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iPad apps - recommendations for use in an infant school classroom

18 replies

Hulababy · 11/09/2013 20:00

(Posted this in Primary Education - then rememebered we have The Staffroom here too)

My school has just purchased a number of iPads for use in school.

We have some iPad 2s for use by the children (1 between 2 in a class), initially within their ICT lesson/sessions, but later maybe bookable out - trying to make it so everyone has fair, easy access to start with.

We also have some iPad minis for use by classroom practitioners - one per classroom, to be used by teacher/TA in that room.

So....I have a task ahead of me to help get them sorted and ready to use...selecting apps, etc. I have put out some sheets asking teachers and TAs for any suggestions they have of either named apps or just things they'd like the iPads to be able to do to enhance teaching and learning; with latter we can then explore and see what is out there that matches the needs.

We will have finances to buy apps, but would prefer lots and lots some freebies too.

We have already ordered headphones and headphone splitters (so can have two plugged into each) and we will look at cables for the minis to be mirrored on the whiteboard. If anyone can suggest any cables which do this, especially not too costly as will need several, that would be great.


So teachers and TAs - what do you use your tablets for? Any recommendations?



TIA

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Hulababy · 12/09/2013 17:55

Bump

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ThisIsBULLSHIT · 21/10/2013 19:07

Hello! I was about to start a similar thread but let's join forces and try and get some responses!!

I need to know how to set up iTunes through a school account.

I know some good apps though. Have you seen Nessy apps? Hairy Phonics is great. The Pedagogs one is good too. I am less sure of maths ones and need to investigate those more.

I will come back if I find any!

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Lara2 · 21/10/2013 20:02

We use our iPads in conjunction with the Apple tv's. I absolutely love them and so do the children - Year R. Someone gave me a great tip to stop them randomly playing everything rather than the app you want them to. I put all the Year R apps in a folder and put the folder on a screen all by itself. Then I take out the app I want them to use and put that on a screen by itself. I then ban swiping! If they come out of the app by accident, they don't have to guess which one it was because it's the only app on the screen. Works like a charm!
We love Scribble My Story and lots of other things too - sorry, not very helpful. There's a lot of free stuff out there - we often look on YouTube first. But be careful, there's also a lot of awful dross too.

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Lara2 · 21/10/2013 20:05

Forgot to say, we use them mostly to reinforce/practise writing numbers & letters, counting, drawing etc.
Staff use them for our Learning Journeys. We use Tapestry which seems to be going well - it's our first year doing them online.

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MavisGrind · 21/10/2013 20:09

Sorry, shamelessly marking place....I'm a Reception/1/2 teacher also in receipt of a shiny new ipad and looking for good app suggestions. Watching with interest!

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blueberryboybait · 21/10/2013 20:16

Hairy letters is great, eggy words, eggy numbers, tap the cat, abc pocketphonics, writing and sounds, dot to dot letters and numbers.

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ThisIsBULLSHIT · 21/10/2013 21:12

Ooooh good ideas! Does anyone know any maths apps that would be suitable for ks1 rather than reception. I play loads with my four yr old but need slightly more challenging ones for the year ones and twos!

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blueberryboybait · 21/10/2013 22:09

We have the mathletics app if they have mathletics logins.

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Hulababy · 21/10/2013 22:12

This week I am sorting out the adding of some Apps so they can be put into use after half term.

Thanks for some suggestions.

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ReluctantBeing · 21/10/2013 22:13

The Woodchuck Rhythm app is meant to be good for music.

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Twooter · 21/10/2013 22:23

Me Books - definitely worth a look

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JumpingJetFlash · 22/10/2013 08:59

To get it to mirror to board you can use Airserver or reflector - then you are wireless as it uses your wifi to mirror. Costs about £10 for the license so MUCH cheaper than appletv.
You can also use guided access - in accessibility in settings to lock it on to a certain app if you don't want them using anything else.
Maths wise - number lines is a good one for reinforcing +/- on a number line. Squeebles TT is good for practising times tables - I've just been working in 2/3 and they loved it.
For coding - beebot, kodable and daisy the dinosaur are all good.
The children can make super little ebooks adding text, audio, pics and vids using Book Creator.
HTH Smile

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ThisIsBULLSHIT · 22/10/2013 20:40

Ooh great ideas, love the coding ones too, would that satisfy the new algorithm teaching in ICT jetflash?

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JumpingJetFlash · 22/10/2013 22:16

I wouldn't swear to it but if they didn't it would come pretty damn close!
Grin

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threestars · 23/10/2013 20:15

Rorys story cubes are good

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ThisIsBULLSHIT · 24/10/2013 21:22

Thanks! Will check that one out too stars

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busylizzie76 · 24/10/2013 23:53

Squeebles all the way!

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simpson · 24/10/2013 23:55

Another one for squeebles they are fab. DD (5) loves the bingo one.

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