Meredith Eyerman

LITR 630/Mary Morgan

Apps
June 30, 2017
App 1: Teach Your Monster to Read

Teach Your Monster to Read is a game for children learning to read, or for those that
need extra practice in foundational skills. It is intended for students in grades K-1. It offers
three levels including letter and sound recognition, word patterns, to complete sentences. There
are many CCSS addressed within this game which include RF.K.1d, RF.K.3c, RF.1.3, and
RF.1.2. The game is intended to compliment existing learning. It can be played on the
computer, iPad, android, kindle, or iPhone. The cost of the app is $4.99, however it is free on the
computer.

App ILA ISTE KTS6

Teach Your Monster This app meets ISTE standards 1c: KTS 6.1: Uses
to Read is a game to standard 2.1: use models and technology to design
build aid children in Candidates use simulations to explore and plan instruction
foundational reading foundational complex systems and that supports and
skills. knowledge to design issues, and 3c: extends learning of all
or implement Evaluate and select students, is addressed
integrated, information sources in this app. There are
comprehensive, and and digital tools multiple levels to
balanced curriculum. based on the better meet the needs
This app supports appropriateness to of students, and
what the students are specific tasks, are enhance what they are
learning, and engages addressed in Teach already learning. 6.2:
them in a fun activity Your Monster to Uses technology to
to practice early Read. Students are implement instruction
literacy skills. 2.2: interacting and that facilitates student
Candidates use evaluating learning. Teach Your
appropriate and information to make it Monster reinforces the
varied instructional further in the game. skills being taught
approaches, including during the reading
those that develop block. 6.5
word recognition, Demonstrates ethical
language and legal use of
comprehension, technology.
strategic knowledge,
and reading-writing
connections. This app
helps reinforce
reading skills for
beginning readers.
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App 2: Book Creator for iPad

Book Creator is an app for the iPad that is appropriate for grade K-12, that allows users to
create text with their choice of images, annotations, or audio. Users may also publish their work
to the iBook Store or share through many other methods (online, google drive, drop box, PDF,
etc.). This app meets CCSS W.K.1, W.K.2, W.K.3, W.K.5, and W.K.6. The app costs $4.99.

App ILA ISTE KTS6

Book Creator for iPad This app meets Book Creator meets KTS 6.1: Uses
is an app for creating standard 2.2: standards 1a: Apply technology to design
stories/text with Candidates use existing knowledge to and plan instruction
images, annotations, appropriate and generate new ideas, that supports and
and audio, that can be varied instructional products, or extends learning of all
published. approaches, including processes, and 1b students, and 6.2 Uses
those that develop Create original works technology to
word recognition, as a means of implement instruction
language personal or group that facilitates student
comprehension, expression, by learning, is addressed
strategic knowledge, allowing students to using this app.
and readingwriting use existing Instruction and
connections. knowledge to create implementation
Student needs can be original works. creating written
met due to the works, can easily be
individualized nature incorporated to
of the app. It engage and motivate
enhances learning by students.
allowing students to
take their writing to
the next level and
publish for others to
read. Standard 2.3:
use a wide range of
texts (e.g., narrative,
expository, and
poetry) from
traditional print,
digital, and online
resources, this app
allows students to
read one anothers
work, and provide
opportunities to create
different types of text.
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App 3: Educreations Interactive Whiteboard

Educreations Interactive Whiteboard is a tool that allows educators to create lessons that
students can access and participate in. The app allows teachers to share lessons directly with
students so they can access lessons anytime from an iPad or computer through the website.
Students can control the learning pace and even create a presentation showing what they have
learned during a unit of study. The app allows teachers to provide differentiated instruction or
tutoring opportunities, as well as monitor student work. This app is intended for grades K-12,
and meets CCSS RI.K.7, RI.K.8, RI.K.9, SL.K.2, and SL.K.3. This app is free, unless you want
to upgrade to add more features.

App ILA ISTE KTS6

Educreations This app meets ISTE Standards KTS 6.1: Uses
Interactive standard 2.2: addressed in this app technology to design
Whiteboard allows Differentiate include 2a: Interact, and plan instruction
students to view instructional collaborate, and that supports and
lessons, and approaches to meet publish with peers, extends learning of all
participate in learning students reading and experts, or others students, and 6.2 Uses
activities that allows employing a variety of technology to
writing needs, and
flexibility on behalf of digital environments implement instruction
incorporate
the educator and and media. Students that facilitates student
students. traditional print, can work learning, is addressed
digital, and online independently or with using this app.
resources as peers to create a Teachers can prepare
instructional tools to presentation and lessons and
enhance student publish for their peers differentiate
learning. Students to learn from. instruction
can go back and re- 3c: Evaluate and accordingly to better
read or listen to a select information meet the individual
lesson, learning at sources and digital learners needs.
their own pace. It tools based on the
appropriateness to
also offers an efficient
specific tasks.
way for teachers to
Students can
differentiate participate in a lesson
instruction, as each and use the
student can view information learned
different lessons to from the lesson to
meet their individual create a presentation,
needs. 5.1: showing what they
Candidates design the have learned.
physical environment
to optimize students
use of traditional
print, digital, and
online resources in
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reading and writing

instruction. Students
are given
opportunities to work
and participate in
lessons through the
app throughout the
classroom, and use
flexible seating to
better meet their
needs.

