In today’s preschool classroom, children are engaged in learning through new, innovative technology. One great type of technology to utilize in the classroom is fun, educational iPad apps. The following list features iPad apps that are easy for preschool students to navigate. Most of them can be differentiated based on students’ abilities and multiple players can be added. All of the apps support reading and math skills.
Must-Have iPad Apps for Preschoolers
Starfall ABC
Starfall ABC is a good app for students to learn their alphabet letters and sounds. Students touch letters and are given several great visuals and sounds for each letter. Starfall ABC is a fun, interactive way to build letter and sound recognition, as well as vocabulary.
ABC Alphabet Phonics
This is a good, free initial app for letter recognition. The student must touch the correct letter before resuming to play.
Letter Quiz
Letter Quiz is a great beginning app for students who are learning their letters. Students begin learning letters of the alphabet by touching them. Students then practice identifying and tracing letters, matching upper and lowercase letters, and playing ABC memory games.
Sight Words 22L
All students need extra practice learning sight words and Sight Words 22L is a great app for keeping students engaged. Students create a profile and then can play 6 games focused on memorizing, reading, spelling, and recording various words. For example, the game Word Machine asks students to tap on the word called. Gears asks students to tap the gear and hear the word, then students have to use memory recall to drag the word to the appropriate gear. In Bingo, students have to tap on the words called to make a bingo. Memory Games is where students have to memorize 5 words in a row, then have to tap on the speakers to match the words they memorized based on order. Spelling has students place letters in order to spell the word. Flash Cards have students learn the words, by tapping and hearing the word. In each game, students are encouraged through earning points, and there are various levels students can advance.
Word Magic
Word Magic is an excellent app for letter sound recognition. Students are given a picture and have to fill in the missing letters or sounds. The teacher can set the game mode to missing letters or phonetics. There is a phonetic mode for short vowels, long vowels, multi-syllabic words, as well as other types that students can practice. The teacher can set the app to match the students guided reading level.
Reading Raven
This app provides students with a series of lessons that start with letter recognition, letter sounds, letter tracing, and word matching. As students progress, the Reading Raven will guide students in developing word building skills, vocabulary, and reading words and sentences.
Read Me Stories
Five fabulous frogs and a dog help your student open a treasure chest of books that will take him on fun adventures while learning how to read. An adult or teacher does need to be present by answering questions about the student, so that the app can create a library based on the student’s interests and abilities.
ABCmouse
ABCmouse has a subscription fee, but has a lot to offer early learners with more than 500 lessons in six levels. Students can individualize lessons by choosing activities they prefer. There are five different subjects taught that include reading, math, science, art and colors, and music.
Splash Math Kindergarten
Your students can practice all counting and cardinality skills with Splash Math Kindergarten. As your students master each skill, the level will advance them to more complex skills, such as operations and algebraic thinking. Multiple players can be added, customized, and tracked.
Counting Madness Full
This is an excellent counting and cardinality math app with fun matching, counting, and number order games. Based upon the students’ abilities, the teacher can change the number amount that the student is working on by tapping the gear and choosing numbers 1-5, 6-10, 1-10, 11-15, and 16-20.
Monkey Math School
Monkey Math School provides practice and fun with tracing numbers, shapes, number order, addition, and other math objectives. Multiple players can be added and settings can be customized for each player.
BrainPop Jr.
Students can choose from a variety of subjects. Each subject includes topics that have cute informational movies that your students can watch. A great way your student can explore subjects and topics. If they become interested they can search for more on the topic.
Encourage students’ learning by incorporating iPad apps into their preschool day. One great way to add tech to the daily routine is to have iPad apps be a math or reading station. That way all students have a chance to learn at their level. The rewards are amazing! Which one of these iPad apps will you try today?