player mode. Having this require a partner may cause confrontation in an "odd-numbered" class.

Application:  This app can be used in the classroom as an fun extra activity for the students to take part. It would also be a fun idea to make this game into a tournament, resulting in a math champion of the week.

Simple Physics

Cost: was free.  I believe it is still free. 

Pros:  Simple physics is a fun game that allows students to learn more about physics.  It combines things like tree houses to create on your own and make it strong enough to support "4 people."  Students may use this to help them learn more about basic forces.  It also implies money so students may try and learn balance between good equipment and costs.

Cons:  It can be very difficult and frustrating to obtain three stars.  The cost factor makes it much harder because keeping it strong enough and least amount of cost is easier said than done.  This may demoralize students but if they can get past that it will be very useful to help with physics. 

How to use this in class?

I would use this as a free time app.  If they were done with a test earlier than most they would be able to use this app to have fun and learn more about physics. 

gFlashPro - Flashcards & Tests

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/gflashpro-flashcards-tests/id297332787

Cost: $3.99

Pros: gFlashPro serves students, teachers, and trivia junkies alike. Easily allows you to download flash cards, assignment, quiz, and test inspiration. You can also store images and audio for reference or incorporation into a lecture, and much more. The little quizzes even allow educators to test their own proficiency in the fields they teach and help them build up on the areas where they could use a nice, quick boost. gFlashPro also keeps track of progress made when testing oneself.

Cons: A wireless connection is required to download new card sets, and view flashcards with videos. (Once downloaded, text based flashcards, cached images, and cached sound clips can be used at any time) It costs $

How I’d use it in Education: I would encourage my students to keep important facts and vocabulary terms recorded in this app and add to it throughout a unit. Before any quizzes or unit assessment, I would have the students study their flash cards to refresh their memory on the information. Studying doesn't have to be so boring; this way it is fun and effortless at their fingertips. I would also use this app to test myself on content I teach, especially when I feel I need a refresher. I have not used any similar app like this one before. 

appoLearning

Cost: FREE! 

Pros: This app is super neat. It is segregated into Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School and High School. You can click on your level and it will pop up with all subjects and topics within that subject you can click on one of the topics and it will show you 5 apps that the experts suggest using to teach those topics. (For example, if you click on Middle School, Social Studies will come up and then below that U.S History, Civics & Government and Geography pop up if you click on one of those you will see 5 apps for that topic.)

Cons: The apps that they suggest sometimes cost money.

This would be super handy in the classroom because it can often be a long process to find an app that will work with your next lesson or topic. With this app, you are able to find your topic and they will suggest 5 apps that could work. Each app is ranked out of 100 on how much the experts liked the app. 

MayaNumbers

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mayanumbers/id658863945?ls=1&mt=8

This app looks at numbers using the Mayan Number/Symbol system. This app is great for Middle Schoolers! It causes students to break down numbers into smaller parts, using the symbolic system used by the Mayans.

Cost: FREE!

Pros: Price. It includes a great practice tutorial that helps students get the hang of the game before they try it on their own. It is a challenging app that helps students develop speed as well as new number skills.

Cons: The numbers don't go automatically, you have to press GO every time. Also, there is no way to "undo" if you make a mistake without starting the whole problem over. 

I have not seen anything like this app, although I know others exist that also use the Mayan numerical system. 

In the classroom, this would be a great connection between Math and Social Studies. In seeing how other cultures kept records, we can learn a lot about a culture. (For example, the counted in sets of 1, 20, and 400. The twenty probably is because a person has 20 fingers and toes.) It would be fun to look at why they chose the symbols they did as well.  

Free Fall Money

    This app is $1.99.

The students practice counting money, both coins and bills, to make a given sum.

Pros: Students gained familiarity with using money. They are able to practice addition and give them an opportunity to manipulate money. It is nice for students to have this practice because it integrates technology and allows for an additional mode of intelligent. 

Cons: Although an interactive game, the students are fairly isolated in the learning process. If the student is at the level of the app, then it's a good fit. However, the app does not provide for a range of mathematical skills.

This app could be used in the classroom as an extension of learning about money value. It would also be a good center for students. It could also be an option for any free time that students may have. 

 Here's a screen shot of what the app is like. 

