May/June 2014
 
There's An App For That!
"Tell me and I forget.
  Teach me and I remember.
  Involve me and I learn."

~ Benjamin Franklin

Finding the rights apps to help students meet the Common Core standards can be an overwhelming task.   This issue of Focus on... highlights some of the best apps for the iPad available at no or low cost. In addition, criteria for reviewing apps, websites with reviews, and recommended lists are included.

 

Focus on... is published periodically and provides you with links to topics of current  interest.   

 

  

  

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 Past Issues Archives  
Apps for English Language Arts


3D Classic Literature Collection 

Each time-honored story is recreated in full 3D and can be taken from the shelf and opened to any page. Immerse yourself in the romance of reading with the sound of the leather-bound book covers creaking and the swiping sounds of the pages turning. (Grades 6-12)

Murky Reef
Murky Reef is unique in seamlessly blending reading, science, language arts, math and critical thinking skills with interactive and engaging game play ALL in one app. (Grades 1-2)

Sight Words

300 sight words from the Dolch list are presented. (Grades Pre-K-4)

 

Popplet
Popplet's super simple interface allows you to move at the speed of your thoughts. With Popplet you can capture your ideas, sort them visually, and collaborate with others in realtime. (Grades 6-12)

Storyrobe is a mobile digital storytelling application. Create a story in three simple steps. (Grades K-5)

 

Toontastic 

Toontastic is a creative storytelling app that enables students to draw, animate, and share their own cartoons with friends and family around the world. (Grades K-5) 

Apps for Mathematics


Algebra Touch
For students new to algebra, or those struggling to understand concepts, this app teaches the basics step by step.  Addition, variables, basic equations, negatives, and more, are covered. (Grades 6-12)

 

Complete library of over 4,200 videos and articles covering a massive number of topics, including K-12 math, science topics such as biology, chemistry, and physics, and even the humanities with playlists on art history, civics, and finance. (Grades K-12)

 

Math Board 

Teaches addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems. The number of customization options available make this a handy app for making math fun for elementary school children. (Grades K-5) 

 

Pick-a-Path

Students have to figure out the best path, using powers of ten, negative numbers, fractions, decimals and more. It's a fun game to reinforce concepts and apply basic math to a problem. (Grades 3-7)

 

Splash Math  

Splash Math is a fun and innovative way to practice math. With 16 chapters covering over

200 math skills and an endless supply of problems it is by far the most comprehensive

math workbook in the app store (Grades 3-5)

 

Virtual Manipulatives
This app offers visualizations of fractions, decimals and percents to help students conceptualize how the three concepts work, relating visual depictions with their numeric expressions. (Grades 6-12)
Recommended Lists / Selection Tools & Criteria

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Apps and the Common Core 

New York Department of Education

  

Apps in the Classroom 

Apple Computer

  

Apps That Support the Common Core Writing Standards 

Lakes County (MN) Service Cooperative

 

Common Core . . . There's an App for That 

Henderson County (NC) Public Schools

 

Educational Literacy Apps 

Reading Rockets

 

Graphite (Search for the best apps, games and websites for the classroom)

Common Sense Media

 

Great App Review Checklists for Teachers 

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

 

Learning and Leading with Technology, Dec 2013/Jan 2014
About the Learning Multimedia Center LMC Logo 
The Learning Multimedia Center is Education's One Stop Shop and is open to the public.  Research reports, state-adopted textbooks, parent resources, Make 'n Take activities, and more are available to educators, parents, preschools, students, and the community.  
 
 
Learning Multimedia Center
 Santa Clara County Office of Education
 1290 Ridder Park Drive San Jose, CA  95131
(408) 453-6800
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