Completely Random

This week’s Friday Five is completely random.  Here are some apps that I’ve found interesting this week and can help promote the implementation of common core standards.

1.                      Kids’ Vocab-Mind Snacks-This app is a fun way for kids to practice vocabulary.  The 9 games in the app focus on understanding words rather than just memorizing words and definitions. It is designed for grades 2-7.  It lets students play games and then measures their progress toward mastering their words.  It also has a study session that lets students review words by definition and in context.  This app is $1.99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kids-vocab-mindsnacks/id582128594?mt=8

2.                      Friend Strips Pro: This app is a fun way for students to write in a comic strip format.  The scenes and speech bubbles are set up ready to go.  You can edit the back ground to by using the camera to add real people or items.  The text can be edited to fit the retell or story that students are writing.  This was a free app on Wednesday.  There is a free version still available but the full version is now $1.99.  If you have the free version and want to update, it will cost $2.49.  If you want to try the free version and then want to purchase the full version, you might want to delete the free version first.  This will save you $0.50. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id687451368?mt=8

3.                      ABCya:  I’m a big fan of this company.  I have used their website for several years.  Recently, they have started apps to their collection of games.  Virtual Manipulatives is an app that matches its name.  It has fractions bars that students manipulate and use to determine percentages and decimals.  This is a free app. Another free ABCya app is Alphabetical Order.  This is a great app for younger children.  Students match upper and lower case letters.  They also practice putting letters in order.  My favorite new ABCya app is called ABCya Animate.  This is a great app for students to create and share animations.  Students can create an animation up to 100 frames.  This is a great tool for students to tell a short story or retell a story that they have read to show their comprehension and understanding. http://www.abcya.com

4.                      News O matic:  The app delivers daily nonfiction current events for kids to read. They can also write comments and draw pictures about the articles they read.  There are also games to play on the app.This is NOT a cheap app.  The app is free but daily information will cost $1.99 per week, $6.99 per month, or $49.00 per year, or you can use the school version for $29.00 per year. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/news-o-matic-daily-reading/id578023255?mt=8

5.                      IXL Math:  This is a free app today.  It is similar to the IXL Math website.  Students choose the skill that they want to work on and they work problems that match the targeted skill. It doesn’t have a lot of fluff, just clean practice. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ixl-center/id475819325?mt=8

Have a Great Weekend!