I did an email for the SHEEP (homeschool suppport group) loop because people were asking questions about apps. So, I thought I'd post it here also.
These apps are for the iPod touch (I have the 4th generation (?) so I don't know how far back they go) and the iPad. The older "classic" style or Nano, etc do NOT do apps. Also, I listed the title that shows for the app on my screen. I did take the time to look up a few of them so you can be sure you found the exact ones. On other ones, you'll get pretty close just searching the app store. If you are trying to find a particular app that isn't found in your search at the app store, just let me know and I will get you more information about that app.
To start, you'll want to set up an iTunes account (if you don't already have one) You only need one iTunes account per family so you can share all your apps and only need to purchase each one a single time. I didn't want mine connected to a credit card where I could accidentally be charged for downloads a child made so I bought an iTunes card. As a special treat once in a while, my husband will buy me a $15 iTunes card and I just use it as I find great deals. Then get an app finder that will search for the apps that are temporarily discounted (a percentage off or completely free for a period of time - 24 hours, the weekend, the month,...). AppZappPush tends to find most of those for me. I do have to caution, however, that I do not let the kids check AppZappPush (or any other app searches, even iTunes app store). Many of the apps are NOT appropriate and you can quickly tell in their title and in their little icon. I check it myself and download what we want and pass on the great deals available to my friends.
Very important!!!! - Disable in-app purchases. On many of the apps you can click to download the full version or in the games you can buy more "whatever" for your game (buildings, crops, houses,... ENDLESS!). That is another reason I connect it to my iTunes card - we can't possibly spend more than is on that card ;) My iPod has the screen locked (with a passcode that all my kids know) but the parental settings are changed by myself alone (with a passcode my husband and I know). I set it so they can NOT delete apps (3yo could accidentally do that), NOT add apps, I set ratings for games, etc... The iPods are MINE and I share them ;) That way it is easier for me to control things on there and where/when they can play them. We play them in the living room or at the dining room table, grab them as we are heading out the door, share them on the way to Grandma's house, while we are waiting at doctor's office, etc. I, MYSELF, like to grab one and work on Immersive Spanish while I am waiting at softball practice (once again, we're never too old to learn). If you keep tight control on the settings, they should be able to use them out of your sight, if not, they have full internet access...
I got most of my apps on their "free" day. Many apps tend to cycle around and are free one day every few months (some are once a month). So, get the free one (if it is available) and then decide if you want to buy the full version then wait for the "free" day or pay for the app now. Also, if you don't have an iPod touch or iPad now, you can still set up the iTunes account and download each of app on its free day and then just put them on the iPod after you get it.
Here are some basic guidelines we have. There are 10 of us in the house so we will have limited time on whatever we are doing. There is "school time" then there is "play time". We don't watch tv (but do watch videos and dvd's). Beyond their regular school work I require three 5-minute sections for the youngers who are working on a specific math skill - clock, addition, multiplication, money,... So, they can do those apps during school time or they can do their practice on the computer. We are also working on learning our states and capitals so they can use the app or the computer to practice that. We are also learning Spanish (Switched on Schoolhouse) so when I sit down to work on my Immersive Spanish the littles always watch me and they started doing TripSpeak on their own (during school time). After "school" time, I say, "Education gets first choice." So, if someone wants to play a computer or iPod game and someone else wants to work on their Spanish, the child doing Spanish gets it first. So, if they want to use the "toys", their best chance is to do something "educational" :)
Some apps will only work if you have wi-fi, others are self-contained. My 16 yo has mp3 with headphones but the rest of us play our audio (game or music, whatever) outloud (it's easier to tell at a glance, or a quick listen, what they are doing). I have an iPod Classic that I filled with classic audio books and old time radio programs. My iPod touch has no room for music, just my apps :)
My children have their chores and homework - each as assigned, completed to the best of our ability ;) While they are waiting for me or if they are done with their work they can do educational apps on the iPod or they can go play. After school time, they can do the fun apps (if they completed their work and earned their free time (just like you have to earn computer time for free play).
We'll start with some of our favorite ones for preschoolers. My sisters told me about "Monkey Lunchbox". So, we started with that one. Then we started collecting story books. There are a lot of apps that will read the story to the child. Very understandable, however, is that my toddler still wants to sit ON MY LAP while the app reads the book to him. But it works in a pinch if I need to help another sibling or for trips on the car. "Read Me Stories" lets you get one free book per day or pay the money and get all 30 books at the same time. Story Chimes has a lot of books (free and paid versions).
For years we have used the Starfall (www.starfall.com) website on the computer (free). They have an app at the app store so I decided to buy and download that - so it was on the pod AND so I could support him and his ministry to provide that great website.
April was Autism Awareness month so there were apps that were available that month that help students with autism but also are good for critical thinking and language development. Those were done by "Kindergarten.com" and include "Which Does Not Belong?", "What Rhymes?", "What Goes Together?", "Receptive by Function", "Receptive Combined", "Receptive Identification", and "Receptive by Feature".
