Early Childhood Special Education and Assistive Technology Blog

Todo Math: Kindergarten to 2nd Grade Math Games for Daily Practice by Locomotive Labs This app is appropriate for children within the grades noted in the title, but it could be used with children slightly older. The app provides multiple means for practicing many math concepts from numeracy and patterns to time, money and equations. It is great to see the simple interface and the effort put into providing a dyslexic font option. The different "games" are straightforward and appropriate for differing abilities. The apps do not require quick finger action. Children can take their time. There are not any pop-up ads or distractions, it tracks your progress in each area, and it is free. One drawback is it looks as though it is limited to one user tracking, but this may be different on the upgraded paid versions. Body Boggle by: BusyThings liquidated The purpose of this app is to play around with the appearance of the characters. You can change their head and body ...

Fluidity   is an interesting and simple app. It looks like the inside of a lava lamp and offer direct cause and effect simulation when you move your fingers across the screen. You can adjust the colors, light and the momentum of the “fluid.” This app can be relaxing for some children, but be cognizant about your selections. This app has quite a bit of light and movement. Fluidity Screenshot Pocket Pond 2   invites users to take care of the fish in the koi pond. When you swipe your fingers over the pond, the fish scatter, and the water ripples. You can add dragonflies and lily pads as well. Nature sounds are in the background. Try them for yourself and see who in your care could benefit from these relaxing cause and effect apps. Pocket Pond 2 App Icon

By: Holly Bogardus , EC-SEAT Scholar Once we realize the possibilities of the materials around us, it becomes easier to envision ourselves creating useful tools for those we work with. Assistive devices do not need to be bought, or cost hundreds of dollars. Below you will find a few simple and cheap devices that address an assortment of needs. While looking at these devices I encourage you to consider a problem you or another has or is experiencing, and if there could be a simple solution at hand. Looking at materials in new ways can open many possibilities of utilizing things creatively to increase a person's ability to perform a task, or to be better focused and engaged in an activity. Simple solutions are out there if we can think creatively as well as critically. Visual Complexity Reduction Device Materials: Magnets (2) Tools: None This is a tool for visual complexity reduction using 2 magnets. I chose a colorful frame to help focus the attention, and the black strip ...

By: Katelyn Baron, EC-SEAT Scholar Khan Academy is an excellent, free tool for teachers and parents to use as instruction and practice for student’s math skills. The website's lessons and activities address all math standards and can be tailored to the needs of the individual. Lessons and activities are sorted by grade and by subject content. Within each section, a student can access videos of clear instructions, learn the material, practice the material, and show their mastery of the material by completing a quiz. This website could be used in a school setting and at home. Teachers could use the site to further a math lesson and to focus on the needs of their students in a particular content area.      For the students, Khan Academy is a great tool for learning and mastering math skills. The website starts at early learning and ends with high school. Each student has a dashboard that shows the objects they are working on and includes a study plan which...

Bitsboard App   - (review provided by Karly Wilcox, EC-SEAT Scholar and Preschool Special Educator): Bitsboard is an app that you can use for all grade levels and abilities. You can get the "Lite" version for free which comes with a few 'boards' that are pre-made. The best aspect of this app is that you can also customize/create your own boards (ABCs, numerals, colors, animals, emotions, class items, etc...)! After you create your board, you can select from a variety of different games to learn the concept. The amount of applications you can do with this app are truly endless and I suggest checking it out to see for yourself! Bitsboard Screenshot Avaz – Help Kids with Autism Speak   – by: Avaz, inc. - The Avaz AAC app supports individuals needing supports for communication interact and speak with others. The app is set up in intuitive boards, which are customizable. There are four premier voices. They are easy to understand and clear. The boards themselves ...

By: Maria Mazzola , EC-SEAT Scholar App Name: ModMath Where: Apple devices (purchased in the Apple Store) Cost: free About the app: This app is used to help children or students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADHD and dysgraphia, with math. It helps students be able to read their own work without having to write. The creator of this app made it for his own son who has both dysgraphia and dyslexia because when writing his own math problems, he was unable to read it. The app provides a virtual piece of graph paper that can set up math problems that are easy to read. This app can help older students do more complicated math assignments such as fractions, square roots, and algebraic equations. This app allows you to move your work to different points on a page. You can save worksheets and upload them to documents. Also, worksheets done on this app can be printed out to turn in as homework, emailed, Dropbox upload, or through text message. Positive: Any child ...

By: Maria Mazzola , EC-SEAT Scholar Name of App: Upcard Cost: Free Where to find: on any Apple device (purchase in the Apple Store) and Android About the App: Upcard is an iOS and Android app that allows children who are non-verbal to communicate what they want. I found this app through my cousin who has a child with Autism and is non-verbal. Upcard has picture cards that individuals can use to place in sequences to form statements and requests. You can use picture cards that come with the app or you can make your own from your camera to make requests or statements more specific and personal. In addition, a parent can record their voice to the picture card so it is more familiar to the child. This app is also great to use because it is free. Positive: This device allows a child to communicate their needs and wants. One positive as I stated above is that you can create personalized cards to fit a child's specific needs. This means you can take pictures of items in your ...

By: Sue Stubbs , EC-SEAT Scholar PBS Kids Measure Up Age Range Is this appropriate/recommended for the ages in my class? PBS Kids Measure Up App is recommended for the age range 3 to 5 years old. Usability Is it easy to use in the classroom? Can it be used independently? Is there an ease of instruction on how to use the app/site? PBS Kids Measure Up App is quick to upload each mini game in the app. It is easy to use and can be used independently with brief overview. It has arrows to notify one where to press. On the iPad it is easy to use the swipe of one’s finger. Graphics Quality Are the graphics appropriate for what is being taught? Do the graphics make sense academically? PBS Kids Measure Up App has 19 unique measuring games with graphics that coincide with measuring activities. The graphics are appropriate for the age range of this app and they are academically appropriate. DAP Does it coincide with the standards? Developmentally Appropriate Practice Does it coincide wit...

By: Sue Stubbs , EC-SEAT Scholar Managing behavior in a classroom is ever changing. One’s style of behavior management is never the same from year to year, maybe similar but not exactly the same. Behavior management truly depends on the class dynamics. I have found some Low Cost and Low Tech Assistive Technology tools that work in a preschool classroom to help assist with behaviors and children with varying needs.  Specialized Chairs  Specialized chairs with leg support and Box Chairs help assist children with sitting. These tools help children  have upright posture when sitting at circle or at a table. It provides one with the ability to be able to focus and maintain attention during instruction time. Wiggle Cushion  These assist with attention and provides a child with sensory needs the ability to sit in a whole group or small group setting while providing some movement.  Weighted Blanket and Vests These help with sensory integratio...

Choiceworks   is an interesting looking app by  Bee Visual . Browsing through some reviews of this app, it looks at though for $6.99, you can develop interactive visual schedules for children to use throughout their day. There are three boards called schedule, waiting and feelings. The boards appear to be adaptable and incorporate timers for particular tasks or waiting periods while incorporating choices for young children to make about what they do during the day. The app includes a photo library and the option to customize boards for multiple children. I encourage you to read the reviews and description in the  iTunes app store  before purchasing. Choiceworks App Icon Talking Picture Board   -  When a child has limited language, picture board apps offer similar opportunities to traditional picture boards. The app  Talking Picture Board  has a large variety of photos with the option to add your own. I wanted to have the app say “The cat r...