App 4: Write About This

This app helps to give students daily writing opportunities. Students are given ideas to
begin writing. They can be given a writing prompt, voice prompt, or create text using their own
photos. There are 175 photos and over 300 prompts included in the app. The writing prompts
vary in difficulty for each image, so students can choose the prompt that meets their writing
ability. This app is intended for grades K-5, and meets CCSS W.K.1, W.K.2, W.K.3, W.K.5,
and W.K.6. The cost of Write About This app is $3.99.

App ILA ISTE KTS6

Write About This- A This app addresses ISTE 1a: Apply KTS 6.1: Uses
writing app with standard 2.1: existing knowledge to technology to design
images and prompts Candidates use generate new ideas, and plan instruction
for students to use. foundational products, or that supports and
knowledge to design processes. Students extends learning of all
or implement will use what they students, and 6.2 Uses
integrated, know about a topic technology to
comprehensive, and and writing, and use it implement instruction
balanced curriculum. to create a writing that facilitates student
The writing app piece when given a learning, are
allows students to prompt. 1b: Create addressed in using
engage in daily original works as a this app. The
writing to include (but means of personal or planning of which
not limited to) group expression. prompts to use and
informational, Students will use the supporting different
opinion, or narrative app to create and writing abilities
pieces. 2.2: express themselves allows writing to
Differentiate through writing. easily take place no
instructional matter their current
approaches to meet ability.
students reading and
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writing needs, and

incorporate
traditional print,
digital, and online
resources as
instructional tools to
enhance student
learning. Students
can create text and
choose a prompt that
best fits their writing
ability.

App 5: Spelling City

The Spelling City app allows students to practice simple to complex spelling, and also
explore vocabulary. You can use the words that come with the app, or create customized lists to
fit the needs of your students. It is an engaging way to practice skills and vocabulary being
taught in the classroom. Activities students can choose from include spelling test, hang mouse,
missing letter, alphabetizing, learning to spell, sentence unscramble, word unscramble, and so
on. It can be used in grades K-5 and supports CCSS RF.K.1.C, RF.K.2.A, RF.K.2.B, RF.K.2.C,
RF.K.2.D, RF.K.2.E, RF.K.2.A, RF.K.3.B, RF.K.3.C, and RF.K.3.D. The Spelling City app is
free.

App ILA ISTE KTS6

Spelling City- Gives This app addresses ISTE Standard 4b: KTS 6.1: Uses
students an standard 2.2: Plan and manage technology to design
opportunity to Candidates use activities to develop a and plan instruction
practice spelling and appropriate and solution or complete a that supports and
vocabulary skills. varied instructional project, and 4d: Use extends learning of all
approaches, including multiple processes students, and 6.2 Uses
those that develop and diverse technology to
word recognition, perspectives to implement instruction
language explore alternative that facilitates student
comprehension, solutions are learning, are included
strategic knowledge, addressed by this app. in the planning of the
and readingwriting Students are able to incorporation of this
connections, and 2.2: participate in the app in the classroom.
Differentiate spelling and Spelling City will
instructional vocabulary activities enhance students
approaches to meet to better spelling ability as well
students reading and understanding as vocabulary
writing needs, and foundational phonics knowledge.
incorporate skills and expand
traditional print, vocabulary.
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digital, and online

resources as
instructional tools to
enhance student
learning. Spelling
City allows students
to work at their own
pace, and ability
levels to enhance
student learning.

TPACK

The TPACK framework includes technological pedagogical content knowledge. Today,

educators are expected to enhance learning through the use of technology, and help students

develop the necessary skills in todays society (Davies, 2011, p. 46). Educators who truly

encompass the TPACK mind frame choose specific technology because they understand the

pedagogy for teaching specific content and know how technology can facilitate accomplishment

of the intended learning goal ( Davies, 2011, p. 50). Incorporating apps on iPads or tablets,

allows students to explore the many uses of these devices, while becoming more technologically

literate. As 21st century learners, it is vital to their success that students understand how to

effectively use technology to not only enhance their learning, but prepare them for the future.

Incorporating apps such as the ones listed above in daily activities, offers students an

opportunity to become proficient at using technology and gaining a better understanding of the

way they workand better yet how they can make technology work for them to enhance

learning. When identifying apps to use in the classroom, I first look at the content they need to

master by the end of the year, and how I can move each student further. I typically assign

different apps to different students, depending on their ability level. Many students are
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motivated by technology, and see it as a reward. Although they are enhancing their content

knowledge, they see it as a fun way to do so, remaining engaged and motivated. I plan to use

these apps during centers and incorporate in our daily small group lessons. It is vital for 21st

century learners, that I use my pedagogy and integrate technology as often as possible, to better

prepare them for the future.

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References

Davies, R.S. (2011). Understanding technology literacy: a framework for evaluating

educational technology integration. Techtrends, 55 (5), 45-52.