Favorite Educational Ipad Apps

These are some of our favorite educational apps. I am just sharing those we have used personally.

Communication:

Proloquo2go - Junior uses this app for communication and we really like it.  It is easy to program and can quickly be adjusted for the childs needs.  Though Junior mainly uses this app with eye gaze it is now switch accessible and we are slowly introducing that to Junior(he is quicker with the eye gaze so prefers that but if I can get him to use the switch it will give him more independence with the app)

Sounding Board - We use this app on occasion because it is switch accessible(with a switch interface).  Junior does not like it as well as proloqo2go but I know some have had great success with
 it.

Answers HD - This is a great app that turns the screen into two switches(each half of the screen is a switch).  You can add your own voice and pictures.  

Tap Speak Sequence - This could be used for communication though for Junior I read his book into it and he can use his switch to move through the story.

Sign4me - This is not one used by Junior but I enjoy it.  It is a sign language app.

First Then - This is a great app to help with staying on task and transitioning from one thing to the next. You can use it to create picture schedules.  We used this more frequently a few years ago but don't use it as often now, Junior just doesn't need it like he did when younger. 

Reading Comprehension

Abitalk - there is a whole series by Aibitalk for comprehension.  We have used the k-4th grade levels and really like them.  They have fiction and non fiction story options as well as comprehension apps for specific subjects(science, social studies, solar system).  There is a short story to read then several questions about the story.  We use these apps nearly daily in Junior's school work.

Proloquo2go - I am listing this here again because we use it to create reading comprehension boards for whatever books we are reading.  Currently he is going through the Hardy Boys series and I make a set of questions for every couple chapters we are reading.

Combination Apps(math and Reading)

Teach Me Kindergarten , Teach Me 1st Grade, Teach Me 2nd Grade -  These are great apps and ones that have gotten lots of use in our house.

Space Boards - Nice apps, more like a work book.  Include math, reading, and other subjects in a work book type layout.

Reading

Word Magic - one of our favorite reading apps, easy to use and not too much on the screen so Junior can easily stay focused on the words.

Hooked On Phonics - Great app with lots of animation to keep kids interested we don't use it a lot because Junior has moved past this level but it was one we used to use frequently.

Starfall ABCs - Another one we no longer use because it is lower level but a great app for beginning readers. 

Rainbow Sentences(by Mobile Education) - Shows a picture and has the child put the words in order to make a sentence about the picture. 

Touch and Learn - makes a letter sound and the child matches it to the correct letter

Abitalk reading apps - There are several reading apps in the Abitalk series and so far all we have tried have been nice apps.  Great for teaching reading basics.

Alpha Writer - A really nice reading app with lots of options.  We used it most for working on letter blends.

Magnetic Alphabet - The screen is a board which you can drag letters onto to make words or sentences.  A fun app to add some variety when working on reading.

Math

Math Magic - Probably the math app we use the most.  Easy to follow and progressed with the child.

Splash Math - We use this one on occasion, good for learning addition and subtraction, Junior enjoys the little ocean animals you earn while playing.

Measurement HD - This is one we really like, it teaches about different measurements on a fun way. It uses large pictures and Junior is able to use his eye gaze and for most of the questions the pictures are large enough that I can easily tell which he is looking at to answer the questions.







This is just the start of this list and I will be back later to add more and update this post

Ipad Apps - Junior's Favorites

I posted our list of favorite apps a few years ago but thought it was time to post a new list. 
I Will do this in 3 different posts with the first being Junior's favorite apps, then a post with our favorite educational apps, followed by a post with friends favorite apps.  I will be working on these over the next week and then will put a link on the side bar so they are easy to find and I can just add to them instead of making new lists.

Junior's favorite apps:

Angry Birds
Animal Sound Chase - a memory type game, match the sound to the correct animal. 
Apptivity/Hot Wheels- comes with a special car that you place on the screen, moving the car plays the game(Junior loves this one when used with the apple box so he can see it on the tv)
Art of Glow - drawing app

Bubbles - pop bubbles on the screen(not one Junior really plays anymore but a fun one for the younger crowd)
Bugs and Buttons - Lots of fun games on this app, technically this one goes under educational but Junior really likes it so I am listing it in his favs. 


Clicky Sticky - create fun scenes with "stickers"
Clicky Sticky Heroes - create fun scenes with hero "stickers"

Dot Magic - touch the screen to create designs

Fart piano - not much explanation needed here
Firefighter HD - short videos of firefighters doing their job
Fireman Sam Junior Cadet - various games that teach the child about fire gear and fighting fires
Fire Truck - the ipad screen looks the dash of a fire truck, you can turn the steering wheel, turn on the siren, etc.
(Whopping) Fire Trucks - videos and pictures of fire trucks and other rescue vehicles from around the world.

Gobble Gator - help the gator eat the rubber ducks(much like the hungry hippo board game)

I Love Fireworks - touch the screen to make fireworks

Kids Keys - light up piano keyboard

Laser Lights - touching the screen creates fun designs

Magic Marker - drawing/art app

Musical Hands - colored squares on the ipad screen which play music when touched
My Play Home - look at various rooms in a house, move items, open cupboards, etc. 

