Back-To-School Tech Tips
by
Guest Author 
Print This Article
Tech Tips
As we get ready for school to start back up again, we begin thinking about the tasks our children are likely to be faced with soon. Has your child been reading or listening to stories to expand their vocabulary and strengthen comprehension? Has your child been practicing their fine motor skills to improve their handwriting? How about their math skills? If you answered no (like many of us who were just happy to have a break from the routine of homework and tests), no worries. We, at BridgingApps, have gathered a list of apps that could help with many of those school skills that likely move down the priority list during the summer (and your child just might actually enjoy this form of learning!)
Basic School Readiness
Khan Academy Kids
By Khan Academy
Khan Academy Kids is a free app that covers all areas of school readiness (reading, language, writing, math, social-emotional development, problem-solving skills, and motor development). Try using it to review as summer comes to a close.
Price: FREE
Handwriting
For many of us, watching our children struggle with handwriting can be a constant source of pain. Handwriting apps on an electronic tablet offer a more fun and engaging way to practice while providing instant feedback to your child.
Wet-Dry-Try Handwriting
By Handwriting Without Tears & Get Set for School
An interactive handwriting app based on the Handwriting Without Tears® curriculum, designed for young learners to practice letter and number formation through a multisensory approach.
Price: Free Offers In-App Purchases
Letter Quiz: Alphabet Tracing
By Tantrum Apps
An educational app featuring four engaging games—flashcards, identification, matching, and handwriting—to help children learn and practice the English alphabet.
Price: $1.99
iTrace – handwriting for kids
By DevPocket
A handwriting app that allows children to trace letters and numbers, providing a fun and interactive way to develop writing skills.
Price: $3.99
Reading Skills
Because the opportunity for reading is all around us, our children are hearing and seeing things that strengthen their reading skills every day. The apps below offer ideas of games that can strengthen word attack skills and tools to turn any book or story into an audiobook using the camera on your mobile device.
CVC Words – Word Family Games
By Innovative Investments Limited
An educational app focused on teaching consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words through interactive games, enhancing early reading skills.
Price: $2.99
Action Verbs
By Innovative Investments Limited
An app designed to help children understand and practice action verbs through interactive activities and games.
Price: $0.99
MDA Avaz Reader for Dyslexia
By Avaz, Inc.
A text-to-speech app tailored for individuals with dyslexia, offering features to assist with reading and comprehension.
Price: Free | Offers In-App Purchases
Speechify – Text to Speech
By Speechify Inc.
A versatile text-to-speech app that converts text into natural-sounding speech, aiding in reading and comprehension.
Price: Free | Offers In-App Purchases
Time Management
How about some tools for getting that homework done in a timely manner or for getting back into those school routines? Visual timers have been used by special education teachers for years to keep students on track while completing activities. Now anyone can have them via many different apps available right on your smartphone or tablet. Here are just a few of the timer apps you can find in our app search tool:
Timer – Countdown for Parents
By Idea4e
An app designed to help parents manage time effectively by setting countdown timers for various activities.
Price: Free | Offers In-App Purchases
Visual Countdown Timer
By Fehners Software LLP
A visual timer app that provides countdowns with visual cues, assisting in time management for various tasks.
Price: Free | Offers In-App Purchases
Math
You have likely been reinforcing many learned math skills all summer without realizing it. You have probably answered at least one of the following questions from your child this summer… How much longer will we be in the car? How many people will be at the party/family get-together? For a little more help, the apps below offer games to reinforce math skills!
Pet Bingo – Duck Duck Moose
By Duck Duck Moose LLC
An educational app featuring fun games that teach children about animals and their characteristics.
Price: FREE
myBlee Math
By myBlee
A math learning app offering interactive lessons and exercises to enhance mathematical skills in children.
Price: Free | Offers In-App Purchases
Mystery Math Town
By Artgig Studio
An app that combines math practice with mystery-solving adventures, making learning math engaging for children.
Price $3.99
Photomath
By Google
An app that allows users to scan and solve math problems instantly, providing step-by-step solutions for better understanding.
Price: FREE
Cristen Reat is co-founder of BridgingApps and a mother who found success when using a mobile device with her children who have special needs. Amy Barry is the Content Manager and Editor at BridgingApps and mother of five children. Amy Fuchs is the Program Coordinator at BridgingApps and a former special education teacher.
Helpful Articles
- 7 Apps for Students with Special Needs Back to School Success!
- Back to School App Favorites
- App Tools for Back to School Success
- Back to School App Favorites
- Break It Down Tech Tools for Task Analysis
- Keep It Simple Apps For Organization
Click here for more apps
This post originally appeared on our July/August 2019 Magazine