Teacher's Assistant Pro

Costs: $7.99
(Lite version just tracks students behavior but is FREE!)
This app is an awesome way to keep organized as a busy teacher.   Teacher’s Assistant Pro allows teachers to track their students’ behaviors, infractions, and achievements quickly and easily.  The activity of the students behaviors and achievements at school can be documented in real time and reports can be sent to parents and administrators via email by the click of a button.  If a student is late or tardy it's easy to record this along with the date, appropriate teacher response to action (and if the teacher followed through) the students counselor, if the parent was notified, what the action was, and the teacher can even add a image! You can also send an "email blast" to all students.  This app allows the teacher to put in unlimited amount of student information and pictures along with their parents' information.

Pros: Organizing important documents and recording behaviors and achievements is simple and clutter free.  The app can be customized to fit your class size and the needs of your specific class. It even has a way to put the classroom in random groups.

Cons:  It is really difficult for me to find a con for this app. It seems to be very very useful for teachers.  I guess I would like to use it and see how customized I really can make it.

Altogether this is a great app and I can see us all using this for our future classrooms!

Reference : http://www.teachhub.com/20-amazing-ipad-apps-educators

MyScript Calculator

App: MyScript Calculator

Cost: FREE

The app MyScript Calculator is an engaging app that allows students and instructors the ability to physically write on their Ipad where it will be covered and solved by the program.

Pros: This app is very easy to use. Students simply write their equation and it is evaluated on the screen instantly. This provides instant feedback for students. Much more interactive then a general calculator.

Cons: Learners cannot build upon an answer. They must clear the screen and start the next process of the equation. This makes it difficult to show every step of a multistep problem.

Obviously the direct application for this program would be in Mathematics. However, instructors can use this in other classes such as in Science or History when calculating distance or velocity. This is an engaging resource for any instructor to use for students with the connection of the SmartBoard but it will be greatly useful in the hands of children when Ipads become even more prevalent in the classroom.

This app is similar to other calculator apps because it does do simple and complex equations. However, it is much more physically hands on for students/teachers then a regular calculator. It helps students learn how to write out equations and also give them practice for pen and paper application of knowledge for standardized testing.

King of Math

King of Math Lite

Cost: Free

Pros: There are many different problems in each different area of math.  A student starts as a “farmer” and can level up their character to become a “king of math”.  It is very engaging and actually teaches students how to solve math problems while the students are having fun!  This is a great review tool for all types of learners.

Cons: This app is only for ages 9 and up.  If you have a student in first or second grade, this app would be too tough to let the students practice on.

Related Apps: There are two apps related to this.  These include king of math junior where there are harder math problems for older students and Math Formulas-Reference Guide which is a reference for students to use when they need to know an equation for a problem.

Applications to the Classroom: This is a great app to use when students finish their math workbook (if a classroom is using Everyday Math) or for some free time for students who finish early.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/king-of-math/id473904402?mt=8

Splash Math

Cost: Free

Pros: This app has many different levels for different grades. It also has the different math concepts that each grade will be learning. The students earn points to put critters in their aquarium.

Cons: The free app only gives you a couple to preview and you can only do 20 per day.  The full app is 9.99

Application: I could have students who need extra help or just have a little bit of free time to play on this app because it is also a game.

Stack the States

Read Me Stories

Read Me Stories

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-me-stories-childrens/id362042422?mt=8

Cost: Free

Pros: This app contains 8 different free books. Students can read the book on their own or have it read to them through the character's voices. There is also a feature that highlights one word at a time to help readers be able to stay on track. Throughout the story, there are many different interactive "buttons" for students to touch to continue reading and feel involved in the experience. 

Cons: After reading the first book in a supposed series of five books, the app then tells the reader that they have to buy the next 4 books for $2. I checked to see if the next 7 series were the same and they were. Although the initial app is free, the total cost if one were to buy all the books would come to $14, which is too expensive for the quality of this app

How I Would Use It In The Classroom: This app, if all the books were bought on it, could be used by the student to help their reading fluency because the student can read each story as many times as they want.  It would be a great app to use in students' free time at home as well. 

Math Zombies

Math Zombies

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-vs-zombies-math-games/id470896560?mt=8

Cost: free

Pros: Entertaining and educational for students who would like to practice their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts.  There are 4 different levels: level one consisting of addition, level two subtraction, level three multiplication, mad level four division.  Within each level, there are sub levels the player must pass with varying difficulty and speeds.

Cons: Some users commented on the app crashing, but overall, customer reviews were positive and many were satisfied with students using the app.

