Skill Domains Embedded in App Use*
Early Learning Apps- (Birth to Five)
Domain
Attention
Cause & Effect
Peekaboo Barn (lite or
$1.99)
Provides bright colored
pictures with animal sounds,
music, movement cuing; high
contrast background
Furry Friend Lenord
(free or $.99 for plus)
Bright colored animated
character, repeats back
what you say; high
contrast background
I like books, (free/$1.99)
Grasshopper apps
Colorful title pages in
categories against muted
background
Cookie Doodle ($.99)
Tap screen to enable animals
to appear and make noise on
screen
Voice imitates actual
child voice; games where
you tap object to make
movement or sound
Immediate voice
feedback; encourages
increased turn taking
through reinforced
vocalization
Interaction with
inanimate character on
screen
Choice game options
As soon as book title page
is selected it opens
Need to follow directions
read by adult to see
effects
Choose a book to record
own story
Word awareness-pictures
and print presented;
vocabulary
comprehension
Story comprehension
(passive)
Print awareness through
highlighting words as
read
Exposure to story
sequence
Pick type of cookie,
shape, design, etc.
Follow directions to
create cookies
Turn Taking
Social Interaction
Choicemaking &
Sequences
Vocabulary
Building with
sounds/words and
pictures
Language skills
Early literacy skills
Sequential story
and song
development
Basic concepts
(preacademic)
Problem-solving
Sadao, 2014
Child’s voice identifies picture
Word labels with pictures
and sound
Wheels on the Bus
($1.99)
Bright and contrasting
starter page with written
directions and
accompanying sound
effects
Multiple cause and effect
icons with visual cues
Multiple actions to
choose from per page
Words, pictures, and song
Print awareness
Song Development and
story sequencing; can
record own voice
Objects, actions, shapes
Print awareness &
vocabulary exposure
Need to read directions
or adult prompting to
participate in cookie
making
Skill Domains Embedded in App Use*
Preschool Apps-(adapted from Sadao & Robinson, 2010)
Domain
Felt Board
$2.99)
Attention
Cause & Effect
Turn Taking
Select clothes to
dress different
characters from
several side menus
The selection of
clothes allows for
turn taking
Vocabulary Building
with sounds/words and
pictures
Language skills
The app allows for
selection of various
clothes and outfits
along with
background designs
Pictures of clothes
can be labeled.
Early literacy skills
ABC category allows
an option to place
letters on design
Sequential story and
song development
Story telling
Basic concepts
(preacademic)
Body part and
clothing
identification
Selecting various
clothes and
backgrounds for the
board
Problem-solving
Seasons & Weather
ilearn with (free with
in add purchases)
Uses child’s photos for
stories created
Color and animation
attracts interest; verbal
directions provided
Touch picture in story to
reveal recorded
information.
Learn about science
through weather-touch
weather items that
describe picture
Two children take turns
selecting weather for
calendar days
Stories are connected with
child’s interests
Social Interaction
Choicemaking &
Sequences
My Pictures Talk
($2.99)
Story sequence is
developed by child and
teacher
Cartoons and animation
about weather stimulate
discussion about four
seasons
Choose between varying
weather conditions and
activities that match daily
forecasts
Words are typed in and
appear on each page of the
story
Days of the week 7 months
of the year; weather
vocabulary
Increases exposure to
familiar print and words
Print awareness with
personal stories
Labeling clothes and
weather conditions
Days of the week and
months of the year words
repeated in the calendar
format
The child builds a
sequence of weather
activities for a week.
Labeling body parts
Stories are created in a
sequence of what happens
next
Print awareness, letters
Child chooses between
different weather
conditions to match to
pictures of weather
patterns
K-2 Apps
Sadao, 2014
Counting with the
Very Hungry
Caterpillar ($2.99)
Opposites ($2.99)
Tozzle (lite)
White background with
colorful fruit and other
objects from the Very
Hungry Caterpillars book
The caterpillar provides
directions verbally and
printed word is also
provided
Contrasting colors with
white background
Brightly colored first page
with children’s voices.
Multiple cause and effect
animal options by tapping
on item.
Once a puzzle piece is put
in the correct space, the
object is labeled.
One child can choose the
opposite animal to the
initial chosen.
The game can be played
with two children placing
puzzle pieces in the correct
slots.
The student is requested to
choose a certain number of
the same fruit.
Child can have opposites
read or can read on their
own; print is provided.
Puzzle pieces are selected
and dragged to
appropriate form.
Opposites defined
Puzzle parts are identified
when piece is placed in the
correct form.
Labels fruit
Print awareness; opposites
in captions
Counting, number
correspondence
Opposite phrases provided
Skill Domains Embedded in App Use*
Domain
Vocabulary Building
with sounds/words
and pictures
Love To Count-Pirate
trio ($3.99)
Verbal directions and
feedback are provided
for each action.
Language skills
Literacy skills
Number recognition
Plants HD ($2.99)
Stories about fruit; can
be read or read to
student. Important
sentences is incased in a
bubble
Provides plant
vocabulary with
definitions
Option to read story
about plants or read to
me option.
A to Z First Words
With Phonics (Free)
Word awarenesspictures and print
presented; vocabulary
comprehension
iWrite Words (lite &
$2.99)
Visual and auditory
cues to copy letters and
numbers; word is
spelled out and labeled
when finished.
Toontastic (free &
school version-$9.99)
Cartoon parts are
labeled. Child records
story parts using
vocabulary.
The Lorax ($4.99)
Object makes noise
while child selects
letters to put in order to
make a word that
represents the pictures.
The word is sounded
out and blended.
Text highlighting and
text to speech; letters to
basic three letter words
Verbal storytelling,
feedback from finished
cartoon.
Pictures with words
highlighted in blue text.
Option to read alone or
have it read. Another
options allows for the
child to record their
voice.
The story progresses
with page turning cues.
Sequential story and
song development
Basic concepts
(academic)
Problem Solving
Sadao, 2014
Number sense,
counting and
cardinality, algebraic
thinking, number
operations in base 10.
The app provides
statistics for each
learner.
Actions require
student to determine
amounts missing,
finishing the amount
reflected in the
number presented,
adding and subtracting
Science concepts
Words can be selected
from 3 to 8 letters in
length.
Letter copying and
recognition of CVC
words
After reviewing the
story, a test on details in
the story is offered as
an option. Passing the
test unlocks the next
level based on Bloom’s
Taxonomy.
Words progress from
basic individual letter
sounds to graphemes,
phonemes and
blending.
Student must draw the
line in the correct
direction or is not
allowed to go forward
in completing the
copying of the letter.
Story building and
sequence with picture
cues and directions
Verbally telling a story;
indentifying story parts
App requires
understanding of story
components and
sequence; child creates
individual story parts
with introduction,
conflict and resolution
Tapping on individual
words responds with
the word read aloud
again. Tap on pictures
and moving words
appear.
Word identification;
oral reading, silent
reading and
comprehension.
Potential discussion
around questions posed
in story.