Special Stories by Special iApp

App Name:  Special Stories
Developer:   Special iApp
Cost:             $12.99

We are huge fans of Book Creator - an app that makes it super easy to create an ebook using pictures, video, audio, and text.  Unfortunately, switch access can be a little too complicated for students with special needs.  Also, the student must take action in order to hear the page's pre-recorded audio.   Special Stories gives you the same easy interface for creating your digital books, but it also makes it super easy to attach switches for students who do not have the ability to use touch to operate the iPad.  Audio that is recorded for a page can be set to automatically play when the student turns the page.  Other settings include automatic page advancing and playing sound when the page picture is tapped.  If we could change just one thing, it would be to increase the size of the picture on the page.  If we had this, we would be able to create ebook versions of existing books that we have for our students.  The way the app is designed today, the picture is a little to small for this to work well. Even still, we give it a solid 4 out of 5.

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/lk/app/special-stories/id478550473?mt=8

Ready to Print

App Name:  Ready to Print
Developer:   Essare LLC
Cost:             $9.99

Designed by an Occupational Therapist, this app is an outstanding tool for helping students with pre-writing skills.  It also helps with iPad skills such as touchings, dragging, tracing and connecting objects.  You can set up multiple student profiles and you can adjust the settings for each student.



  Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ready-to-print/id513780564?mt=8

PDF Office

App Name:  PDF Office
Developer:   Readdle
Cost:            Free (for a limited time)  

In the past, when we needed to create accessible worksheets for our students, we would scan the worksheet into Adobe Acrobat on our computers and add form fields before sending it over to the iPad (via Dropbox) for our students to use.  Now, with PDF Office, we snap a picture of the worksheet and add form fields right from the iPad.  The app is easy to use and has a host of other great features to support students' specific needs.  It has options to change the view from black text on a white background, to white text on a black background, and sepia, allowing you to accommodate students with specific vision needs.  It also provides bimodal text to speech to help struggling readers or students with visual impairments.  Of course, a full range of annotation tools are available so the student can write or type into the document, add notes, highlight text, and insert pictures and links.

We have used a number of PDF apps to access and annotate worksheets, but this is the first one we have found that enables us to insert form fields for those students who struggle with fine motor skills.

The app is FREE!! for a limited time, so download it today and try it out!

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pdf-office-create-edit-annotate/id942085111?mt=8

CodeArt Programming

App Name:  CodeArt
Developer:   Pentaquistic Solutions
Cost:             Free or $0.99 for Premium Subscription
Platform:      iPad

We have bought into the coding craze hook, line, and sinker!  It's a great way to teach higher level thinking skills in a fun and engaging way, and it helps to develop kids' interest in a high demand career!  What's nice about this app is that is requires less fine motor skill than many of the other apps.  All the commands are lined up at the bottom of the screen and all the student has to do is tap it for it to be included into a program.  There is no "run" button to select either - commands are instantly executed so kids can see if they've made a mistake and fix it.  A simple tap on the command in the program block makes it disappear.  The concepts taught in this app include sequence, functions, turns, and multiple functions.  Perfect for beginners! Try it for free.

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/codeart-programming-puzzles/id939075166?mt=8

knfbReader

App Name:  knfbReader
Developer:   Sensotec nv
Cost:             $99.99
Platform:       iPad

This app was designed to make print materials accessible to the blind and visually impaired, but we think it's also a great tool for students who struggle with reading.  Take a picture of the printed material and this app immediately and accurately extracts the text and makes it ready for the student to read.  Text is read in a synthesized voice and is simultaneously highlighted for improved focus and comprehension.  It's more expensive than apps we typically feature, but we think it's worth the price!

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/knfbreader/id849732663?mt=8

Math Tree

App Name:  Math Tree
Developer:   Bellamon
Cost:             $0.99
Platform:      iPad

This is a perfect app for supporting students as they learn basic addition and subtraction math facts from 0 to 10.  Students are presented with a math problem and graphics that represent it.  They tap or drag objects in or out of the tree to determine the answer.  The app helps students count as they go and prevents counting the same object twice.  Once they figure out the answer, students select it from three choices.  Students earn rewards as they play.  The graphics in this app are really nice.  Look for this one under iPhone apps in the App Store.

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-math-tree/id587028310?mt=8

Build-A-Body

App Name:  Build-A-Body
Developer:   Spongelab
Cost:             FREE
Platform:      iPad  

Here's a great science app for teaching the body's major organ systems.  It includes the following systems:  digestive, respiratory, skeletal, nervous, excretory, and circulatory.  For each system, the app provides an overview description and for each of the parts, it provides an explanation for how that part fits into the overall system.  The student must then put all the parts of the system together on the human body.  The game is timed for added excitement.  This app is perfect for middle and high school students.

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/build-a-body/id489938737?mt=8

Pick Me!

App Name:  Pick Me!
Developer:   ClassEapps
Cost:             $1.99
Platform:      iPad

Add this app to your classroom management toolsbox.  The app helps you (the teacher) decide who to call on and will help you track whether or not they answered correctly.  You can set the app to remove students from the selection pool once they have answered correctly.  Your class activity is saved at the end of class and can be exported and emailed.

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pick-me!/id444045099?mt=8

Autism iHelp Sorting

App Name:  Autism iHelp Sorting
Developer:   J. Talavera
Cost:             FREE
Platform:      iPad

This interactive app asks the student to sort items into categories by dragging and dropping into labeled boxes.  Students can hear the labels spoken by simply tapping the boxes.  Items that are incorrectly sorted are automatically moved out of the box with a prompt for the student to try again.  One activity from each of three levels is provided in the free app.  In-app purchases are required for full access.  This app has a reporting feature to help teachers and parents track student progress.

