#AppMondayTAS - Storybook Maker

Each week I will be featuring an app from BridgingApps.org.  These apps are features in the Bridging Apps newsletter each week and are reviewed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers.  Come back each week for a new review.  If you’d like more information on how to use the BridgingApps.org website, or to find more app reviews, please click here.

Storybook Maker - (iPad Only, $2.99)

Reviewer Comments

Storybook Maker is an app that allows the user to write, illustrate and publish their own story. Using text, photos, graphics and audio recordings, the app allows an adult or child to design their own book.

There are many uses for this app, but one we have found especially useful for children is a method for discussing upcoming changes in a schedule due to vacations or some other event that is out of the ordinary routine.

Using Storybook Maker, a caregiver can write a social story about their vacations or weekends. Using actual photos, the story can be customized for the user. Older children and adults can also use Storybook Maker to write stories about the event and then share then with family and friends.

It is a great way for the child to share their experiences with their friends and teachers when they return to school. It is also a great way to encourage written language and auditory comprehension.

We have used this app with children between the ages of 2 and 10 with diagnoses of Down syndrome, speech delay, autism spectrum disorders and anxiety.

Mobile Devices

iPad

Embedded Skills

attention span

develop joint attention

expressive language

organization

parts of a story

social interaction

social skills practice

vocabulary development

written sentence construction

multiple languages

Independent Traits

Books and Stories

Creative

Early Learning

Reading and Phonics

Assistive/Independent

Independent

iTunes Categories

Education

Books

BridgingApps Categories

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Language Arts

Social Skills

Speaking and Listening

Disclaimer:

You may copy, modify format, distribute and perform the work(s), including app reviews and any data even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission provided that you: a) cite our research project and publications as follows: BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston; b) agree that we make no warranties about the work(s) or data, and disclaim liability for all uses of the work(s) or data, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; c) when using or citing the work(s) or data, you should not imply endorsement by us; and d) do not misrepresent the work or its content, or any part thereof, or present it any manner which would have the effect of disparaging BridgingApps, Easter Seals Greater Houston or any affiliated entity or person.

Patrick

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#AppMondayTAS - SpellBoard

Each week I will be featuring an app from BridgingApps.org. These apps are features in the Bridging Apps newsletter each week and are reviewed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers. Come back each week for a new review. If you’d like more information on how to use the BridgingApps.org website, or to find more app reviews, please click here.

SpellBoard - $4.99 (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)

Reviewer Comments

This is an extremely helpful app for helping users learn, manage and have fun with spelling word lists. You can input word lists into the app by creating a new quiz. First you can name the quiz and as you type in the word, you have the ability to categorize it according to grade level 1-12, record audio pronunciation of the word, and record a sentence with the spelling word.

Once you have created the list, the user can begin to work on learning the words by doing different activities. Included in the app is Word Scramble, Word Search, and Missing Letter game. Each of these games has "hints" built in, so for those who can get frustrated easily, there are built in prompts that help support/scaffold the student as they are learning.

Word Scramble takes the spelling word and mixes the letters up, so that the user must put the letters in the correct order to spell the word. In Word Search, the words are put into a Word Search format with the spelling words listed on the right hand side. This game can be challenging if the list is long, so for those with visual perceptual deficits, this game might prove frustrating. In the Missing Letter game, the letters of the word have one missing letter with a choice of 3 letters. The user must drag one of the 3 letters to the word with the missing letter. It is a fun drag and release type game. For each activity there is a timer that records the length of time it takes the user to complete the activity, along with data demonstrating percentages right, etc.

"Study the Quiz allows users to practice spelling the words when given the word auditorily and visually. "Take the Quiz" allows users to take a practice quiz, complete with using the word in a sentence, but the prompt is given auditorily, just like a spelling test is generally given in a classroom setting. The word is spoken and the user must spell it using their finger, a stylus or can use the onscreen or external keyboard to spell it.