RadSounds - a music app which is also switch accessible(with a switch interface )
 Real Animals - watch animals on a safari, touch them to make them move or make noise

Snake Me - much like Chutes and Ladders but uses real snake pictures so Junior doesn't look at it as a baby game and loves to play it. 

Talking News - whatever you say is repeated in a fun voice (hysterical app that is a favorite with all in our family)
Tesla Toy - touch the screen to create fun, lighted designs

UNO - ipad version of the card game

Vocal Zoo - animal sounds

2 B Me Firefighter - learn about firefighting through fun games
2 B Me Aviator - learn about being a pilot through fun games

Junior's Favorite ipad Books

Arthur Xmas
Charlie Brown Christmas
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Croods
Heidi on the Alp
Heidi and Klara
Heidi in Frankfurt
How To Train Your Dragon
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Ice Age
Kung Fu Panda 2
Kung Fu Panda Holiday
Megamind
Monster At the End of the Book(1 & 2) 
Penguins of Madagascar
Pirates Band of Misfits
Puss In Boots
Shrek Forever After
Smurfs
Toy Story
Toy Store 2
Toy Story 3
Transformers Dark of the Moon Mix and Match Book
Treasure Kai and the Lost Gold of Shark Island
Treasure Kai and the Seven Cities of Gold
Turbo






 

Sensory Tray Version 2

I have been brain storming and trying to come up with another version of the sensory board that allows for larger items and those which cannot be put on with a hot glue gun. 

I decided to use the same foam board base but cover it with felt.  I initially was just going to stitch items in place but started thinking how limiting that was on what could be added.  I instead decided to attach elastic and velcro loops to the board so we can now put anything we want on the board.  Junior's favorite thing is that not only can he have sensory items but now we can add toys as well and change them according to what he wants.  I plan to put fall items on it the next couple months then Christmas sensory items.

 This first board was my test run so I did not get many pictures of the process.  I am working on one for Junior's buddy and another for his teacher so will update with more pictures of how I made this in the future.   10/14/13: adding some pics.

I started like I did with the first version and cut out 2 pieces of foam board into the shape of Junior's tray.  I again used duck tape to hold them together though I didn't completely cover them, just enough to hold them tightly.  

If you have a child with a lot of tone who stiffens their arms into things and you plan to have this just on their lap you may want to use something firmer and less likely to bend for the inner board then the foam board.  I put a small pillow on Junior's lap under his or have it on his wheel chair tray so have not had an issue with it bending.

I placed the foam board on top of a folded piece of felt and then cut the felt in the same shape  being sure to leave several extra inches at the top and a couple inches at the bottom and sides for the seam.
I then stitched just across the bottom including the cutout in the front. I left the sides and top open. I placed the foam board inside just to check position and left it there while I pinned strips of wide ribbon(it was about 2 inches wide).  Leaving the foam board in placed made it much easier to pin the ribbon because I didn't have to worry about accidentally pinning it to the back piece of felt as well.   

 I used 5 ribbon strips but of course you could vary that for your needs.  I also went with black like the board so that the items I place on the board will really stand out. 

  

 

 The ribbon on the board after it was all sewn in place.  Be sure the material is open and you are only stitching the ribbon to the front. 

 I then used 3/8 inch elastic which I cut into various lengths and sewed velcro to each end to make loops.

    Elastic pinned on and ready to sew in place.  Ignore the threads, I waited until after all the elastic strips were sewn on before going back and trimming the threads off.

 I stitched these to the strips of ribbon.  I put 18 loops on starting with a row of 4 then of 3 then of 4 again repeating the pattern to the bottom.  I will be sure to update this post with more pictures of the steps as I make the other boards.   

 After attaching the loops I turned the material inside out and stitched the sides.  Then turned it right side out again and stitched a strip of velcro across the felt at the top of the board.  I slid the foam board inside the cover, pulled it snug, then tucked the corners in and secured it with the veclro(the rough part of the velcro will stick right to the felt).  I used hot glue on the bottom piece but am going to try and figure out a better way, possibly some strips of the stick-on velcro to hold the corners tucked.  Using velcro would allow me to remove it for washing if needed.   Again sorry I didn't get pictures of this part and will be sure to get some and post them soon.
I am considering  adding a layer of pillow stuffing(this would be under the foam board so would not change the top at all)  that would make the bottom of the tray more like a pillow when it is sitting on his lap(or maybe just getting a piece of foam I can slide in the back when needed).  

Here is the finished board with sensory items as well as some of Junior's toys attached.  A trip to the dollar store was perfect for finding a few of these items. This board has 18 loops.

 Junior is very pleased with it.  The yellow bumpy item he is holding is actually a dog toy but he really likes how it feels and if he pushes his arm it makes noise.

 

 Today I found this toy and it is perfect for his board.  I found it in the baby section at Target which Junior would be quite upset by(if he knew) but with it being shaped like a football he thinks it is very cool.  It is also very easy for him to hold onto.  The skies the limit on what you could put on the board. 

   This is the girl version I just finished as a birthday gift for one of Junior's buddies.