I am so excited to share some of my favorite apps with you today! There are tons of app lists out there, but these are apps I have been using WITH SUCCESS, all year this year. Tested, tried, and true!
ALL OF THESE APPS ARE SIMPLE TO USE. There is no fluff, no crazy backgrounds, no out of control images that are just too much for our kiddos. They may not all be free, but they are extremely valuable and have made life in the classroom a lot easier this year!
- Time Timer, $2.99: I LOVE TIMERS, seriously it’s a thing. I have all types of sand timers and water timers in my classroom, and while they are great for some kids, for others they can be distracting, anxiety inducing, or stim worthy. This timer is great for kids motivated by technology, is not overly stimulating, and shows progression of time. You can also have multiple timers going at once. I call that a win!
2.iReward, $2.99: This app is so visual! I love that you can take pictures of REAL items the student is working for, and it is so clear what the student has to do to earn.
3. Stories About Me, $3.99: This app is so great for creating social narratives/ social stories for kids. I’ve used it before for a student who was moving to a new house. You can import your own pictures and even do a voiceover!
4. See Touch Learn, FREE: This is an AMAZING free app! You could replace all of your flashcards for discrete trial teaching with this app… and even create your own lessons with a library of over 4,000 real images!
5. Sight Words by Teach Speech Apps, FREE: This app is great! The words are colorful, big, and will read it aloud to you if you click on it. It keeps track of the number of incorrect and correct words for you to view after, if your student is able to be independent!
6. 1 on 1: Communicate Easy, FREE: This app has built in schedules for your students to follow! I love the check marks throughout! The black background is great for sensory sensitive kiddos! There is a limited amount of images in the free version, but enough for me to use for basic task analysis in the classroom.
7. Choice Board Creator, $1.99: This app lets you add your own images. You can use it for identifying people, things in the classroom, or just about anything. I love being able to build quick discrete trial sessions and store them. You can also use it as a reward choice board and save pictures of toys/ reinforcers that are available in your very own classroom.
8. Choice Works Calendar, $4.99: This app is great to use for morning meeting. If you have an iPad hookup to go to your smart board, you could have students mark days off from school, holidays, reward days and fun stuff. I have used it for a child who was looking forward to a trip, but had trouble understanding how far away it was.
9. Endless Alphabet, FREE: This is a student FAVORITE in my room. We mostly use it for a reward because it is so fun. How great is it when you find academic based rewards for kiddos?! The words are a little high for my kids, but the letter matching is amazing! Some words are in the free version, but if you really love it and want a FULL LIBRARY of fun words, it is $8.99.
10. iModeling, $14.99: Okay, I know this one is a steep price. But if you have kids who benefit from starring in their own video model, this is a must have. ESPECIALLY if you aren’t so text savvy. It’s quick and easy to build a video with titles and words that kids can benefit from for years to come.
I hope you enjoyed this list. Remember to keep it simple when it comes to apps. There are SO MANY to choose from, but a lot are just too overwhelming!
Note** not all of these apps are free, but they are worth the money if you are able to get administration to purchase them for your classroom.
