The Best Digital Apps To Support the Reading Process in the Classroom
While we have investigated many apps for literacy in the classroom thus far, some are standouts for
me. Out of dozens of apps I wrote about several favorites, but some rose to the top of my list for use in my own classroom. Usability and presentation was a large factor for me. Software for students - especially younger ones, should be fun, engaging, and as frustration-free as possible.
For early childhood, my top pick is Felt Board. It enables young students to use a time-tested and classic activity, but digitally - which also adds features not available with real felt pieces.
For teachers or upper elementary and above, I love Piktochart. This is an infographic wizard that makes presentations both attractive and easy to make. Whether for teaching, student presentations and/or projects, it is a flexible and beautiful method of presenting information. A wonderful runner-up app (particularly good for visually representing relationships or flowcharts) is Popplet. It's an attractive and useful program, perhaps even easier to use - but simply lacks as many customizable features that Piktochart offers. Upon reflection, however, this may simply be the case of using what is best suited for the task, as opposed to ranking them against one another.
For students - whether younger or struggle with spelling - I highly recommend American Wordspeller. How often were we ironically told as a child that, if we wanted to know how to spell something, we should go "look it up in the dictionary?" This app solves the obvious dilemma of not knowing where to look - in fact, the icon for it says it all: the "ph=f dictionary". Love it!
Regarding male students' love for nonfiction (statistically speaking), as well as the new emphasis on informational texts in the new common core state standards, I love Reading Comprehension. This app contains nonfiction texts and assessments for 1st and 2nd grade content. This would also be a great find for parents.
PodBean is an easy and free host for audio recordings and allows others to subscribe to your podcasts via an RSS feed. This would be a great way to create a classroom audio library - whether read by students or the teacher.
There are many reasons I consider the above apps the most valuable for the classroom. Part of their appeal is that the current generation of students are extremely technology-savvy, as well as find them "cool," fun, and engaging. They also often allow processes and projects to be developed faster - not to mention the positive impact of conserving paper (benefitting both the planet and the school budget - most of the apps are free). And, finally, they reduce preparation time finding and creating physical presentations and can be worked on both in and out of school - allowing students to enjoy a seamless transition from school to home.
I can't find any negatives with using these apps with one singular exception: Preschool-through-2nd grade students should be provided with adequate time to work on motor skills, particularly pencil- holding - as studies show that too much technology replacement of traditional methods can hinder growth and development.
For early childhood, my top pick is Felt Board. It enables young students to use a time-tested and classic activity, but digitally - which also adds features not available with real felt pieces.
For teachers or upper elementary and above, I love Piktochart. This is an infographic wizard that makes presentations both attractive and easy to make. Whether for teaching, student presentations and/or projects, it is a flexible and beautiful method of presenting information. A wonderful runner-up app (particularly good for visually representing relationships or flowcharts) is Popplet. It's an attractive and useful program, perhaps even easier to use - but simply lacks as many customizable features that Piktochart offers. Upon reflection, however, this may simply be the case of using what is best suited for the task, as opposed to ranking them against one another.
For students - whether younger or struggle with spelling - I highly recommend American Wordspeller. How often were we ironically told as a child that, if we wanted to know how to spell something, we should go "look it up in the dictionary?" This app solves the obvious dilemma of not knowing where to look - in fact, the icon for it says it all: the "ph=f dictionary". Love it!
Regarding male students' love for nonfiction (statistically speaking), as well as the new emphasis on informational texts in the new common core state standards, I love Reading Comprehension. This app contains nonfiction texts and assessments for 1st and 2nd grade content. This would also be a great find for parents.
PodBean is an easy and free host for audio recordings and allows others to subscribe to your podcasts via an RSS feed. This would be a great way to create a classroom audio library - whether read by students or the teacher.
There are many reasons I consider the above apps the most valuable for the classroom. Part of their appeal is that the current generation of students are extremely technology-savvy, as well as find them "cool," fun, and engaging. They also often allow processes and projects to be developed faster - not to mention the positive impact of conserving paper (benefitting both the planet and the school budget - most of the apps are free). And, finally, they reduce preparation time finding and creating physical presentations and can be worked on both in and out of school - allowing students to enjoy a seamless transition from school to home.
I can't find any negatives with using these apps with one singular exception: Preschool-through-2nd grade students should be provided with adequate time to work on motor skills, particularly pencil- holding - as studies show that too much technology replacement of traditional methods can hinder growth and development.
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