Winnie the Pooh theme is in "Teach My Kids: Kindergarten" (Bugun Software) and has some basic skills practice. "TeachMe: Kindergarten "and " TeachMe: 1st Grade" are two other options (from 24x7Digital).
For thinking skills for most ages there are matching games (for memory - "Cars Match", "ToyStory3"), Tangrams (inlcuding "My First Tangrams"), "CarPark Free" (like Rush Hour puzzle game), Geared (and Geared 2),... My personal favorite is the GasTycoon series (by Lemico Soft) :)
Beginning Spanish favorite apps would inlcude "Wordios", "TripSpeak" (we started with the free version and then got the paid version. It is good for all ages.) "Feed Me!" and "Immersive Spanish" (by Wattanasoft, I paid for) are two others that are good for all ages. I have contacted the app writer for Immersive Spanish and he is working on the next couple of levels - I am ready for those. English Spanish Language Adventure (by Sam Denhartog) is another good one for all ages (even has 2-player option so two can practice). Maria's Spanish Class Lite looks interesting but I haven't bought the full version. "Translator with Speech" (free, from Proxy Systems Pvt Ltd) is a neat one and actually translates many languages. I also have "100 Spanish", "eFlashSpanish", and a few other free ones to try out but I like the others better. "!Spanish" (by Lingora)," Learn Spanish" (Lucidifi), "Spanish LE" (24/7 Tutor), "Spanglish Free", others are flashcard ones that I did not upgrade.
Bible - "Touch Bible" and "Annual Bible" are the ones I go to most frequently. Annual Bible has a plan for reading through the Bible in one year (you would need wi-fi to access the scripture that it directly links to) and the other is a good one to look up Bible verses. Then I found "Bible.is" (plays audio version) and my new study favorite, "Logos", for with original Hebrew/ Greek words and their meanings and translations.
For free book sources, I have a Kindle app for the ipod. These include very old books that are free. Chloe is reading the Johnson Primer on there and I am reading Pride and Prejudice. I really like the LibriVox computer website for free audio books so I looked for a LibriVox app on the iPod and found "Free Audiobooks". It is an easy way to view some of classic books offered and has a user friendly interface for downloading the ones you want to listen to (I've only tried with wi-fi). Some of the classics are suited for older students, others for all ages. Even has some classic history living books.
For English/Language Arts I have "Mad Libs", " iLiveGrammer Botony" (paid for), "Grammar Dragon", "Grammar Fun", "Grammar Jammers" (songs with parts of speech), "SameMeaning", "Grammar Basics". I would say those are for elementary grades. For Spelling I have "Spel it Rite" (Pro), "Spel It Rite 2", "iSpell", "Spelling Bus", "Spelling Bug",...
For Fine Arts, there are some free piano apps, guitar apps, etc." PPSU Lite", "Piano Music Reading", "Virtuoso Piano",... My children do not take piano lessons but these apps will give them a little bit of information and are fun to do. My son is self-teaching guitar and he's fiddled with "ChordBank", "Guitar Free", "PocketGuitar", and "TouchChords". And I guess I'll include here that there are apps for just about any subject of interest. There are survival skills apps (I downloaded just in case I get lost in the woods and happen to have my ipod :lol ), Morse code, Braille, ham radio, ... I bet there are apps out there for about anything (and definitely some that I would stay away from also!)
The iPod is also a great tool for teaching or reinforcing states and capitals. We like "Stack the States" (Lite then Full Version), "USGeography", "USA Map", "iteachStates", "StateNCapital", "USCapLite", "States and Capitals Free", "U.S. Capitals",... There are also some apps for learning Presidents - "USPresidentsFacts", "US Presidents" (lots with that title). We tried free versions and upgraded the ones we liked best. Sometimes a child will say, "I really like this one and I learned all that was on the free one. Can we buy it?." So then I pay $.99 (or something like that) and get the full version.
There are a lot of different skills included in my math section. The first is Clocks - "ClockMaster", "LearnTimeLite", "ClockDril"l, "OhClock", "MathTappers Clock", "KidsClock", "Toy Clock Lite", "Round and Round",... Some cross mulitple level skills for telling time. Some are preferred by my kindergartner, others by my 2nd grader or 4th grader. Money is another section and includes" Count Coins Free", "Coins Genius Free", "Coin Math", "Coins", "Sticker Shop".
There are lots of ones for working on math facts - "CloudMath Free", "Roman Nums", "iDartMath", "Number Line", "Primes", "iRuler", "Fun With Math", "Add Coach", "FractionDrills", "Fraction Basic", "FK Free" (fractions), " FreddyFraction", "FractionTime!", "Fractions", "SolveLite" (number series, what comes next, some a little tough), "MathStacker" (comparing decimals and fractions), "Mathster", and "Math Addicted".
