#AppMondayTAS - Mr. Potato Head Create and Play

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.

Mr. Potato Head Create and Play - $3.99 (Universal)

Reviewer Comments

Mr. Potato Head is an app built on the traditional Mr. Potato Head toy. As the child plays with the app, more parts are unlocked with a total of over 200 mix and match parts that can be unlocked. After making a silly character, the child can take photos of his/her creation to share and play with the character in a variety of scenes.

This app is great for working on identifying body parts both expressively and receptively. It can also be used for working on following increasingly complex commands. An example of this is: Give Mr. Potato Head a red hat and 2 brown eyes. The child can also work on expressive language as the adult can manipulate the app as the child requests parts to Mr. Potato.

We have used this app with children between the ages of 3 and 9 with diagnoses of speech/language delays, autism and learning differences.

Mobile Devices

iPad

iPhone

Embedded Skills

early learning skills

purposeful touch

develop joint attention

receptive language

increase creative play

finger isolation

Independent Traits

Fine Motor

Preschool Games

Creative

Assistive/Independent

Independent

iTunes Categories

Games

Kids

Educational

Education

BridgingApps Categories

Fine Motor skills

Fun

Social Play

BridgingApps Reviewed App

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 - Grammar Wonderland (Elementary) Lite

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.

Grammar Wonderland (Elementary) Lite - Free (iPad only)

Reviewer Comments

As we venture through the app world and search for apps appropriate for "older" students, Grammar Wonderland Lite is a versatile app that engages children who like to move their iPad in a game-like manner while learning grammar at the same time. It targets grades 3-6, but we have found it useful for students who are chronologically older, but still require lots of practice and repetition.

The app allows you to shut off sounds that may be distracting for some students. The only other settings are what skill is your student working on? Is it nouns, verbs or adjectives? Next choose your level from easy to expert. Now you choose your badge and you are ready to go.

For beginners try the practice mode to learn how to manipulate the iPad and how it moves and how you capture the correct noun, verb or adjective. Next, as the child feels more comfortable, choose to explore new worlds. The worlds are nice as they show students maps introducing the concepts of going north, west or east in the game. It also gives you the spots where you need to target the words you are looking for.

We have used this app with older students who have developmental delays, and it has been helpful for these students who are still learning their grammar skills. We have had the most success with basic verbs, nouns and adjectives. The students love the action component of the game, which helps to keep their attention and keep them engaged.

We think this app is a great way to introduce grammar skills in a action-packed and creative way for older students to help them engage in what can be a dry topic, but needs to be learned and practiced over and over again.

Possible IEP Goal: When given written material, the student will identify and classify the nouns as proper or common.

Mobile Devices

iPad

Embedded Skills

high level of visual discrimination

verb practice

visual motor skills

nouns

adjectives

Independent Traits

Grammar

Assistive/Independent

Independent

iTunes Categories

Education

Educational

Games

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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#AppMondayTAS - Sharing Timer

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.

SharingTimer (Universal, $0.99)

Reviewer Comments

Sharing Timer is a great way to introduce sharing, taking turns with peers and managing play time. The caregiver can use the set up screen to set up the activities, the timers, sounds, etc. Also, the app is easy enough for a 5-6 year old to set up independently, with the exception of writing the child's name.

First you identify the players and the color they want to be. If you have their picture you can insert it or take one with the iPad's camera. Next you input the activity you want to play, such as "play ball" or "play house". If you want to add a game press the Activity button and edit the caption to the activity you want. It is helpful to be able to customize the games for the classroom, playdates, or guided play in group therapy sessions. You can also adjust the time for each turn depending upon what you are playing and the age of the children. You can input just a few seconds for younger children and several minutes depending on the developmental age.

Finally, you can customize the background of the app. The chalkboard set up is nice as it is very settling for all children to look at. The last choice is the sound that alerts you when your time is up. Our students liked the Trolley Bell as it does not scare the class when it goes off. The timer has made a big difference in our class as the kids can see their name and see the time counter so they can watch for themselves when it their turn.

Possible IEP Goal: The student will actively participate in class group activities (e.g., sharing, working on group projects).

Mobile Devices

iPhone

iPad

Embedded Skills

ability to increase visual memory

ability to match objects

color recognition

Independent Traits

Education

Assistive/Independent

Independent

iTunes Categories

Entertainment

Education

BridgingApps Categories

BridgingApps Reviewed App

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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Do you know somebody else who would find this post interesting or useful? Please forward it to them. Did somebody forward this post to you? Visit Teaching All Students and subscribe to receive posts for free. If you need a tutorial please visit this post: RSS Readers.