Amazing Apps from Amazing people!

What an amazing group of resourceful people.  It is so true that you learn from others while doing.

It was great to see the number of apps and how they are used.  Understanding the specifics of each app really helped me break down the reading process and understand the gaps that reluctant readers experience.  The following are apps that we reviewed in class;

Meet Millie 
Learning with Homer
The Cat and the Hat
Comixology 
Timbucktu Magazine
ABC photo touch app - grasshopper app
Little Writer
Rhyming Words
Little Speller
Duck Duck Moose
Superhero Comic Book Maker
Educreations Interactive whiteboard
vbooks PDF
Madlibs
Super WHY?
Aesop's Quest
Reading Timer
Pictello
Bitsboard

Timbucktu Magazine and Dr. Seuss were my favorite apps. 

We went from the reading task analysis to the writing task analysis.  We were asked to pick up a pen and write a paragraph with our non dominate hand.  Here is my example;

Writing with my left hand was very difficult.  It was very awkward to hold the pen and to feel natural while writing.  As you can see from my writing sample I forgot capitals and even spelling.  I found myself searching for simple words and sentences to write.  I was so focused on getting something on paper that I did not think of the final product.  I focused on getting the task done the easiest way possible.

Then we were asked to write a paragraph but using notes on our iPad.  This process is very similar but less fine motor skills as their is no pencil to grip but we still must be seated properly, find the keys, and press the right letters. We  still have the entry level skills including the knowledge base, vocabulary, and formulate the ideas before writing, however the fine motor control element has changed.

CoWriter's word prediction helps struggling writers with correct spelling and grammar. CoWriter has topic dictionary for hundreds of topics.  It also has the option of creating your own topic dictionary from the web.  CoWriter is an excellent tool for students with low level literacy skills.

Other tools that struggling writers can use are Dragon dictation and the speech to text option on the ipad.  There are may features on the iPad that can help struggling writers.