For Math Reference, there is a series called, "YourTeacher.com". They have little video clips explaining some of the math skills (Multiplying fractions, perimeter, proportions,...). Sometimes a students just needs to see it again and it's an easy reference or reminder video. "Algebra Touc"h is a pretty cool one for showing the properties of an equation (and order of operations, re-writing an equation, or whatever you call it in math terms). ("Khan Academy" is also available on the iPod and iPad (just like the website with all the science and math explanations) but you need wi-fi to access the videos. For older students, we have "Geometry Pro" (for reference) and "Trig Pro".
For Science there are ones for many specific topics. We have "Bones Lite", "Wolf Center", "Learn Sharks", "Primates", "Volcanoes"... So, if there is a subject a student is interested in, you might want to see if there is an app to expand their knowledge (or to get their interest sparked in something before you begin your new lesson or study). We have the Science Language Central series (Physical, Earth, and Life Science), and then some trivia style ones like "101 Science", "Science Facts", "ScienceFacts", "Science Lite", and "Science Quiz". I do those with them while we are waiting somewhere. We have a few apps for the periodic table of elements - "Elementals", "Periodic Table", "PTExplorer".
Personally, I don't know a lot about outer space so don't really know how to judge these apps. We have "Cosmic", "Planets", " Solar System", "Cosmic" (another one, this one is a mosiac made of photos from the American Museum of Natural History), "PlanetFacts", "Grand Tour", "Stellarium" (also shows longitude and latitude lines for the earth, from a ground view),... I like SkyView Free (bought full version now). If I hold it up to the sky, it would find all the constellations, planets, U.S. Space Station, etc. (Caution, it does show the constellation graphic design - so the Greek lady is not really modest but if you're studying constellations, you might be aware of their historic names/meanings already.) Also, we believe in a young Earth so we discuss those things and the differences of what people believe.
I started studying Sign Language several years ago so I found some apps that can help us. "ASL Signs", "ASL!, iSign Lite", "Learn To Sign" (has videos),and "SignLanguage". "FamilyASL1" and "Smart Hands Lite" both have videos (full version would, of course, have more words). "ASL Lite" (with a thumbs-up logo has a quiz feature so you can see if you learned them). "American Sign Language Lite" is good practice for reading signs (I can sign, but it is VERY hard for me to read what someone else spells, especially finger spelling. I was always told that I should practice in a mirror so I could SEE the signs and practice that way.)
Trivia and other stuff - "Basic Facts Drills" was free (by Kevin Neelands) and has practice for states and capitals, nations of Africs (and Asia, Europe,...), Synonyms, Antonyms, multiplication, Elements and symbols, and Chemical formulas. It is not very pretty but can help in learning a specific topic (or just use as a trivia game for the family). Ben Stein (It'sTrivialLite), Pop Quiz! (though does have movies I don't watch and music I don't listen to), Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Quizarium (I can't get that one to work right now, don't know why)
Mom Apps :) I like "Book Crawler" for keeping track of all the books we read each year (I used to keep a spreadsheet on the computer). I started with the free version and emailed the app publisher, Jaime, several times for help and got quick responses and purchased the full version. I scan the barcode on the back of the books and I have my list, then I just add my notes of who read each book. Easy to scan them and then just add the few that it couldn't read. "iBookshelf" is another one I tried (but didn't buy full version). "MovieScan" is an easy one to list the dvd's/videos you own if you want to make a log. "MyFitnessPal" is a food/exercise log program that I like (calorie counter, etc.). I have a timer app on the first iPod screen that I can easily set.
"Apple" toys, iPod Touch and iPad, do NOT support flash player so some of the websites will not work on there. For example, I can get to the parent section of ClickNSpell (internet spelling Curriculum) to see their reports but my children can not do their lessons on there because it uses flash player. Math Is Fun uses flash player also. So, that is my complaint about the Apple products. Also, I wanted to disable YouTube on the iPod (in parental control section) but then I found iLive Grammar Botany that uses some well-chosen YouTube videos to reinforce the botany lessons they are teaching. So, I chose to enable it. (So, if you have people who like to surf YouTube, you can disable YouTube and just turn it on when you want them to be in there and you are supervising.)
Just like the internet, however, be cautious to guard the hearts and minds of your family. I disabled "Safari" (the iPod default internet browser) and installed "BSecure" on the iPod. It will make for safer internet searches. You can disable YouTube. Watch your settings (disable in-app purchases, installing apps,...) I have "Location Services" turned on for "MobileMe" so I can find my iPod if I loose it :lol But I don't want the camera to post where I took the pictures, the apps to know where I am (except for the Weather one), etc. Also, a big caution on sites that you have to log into that actually show personal avatars (I removed all apps with "Plus+" log-in!!!). They may control the content of the game, but they inadequatedly supervise the avatars (personal little pics or logos to represent a person).
Don' t let that scare you, just be aware and be safe. Also, know that if your child already has an iPod (newer generations), it may have full internet and YouTube options (even if you don't have wi-fi in your house, they can still access the internet at the library, a friend's house, etc so you should be in charge of the restrictions (with passcode inside).
If you have one of those cool gadgets, don't be afraid to USE them. They can be great educational tools! Just be aware of their capabilities.
