Free Apps that I Expored this Summer! James Hermon--Summer 2012 Sight Words Play Sight Words Gr. 1 & 2 Good for grades: K-2 Description: o This app has games that you can play with sight words. The games are a fun way to practice reading. You can also use the app with new or struggling readers. The app has a “word tour” mode that teaches the words used. o Can be used for students to review and practice reading sight words at a center or in a small group Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 4 o Authenticity 3 o Feedback 3 o Differentiation 3 o User Friendliness 3 o Student Motivation 3 1000 Sight Words Good for grades k-1 Description: o Great app to practice reading words. After a student reads the word they can self-check by pressing the word. The app will say the word. If the student was right they can give the word a green checkmark. o Can be used for students to practice reading sight at a center or small group Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 4 o Authenticity 4 o Feedback 3 o Differentiation 2 o User Friendliness 3 o Student Motivation 3 Spelling Mini Word Good for grades 2-5 Description: o Balls will fall and you must think of words using the letters. Don’t let the balls fill up to the top! Good for brain exercise! o Can be used as a brain building challenge at center or with a small group Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 2 o Authenticity 2 o Feedback 3 o Differentiation 2 o User Friendliness 4 o Student Motivation 4 Spellosaur Good for grades K-2 Description: o Great sight to practice specific words that you enter. Free version only allows 5 words at a time. o Can be used to practice spelling weekly words at center or small group Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 4 o Authenticity 3 o Feedback 3 o Differentiation 4 o User Friendliness 3 o Student Motivation 3 Phonics Phonics Genius Good for grades K-5 Description: o This app gives you a lot of words that have specific phonics in them. Use it when you are teaching a guided reading group or have older students practice reading words that have a certain sounds in them. Students can also record their own voice reading the word. Word lists can be customized. o Can be used by students at a center, a small group or large group if hooked to a Smartboard. Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 4 o Authenticity 4 o Feedback 1 o Differentiation 4 o User Friendliness 4 o Student Motivation 3 Abitalk Phonics Vowels Good for grades k-1, 2 for struggling readers Description: o This app shows a picture and then allows students different letter choices to correctly spell the word. Both long and short vowels are covered. Free version only gives you a and e. o Can be used at a center Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 4 o Authenticity 3 o Feedback 3 o Differentiation 2 o User Friendliness 4 o Student Motivation 3 Word Study Word Builder Good for grades k-3 Description: o This app is good for teaching word families, suffixes, prefixes, vowel patterns, blends and diagraphs. It also has high frequency words. o Use this app to teach individuals or a small group. Would work great on Smartboard for demonstration. Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 4 o Authenticity 4 o Feedback 1 o Differentiation 1 o User Friendliness 3 o Student Motivation 2 Whiteboard Free Good for grades k-5 Description: o An app to replace dirty whiteboards o Use on the iTouch for students to write onsets, rhymes, vowels or spelling words. It’s quick, easy and motivating! Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 4 o Authenticity 4 o Feedback 1 o Differentiation 1 o User Friendliness 4 o Student Motivation 4 Fluency Quick Voice Good for grades: K-5 Description: o This is a great app to record the students reading and have them listen back to themselves and self-assess. o Can be used as a way for students to listen to themselves read and for DRA2 assessing purposes Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 4 o Authenticity 4 o Feedback 4 o Differentiation 4 o User Friendliness 4 o Student Motivation 4 Listening Comprehension Quick Voice Good for grades: K-5 (Same app, different use) Description: o Record your voice reading a story or old ELA listening assessment. Have the students listen and answer questions related to the story! Students get real practice for the state test, Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 4 o Authenticity 4 o Feedback 2 o Differentiation 4 o User Friendliness 4 o Student Motivation 3 Teacher Helpers Educreations Good for grades k-5 Description: o This is another app to replace your messy whiteboard! o Use to write sight words, vocabulary, or spelling words. Recording feature allows you to replay steps. Great for teacher to use with small groups. No more fumbling with flash cards! o This app is also great to record a lesson for students to review, or have the student teach the lesson and email it home for parents to see (learn). Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 3 o Authenticity 4 o Feedback 1 o Differentiation 4 o User Friendliness 4 o Student Motivation 4 Pick Me Buzzer Good for grades k-5 Description: o Great app that can make answering comprehension questions more of a game show feel. Very motivating! o Use to quiz student’s knowledge Rubric Score (1-4): o Curriculum Connection 1 o Authenticity 4 o Feedback 3 o Differentiation 1 o User Friendliness 4 o Student Motivation 4