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autism-ihelp-sorting/id609622929?mt=8

VoiceNote II

App Name:  VoiceNote II
Cost:             FREE
Platform:      Chrome

Now, speech to text is available to you wherever your Chrome Browser is installed.  Download this app from the Chrome Web Store, install the microphone according to the provided instructions and start talking to compose your writing.  It's as easy as that.  If you have students who can benefit from speech to text to support writing, you really should try this app out!  It's FREE!

Find this app in the Chrome Web Store: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/voicenote-ii-speech-to-te/hfknjgplnkgjihghcidajejfmldhibfm?hl=en

Clearly (Extension)

Name:  Clearly
Cost:    FREE
Platform: Chrome

Created by the makers of Evernote, this Chrome extension cleans up web pages, making them easier to read by eliminating distractions such as ads on the page.  "Cleaned" up articles can be viewed in three different pre-formatted options, or you can create a custom view to suit your needs.  It also includes a highlighting tool so you can highlight important information and save your highlights to Evernote. Articles can be clipped into your Evernote notebook for later viewing.  There are many extensions that perform this function - Clearly is one of our favorites!

Find this extension in the Chrome Web Store: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/clearly/iooicodkiihhpojmmeghjclgihfjdjhj?hl=en

Bookshare Web Reader (Extension)

Name:      Bookshare Web Reader Extension
Cost:         FREE
Platform: Chrome

Students with documented print disabilities are eligible for a free membership to Bookshare, the largest collection of accessible titles.  There are many tools available to access these titles and one of the latest improvements makes it possible for students with individual accounts to access their content in a web browser.  This access is optimized for Google Chrome.  This extension enables text-to-speech and word level highlighting for the Bookshare Web Reader in Chrome.  For more information, go to Bookshare.org.

Find this extension in the Chrome Web Store: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bookshare-web-reader/bkfmjmjngglphchhiemnghidpnddofmo?hl=en-US

RefME WebClipper (Extension)

Name:      RefME WebClipper
Cost:         FREE
Platform: Chrome

This terrific little extension takes all the stree out of citations.  It will help your students create citations for books, videos, websites, movies, articles, and more.  Citations are saved to a project which can be exported to various formats, such as MS Word.

Find this extension in the Chrome Web Store: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/refme-webclipper/hmgoegihbjidjbcnmokiicohabagclpg?hl=en

LearnBoost (Chrome App)

App Name:  LearnBoost
Cost:             FREE
Platform:     Chrome

This powerful classroom management system is available to you for free as a Chrome App.  Create a classroom, assign seating, keep a grade book, take attendance, and share access to grades with students and parents, all within the LearnBoost App.



Find this app in the Chrome Web Store: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/learnboost/lfbigbedbdencpbioocekehcblgokpno?hl=en-US

Read&Write for Google (Extension)

Name:  Read&Write for Google
Developer:   TextHelp
Cost:             FREE for teachers
Platform:       Chrome

This Chrome Extension provides comprehensive reading and writing support for webpages and Google Drive documents.  Supports include text-to-speech, dictionary, translations, word prediction, voice recognition and text summarization.  The premium edition is free to everyone for 30 days, after which you can still use text to speech and translation supports.  Teachers can have their premium subscription for FREE.  Go to rw.texthelpcom/freeforteachers after installing the trial.

Find this in the Chrome Web Store: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/readwrite-for-google/inoeonmfapjbbkmdafoankkfajkcphgd?hl=en-US

Kid's Journal by App of Approval, LLC

App Name:  Kid's Journal
Developer:   App of Approval, LLC
Cost:             FREE

This adorable app is a great tool for kids to use to reflect on their day.  Each page provides a place for students to use provided icons to record their moods, their location and the weather.  Then they can enter a picture from the camera or the photo album.  Finally, there’s a place for them to write about what they did that day.  Each page is automatically dated to record when the entry was made.  

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kids-journal/id528173573?mt=8

Magnetic Touch Board

App Name:  Magnetic Touch Board
Developer:   Touchapp.co.uk
Cost:             $1.99

This simple little app is a great tool to learn numbers and letters or for practicing spelling and math.  It’s organized much like a magnetic board but with the benefit of an unlimited supply of letters and numbers. It includes phonemes and symbols as well.   It also has a quiz option that makes it possible to create quizzes to test knowledge.  

 Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/magnetic-touch-board/id722784012?mt=8

Clean Up: Category Sorting

App Name:  Clean Up: Category Sorting
Developer:   Different Roads to Learning
Cost:             $1.99    

Teach sorting and classifying objects with the Clean Up app.  The app presents 75 different objects to be sorted into one of three categories.  Correct answers are rewarded with auditory and visual reinforcements; if the student answers incorrectly, the app will provide a visual prompt of the correct answer.  A report is provided at the end of the activity.

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clean-up-category-sorting/id404057271?mt=8

Overdrive

App Name:  Overdrive
Developer:   Overdrive
Cost:             FREE

Borrow e-books and audiobooks from your local library system using the Overdrive app.  To use the app, you must have an account with a participating library.  You can borrow books any time, day or night, and never pay a late fee because books are automatically returned.  Each library system decides which books to make available, so selections may vary.  

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/overdrive-library-ebooks-audiobooks/id366869252?mt=8

Sentence Creator by Grasshopper Apps

App Name:  Sentence Creator
Developer:   Grasshopper Apps
Cost:             Free
 

If you’re already using Bitsboard, you know what an amazing and versatile app it is.  Now you can get Sentence Creator from the makers of Bitsboard to help your students practice writing sentences.  Use the available activities or create your own custom sentences using the students’ vocabulary or spelling words.  It’s free, so give it a try!        

Find this app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sentence-creator-learn-to/id862932607?mt=8