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Great apps for school-aged kids We live in exciting times. Never before has education been so colourful, interactive and fun. There are so many apps that teach various aspects of reading, writing and maths for school-aged children.
Collins Big Cat books: This series of 8 lovely, colourful but simple-to-read books can either be read to your child or they can choose to read them by themselves, and then create a story of their own at the end with text and scenery. Free at the App Store. Dyslexia Quest: Is a great app from nessy.com. This app can help children with learning difficulties to improve skills like working, auditory and visual memory, processing speed, sequencing skills and phonological awareness. $5.99 at the App Store.
For the early learners, I often use these apps:
Zcooly Maths games: This is a range of apps for children aged between 4 and 9 years that teaches various aspects of maths: starting with basic quantities, working with money in a store, multiplication and reading the time. The games are either free or priced below $1.50.
As always, it’s important to monitor your child’s play and make Hairy Sounds and Hairy Phonics 1,2 and 3: Systematical- sure that they are ‘on-task’ and progressing while they are playly teach the phonics (i.e. the sounds that letters make) and ing. If used correctly, tablets and iPads can invaluable tools that how to write them. The sounds are then presented in words make learning basic reading and maths skills fun and engaging. that fall apart and need to be reconstructed. $4.49 at the App Tanya Collett Store. 09 421 1337 • 021 949539 www.hearsay.co.nz Whack a Word: Has 3 levels to choose from and the players spell words to earn carrots before the moles eat the carrots. Free Game at the App Store.