Related Apps: I have not used any apps that are similar to this one but it reminds me of a better version of times tables from back when I was in elementary school.

How I'd Use It In Education: I should have my students use this app for practicing their math facts. This game would be especially handy for the students who have difficulty remembering their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts because it allows the player to repeat levels and acts more like a game than a chore for students.

Stack the states lite

Cost: free

Pros: It is a fun engaging game for students to learn the state facts. It is a great way for the students to connect information and state names with the shape of the state.

Cons: it repeats the same questions over in the free version so it is suggested to get the one that costs .99 cents

Application: I would use this app for students to play games when they have free time. I would also include this game into my geography lessons.

Math Zombies

Name: Math Zombies

Cost: Free

Pros:  The game is addictive and can be very fun for students trying to learn math facts under pressure.  The app does have addition, subtraction, division and Multiplication.  It's very easy to change the difficulty as well for the equations.  

Cons:  The main con I see to it is that it could become to exhilarating for younger students.  The game makes you work under pressure because the zombies are coming at you, and then the boss battles, you have to go even faster to win.  This could overwhelm students who are just looking for a little bit of fun while learning.

How I would use this in education:  I would personally use it for time when they would be able to do their own thing after a test.  I would also really like to use this as a class activity.  For instance, put it up on a smart board and play as a class; Have them call out the answers quickly.    

Math to the Rescue Lite

 

 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-to-the-rescue-lite/id562354293?mt=8

Cost: Free

Pros: It allows for students to do both addition and subtraction.  While using this app it also allows for students to see how numbers look on a number line. Will attract the attention of students because it takes place in the ocean as a rescue team saving crew members of a boat that is on fire and sinking.

Cons: There is only one level to play so it can be a little repetitious for students

Application: This would be used as a compliment to a lesson.  Students could work on their basic math skills once they are finished with their assignment or during free time.  

Middle School Algebra App

Cost: FREE Pros: This app is a free, fun, interactive way for students to grasp key alegebraic concepts in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. After students take the tests and quizzes they have the option to send to scores to their teacher's email. This is a great way to review and practice what they learn in class but also be engaged and have fun while learning. This website is also a great way to download the games to the classroom/home computer for extra practice: http://www.monkeyinthemiddleapps.com/ It has many different versions that allows middle school aged students to understand algebra in a fun and creative way. The games are also aligned to the common core state standards which is very relevent to us as future teachers in this new generation. Students also have the option to compete with their friends which keeps them challenged and engaged. Cons: The letters and words tend to be a small size. How I would use it in education: As a future educator, I would use this in and outside of the classroom. After I would introduce a new algebraic topic, I could have them practice these games in their free time or add their scores into the grade policy for that class. I could incorporate this app into my lesson plans for all of my math activities to create an interactive, fun, learning environment. Similar apps I have tried: I have never tried an app like this one.

Math Sprints

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-sprint/id556578202?mt=8
Name: Math Sprint
Cost: Free
Pros: This app is a great way for students to practice their math skills individually. Students are able to keep track of their achievements and set new goals as the year progresses. This app covers multiple different math concepts, such as, addition, subtraction, time, measurement, and many more. After finishing a timed math sprint, the students are given in their skill level for that math concept my measuring the accuracy, time, and score. A medal is also given as rewards. The students are able to work at an individual pace and email or the share their scores.
Cons: A few of the math concepts that are practiced, such as measurement, may be hard for students to understand because finding the exact measurement with the given ruler may be difficult and take up more time.
How I would use this in education: I can see me using this app I the classroom in multiple ways. This would be a great review day activity as the students finish each chapter. I eleven that this app would also be great to serve as an effective activity to do during "free time" in the classroom. The students can all be on their own pace and the app will keep track of the improvement in each math activity that is practiced.

Sky Walk

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-walk-5-stars-astronomy/id295430577?mt=8


Cost: $2.99

Pros: There are many positive aspects to this app. Not only is it immensely interactive but it also give minute by minute information regarding the phases of the moon, temperatures, star placement, and satellite rotation. 

Cons: The app often needs some sort of GPS for up to date information but it always provides the standard placement of constellations. 

Similar Apps: Skywalk is similar to this app but this is the most highly developed app regarding information on stars and other astronomical information. 