You can create multiple users on this app and track data for them. Another nice feature is that the app can be used for virtually any language because you can record the audio for whichever language you need, making it especially nice for ESL classrooms. Version 1.8.1 added an upgraded sharing feature allowing users to share quizzes via email, iCloud, DropBox, Bluetooth or other iTunes file sharing. This version also added Landscape mode support for the iPad.

We have trialed this app with typically developing children in all grades, students with Down syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Global Developmental Delay K-12. Many children demonstrated much more interest in working on spelling words because they had control in helping to make the lists and recording voices or had a peer record their voice. For those with fine motor impairments, it is recommended to use a stylus or have caregiver assistance because some of the option buttons are quite small and could be frustrating for those who cannot access the screen with accurate isolation.

All in all a must have for teachers and a fantastic tool for students of all levels.

Mobile Devices

iPad

iPhone

Embedded Skills

auditory processing of words and symbols

handwriting skills

increase vocabulary

increase writing skills

language comprehension

letter formation

reading fluency

reading single word level

sight word recognition

spelling practice

writing skills

Independent Traits

Reading and Phonics

Assistive Traits

Language & Literacy

Assistive/Independent

Assistive

iTunes Categories

Education

BridgingApps Categories

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Language Arts

Disclaimer:
You may copy, modify format, distribute and perform the work(s), including app reviews and
any data even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission provided that you: a)
cite our research project and publications as follows: BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals
Greater Houston; b) agree that we make no warranties about the work(s) or data, and disclaim
liability for all uses of the work(s) or data, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; c)
when using or citing the work(s) or data, you should not imply endorsement by us; and d) do not
misrepresent the work or its content, or any part thereof, or present it any manner which would
have the effect of disparaging BridgingApps, Easter Seals Greater Houston or any affiliated
entity or person.

Patrick

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Simple Photographic Dictionary #edtech #assistivetech #spedtech #ESL

Simple Photographic Dictionary is a visual (picture) dictionary appropriate for children learning English.  Thousands of common nouns and simple concepts are illustrated with beautiful photographs.  The photographs are sourced from flickr and are under Creative Commons license.

This site differs from other dictionaries in the following ways.

• Language is simpler and easier to understand than sites like Wikipedia
• Definitions are concise
• Every entry is illustrated with a real-life photo
• All names are given for nouns or concepts that are known by a different name in different parts of the world.

Originally this site started out as a personal project to be a quick reference.  The developer was frustrated with wading through verbose pages on sites like Wikipedia.


This is a great resource for all students who benefit from the use of visuals (especially real-life photographs) and simple language (i.e., early elementary, ESL, special needs).


-  Jeremy

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Academic Skill Builders

Twitter strikes again in today's post! Academic Skill Builders is a great site for practicing all sorts of skills. Most of the games are multi-player and are easy to play! You can play against random people, or you can set up a private game for students to play against each other in a safe setting. There are many math skills to work on and also a good amount of language arts games! These games would be great on a SMARTboard or for use in a computer lab. Check it out today!

Patrick

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Shahi - A Visual Dictionary

Larry Ferlazzo at Website of the Day recently posted about a very exciting site for all students, Shahi.   Shahi is a visual dictionary. It provided a definition for the word you type in, but also pictures.  The pictures are pulled from Flickr, and they are high quality. It's really a very simple, easy to use site.  It would be a great resource for students to help them see multiple pictoral examples of the same word.   Check it out!




-  Patrick


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Vocabulary Lists

So you're getting ready to read a book, but you want to make sure you cover all the vocabulary. So what's the best way to find that vocabulary. Here's a tip from the Boardmaker List.

You can pull vocab lists off of Amazon.com as well. Just type in the name of the book, scroll down to the section called "Inside This Book" and click on the "concordance." It will pull out all the main words (but not the high-frequency site words like the, then, and, though). Beside the Concordance tab is "Text Stats" that will provide you with a readability scale if you need one.

For me this will be a great addition to the story book lessons that I will be teaching this year as part of the ELSB.  It should make it easy to plan a book, and find the important vocabulary, as easy as typing and clicking!


-  Patrick