Technology and Elementary
5 Mobile Apps that will enhance student learning!
BrainPop Jr. Movie of the Week
The purpose of this app is to either introduce or reinforce students learning on a particular subject. Teachers can use this app before or after a lesson to spark student interest or as a self learning review. For example, after a teacher teaches a math lesson on addition and subtraction, he/she can then use the BrainPop app to practice equations and review theories through the animated characters of Annie and Moby. This app gives a whimsical feeling of fun to math review and a sense of adventure. "BrainPop Jr. content is designed to cultivate critical thinking skills and encourage children to ask questions and make connections."
Spelling City
Spelling tests are still a huge concept in the Elementary classroom. Spelling is one of those activities that are hard to make fun and enjoyable. Teachers can use this app to help their students practice spelling, especially before a spelling test. This app is good for review as it has a number of different techniques and learning styles for students to learn such as using their finger to physically write the words, spelling tests, games, and more. Using this app for twenty minutes or so after giving a lesson would help reinforce student learning.
Student Clicker - Socrative
This app could be used during a Math lesson to encourage student engagement, learning, and participation. For example, each student could come up with a math question (that correlates with their current math unit). The teacher can then create a lesson involving every students' created question. The students will then work together to solve everyone's question together as a class and entering individually what they think the answer is. This could be used as a review, practice, homework, or even as a quiz or test.
Toontastic
A way a teacher could use this app is by incorporating it into a story unit. For example, if the teacher was doing a fairy tale unit, he/she could ask their students to create their own fairy tale using this app. This is traditionally done through drawing or stickers (which is an option that can still be offered) but this app breaks down barriers such as those who have difficulty holding things like pencils or who feel uncomfortable with their drawing and creativity skills.
The Story of Dracolino
This app give an important lesson on self confidence and emotion management. This activity would go well with teaching a Health lesson. Students can learn first hand the results of bullying and pressure through Dracolino instead of just hearing the "dos and dont's" from a teacher.