How I would use it in the classroom: There are so many ways I would use this in the classroom but the most obvious use would be in the science subject area. This app works during the daytime so students can locate stars even during school hours. I would have students put together a monthly journal where they would record their solar observations of well know constellations. Using black construction paper each day students would graph/document the positions of the stars with silver sharpies. They would be able to have decorative record of the stars and learn about the rotation of the earth based on star movement. This is just one example of how this app could really engage students and foster a love for the sciences. 

Sky Numbers

Sky Numbers - Math meets Fun

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sky-numbers-math-meets-fun/id411215422?mt=8

Cost: $1.99

Pros: Fun and educational, tests and improves one's math skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Improves one's speed and reflexes as the numbers drop faster and faster. Exercises your brain, allows you to compare your scores with others around the world. Challenging, yet fun. Suitable for kids.

Cons: Costs money. One customer review said it didn't work and was impossible to receive support from the company.

Related Apps: I have not used any similar apps to this one, although it did remind me of the Number Goal Game from the article we read for class. In both cases, students are using reasoning to come up with math computations.

How I'd use it in Education: I would allow my students to use this app in my classroom whenever there is free time. I might use it to open a lesson, to get students engaged and ready to learn. Furthermore, I would suggest an app like this for students to use at home when they have downtime.

Tell a Tale

Tell a Tale

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tell-a-tale/id466009468?mt=8

This app is designed for two or more people. It gives the first line in a story, three images you must use in the story, and the final sentence in the story. 
Cost: FREE
Pros: The story is randomly generated and there is no time limit, so this app is all about creativity and collaboration.
Cons: The free version has limited pictures and phrases, so after a while the images repeat. Although, after using this app for several days, I have never seen the EXACT same combination of the five elements.
Use in the Classroom: I think this would be a fantastic and innovative new way to do writing prompts in the classroom. By allowing different students to work either individually or together, there could be some amazing creativity that would come from this one of a kind app. Tell a Tale could also be a fun game for students to play in a rainy day recess sitation, or as a station to go to when they have extra time. This app could be adapted so students use an app like PicCollage to create their own Tell a Tale stories.

Math Champ Challenge

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-champ-challenge-common/id566463831?mt=8

Name: Math Champ Challenge (Common Core Standards)

Cost: Free

Pros:  Challenges students’ math facts in a fun and spontaneous way. There are a variety of question topics including geometry, fractions, addition, etc. It focuses a lot on the common core standards for the levels included. There are also multiple levels from grade 4 through grade 7. There is also a “chalk board” on the lower half of the game for students to do work if they need to. In addition to the challenges, there is a “skill builder” option to practice specific areas before completing the challenges.

Cons: Challenges are timed and there wasn’t a way to change the time limit (that I found). This could make it difficult for students who struggle a little with speed to participate in the challenges.

Use in the classroom: There was also a “Math Champ (Client)” & “Math Champ (Host)” version where the teacher can host the quiz and the students can each connect via their iPads and choose an icon and it can become a competition for the whole class. The teacher receives the data from each iPad and can see the students’ scores. 

Dragon Dictation

Name: Dragon Dictation

Pros: It is a quick way to take notes. Instead of writing out notes, words are spoken and the app will record the words. Words recorded can be emailed, posted to facebook or twitter or  copied and saved for later.

Cons: Words spoken need to be articulated clearly. The application may mistake the spoken words for similar sounding words. 

Use in Classroom: This could be an app that is useful for students to take notes on information they need to remember. This could be a wonderful app for students who are learn linguistically. Students would be able to speak their thoughts on the subject and record the facts.

My experience: I have not used this app extensively, however when I tried it out the app recorded different words than I said a number of times. This could be improved by using the app in a completely silent environment.  Some other reviews also mention that the app has lost their entire dictation. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dragon-dictation/id341446764?mt=8

Todo K-2 Math Practice

Todo K-2 Math Practice

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/todo-k-2-math-practice/id666465255?mt=8

Cost: FREE
Pros: Lets students work independently to learn math facts in a new and fun way.  The games are created to give students encouragement and feel confident with math.  This app also builds fluency through repetition of math facts.  This app also has different types of games that deal with counting, tracing, tallies, dragging numerals around to create frames, and looking at addition and subtraction facts.
Cons: This is only intended for grades K-2.  I would like to see an app like this for math facts through 5th grade that has games for all types of math problems for all types of students.
How it can be used in education: This app is a great center for students to work on independently while a teacher is focusing on teaching addition and subtraction in another center, using a different technique.
Have I tried similar apps/features?  I have not tried any apps that are similar to this one.