A Basket of Special Needs Apps-2013

It has been some months since we provided a good list of apps for children and adults with special needs. In April 2012, we posted an article entitled A Basket of Special Needs Apps, which is still accessible at http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2012/03/basket-of-special-needs-apps.html. Since that time, the article has been accessed more than 2,000 times by our readers. We thought that now would be an appropriate time to provide an updated list of apps, especially as the technology continues to rapidly improve.

So for this week, we have gathered lists of apps and related resources to bring you up-to-date in the world of special needs applications. We hope that those presented here will improve the quality of your life or someone you care about in a significant way. As always, if you know of other recent, technological applications not listed here that may be helpful to others, do please let us know in the comments boxes below here. We will certainly appreciate your input!

Lists of Special Needs Apps & Resources for 2013

Great Apps for Students with Learning Disabilities---Blog article from Prufrock Press that includes website resources for apps to help with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and other learning challenges
http://blog.prufrock.com/blog/2013/2/1/the-best-apps-for-students-with-learning-disabilities

13 of the Best Special Needs Apps of 2012---Blog article from TeachThought published January 1, 2013
http://www.teachthought.com/apps-2/1-of-the-best-special-needs-apps-of-2012/

Guide to Special Needs Apps---Presented by the Kaufman Children’s Center---Provides a number of helpful resources for accessing special needs apps
http://www.kidspeech.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=778&Itemid=638

List of Free iPad Apps for Children with Special Needs: Part 1---From eLearning Industry
List that INCLUDES 40 FREE iPad Apps for Kids with Special Needs:
1. General Special Needs---14 Apps
2. Autism---12 Apps
3. Basic Skills---14 Apps
http://elearningindustry.com/free-special-needs-ipad-apps-part-1

List of Free iPad Apps for Children with Special Needs: Part 2---From eLearning Industry
List that INCLUDES 18 Additional FREE iPad Apps for Kids with Special Needs:
1. Behavior---8 Free iPad Apps
2. Books (regular, audio, and interactive)---2 Apps
3. Choice Board and Schedulers---1 App
4. Early Language Development---2 Apps
5. Taking Turns---2 Apps
6. For the Teacher---4 Apps
http://elearningindustry.com/subjects/general/item/347-list-of-free-ipad-apps-for-children-with-special-needs-part-2

Phonics Genius---by Innovative Mobile Apps---Individual iPad app that helps teach phonemic awareness (FREE)
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/phonics-genius/id461659980?mt=8

Sound Literacy---by 3D Literacy---Price: $24.99 (A portion of all proceeds benefit the International Dyslexia Association.)---The first iPad app that brings your letter tiles in to the 21st Century. Now being used in 19 countries across the globe. Named one of the 12 Best Apps for Special Needs of 2012 by Teachers with Apps.
NOTE: The tiles of Sound Literacy do not create audible sounds, but do represent the spellings of the English phonemes.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundliteracy/id409347075?mt=8

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC

Journey to Hannibal with FREE Mark Twain Resources

Includes Digital Text Resources for ALL Readers in Various Platforms

This past weekend offered a rare opportunity to take a few days to refresh and recreate. It was an extension of the Valentine’s Day we had not had a chance to celebrate as a result of my husband’s and my work schedule on the 14th. We took a trip north but didn’t wander very far. Some weeks ago, we had decided to plan a trip to Hannibal, Missouri, the hometown of the great American writer, Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain.

We visited the Historic District of the town with the boyhood home of the writer, the Mark Twain Museum, Riverview Park with its beautiful overlooks of the Mississippi River, the Becky Thatcher House (currently undergoing renovation) and even the famous, white picket fence where Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn enjoyed a conversation about work vs. enjoyment.

The gift shop and bookstore adjoining the Mark Twain Museum provided great selections of the writer. In particular, there were copies of the Autobiography of Mark Twain, a book finally published in 2010, the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain’s death. My husband purchased a copy, as the book’s back cover promised that “Every word beguiles.” (from the Wall street Journal)

This short weekend excursion helped us revisit the days of Mr. Clemens in a very special way. Our visit to the quaint and historic town of Hannibal is one that we will not soon forget. On the way home, I thought of all the great writings given to us by this famous American writer from Hannibal. I also thought my readers might like to enjoy some of his writings, too. So, I have gathered here a short list of reading resources that will provide many of the works of Mark Twain for ALL readers (whether average or challenged). Hope you will enjoy them as much as we enjoyed our journey to Mark Twain country.

Works of Mark Twain for ALL Readers in Various Platforms

Complete Works of Mark Twain (Illustrated) [Kindle Edition]---Mark Twain (Author)–Price: $2.99
Features:
* ALL 12 novels, annotated with concise introductions & individual contents tables
* Includes Twain’s rare, unfinished novel “The Mysterious Stranger”
* ALL of his short stories, with quality formatting
* Short stories have their own chronological & alphabetical contents tables
* Twain's 20 short story contributions to "The Library of Humor" with its contents table
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Works-Twain-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B0051XSGYS

FREE e-Books by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)---Read on your PDA, cell phone, or your e-Book reader.
FREE downloads of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper and MORE!
http://manybooks.net/authors/twainmar.html

FREE Audio Books of Works by Mark Twain---FREE audio downloads of the novels and short stories of Twain
http://freeclassicaudiobooks.com/audiobooks/authors/T/Twain,%20Mark/

FREE Audio Books ---The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (in mp3 audio)
http://freeclassicaudiobooks.com/audiobooks/Sawyer/mp3/

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (FREE Audio Book with Visuals for Children ---in English)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH3Q8JYz-20

Part 1 - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (Chapters 1-10) (FREE Audiobook with Read-Along)
Large, boldfaced text presented on grey-colored page backgrounds can be helpful for some challenged readers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5ydVzIFGyA

Part 2 - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (Chapters 11-24) (FREE Audiobook with Read-Along)
Large, boldfaced text presented on grey-colored page backgrounds can be helpful for some challenged readers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS9QFJdA1nw

FREE The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain--- For iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-adventures-of-tom-sawyer/id481966693?mt=11

Complete Works of Mark Twain (with Commentary, Mark Twain Biography, and Plot Summaries)
by Mark Twain---For iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch---Price: $2.99
Included in this collection:
The Novels of Mark Twain
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Tom Sawyer Abroad
Tom Sawyer, Detective
The American Claimant
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/complete-works-mark-twain/id425270087?mt=11

Autobiography of Mark Twain-Volume 1---by Mark Twain (Reader's Edition-Softcover Text)
Published 2010 by University of California Press
The first of a projected, three-volume edition of the complete, uncensored autobiography of Mark Twain

Other Area and Historical Resources

General Information about Hannibal, Missouri---Provided by the Hannibal Convention & Visitors Bureau
http://www.visithannibal.com/index.php/en/about-hannibal

Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum
http://www.marktwainmuseum.org/

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Images courtesy of: https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/16602102/Mark_Twain.jpg and http://www.riversedgeiowa.com/Attractions.php?attraction_title=Mark+Twain+Boyhood+Home+and+Museum

BEST Apple-Compatible Apps for Challenged Spellers

For iPhone, iPod touch & iPad

Last week's published article here included apps to help challenged spellers with Android devices. Since that time, we have been receiving requests to give equal time and attention to those struggling spellers with Apple-compatible devices, such as iPhones, iPads, etc. There is a significant need for educational apps compatible for both platforms, but spelling apps currently appear to be in particular demand.

As a result, we have been researching well-reviewed and recently-updated, Apple-compatible apps for those of you who need frequent help with correct spelling. So, without further ado, here is our "BEST" list of these apps for you:

BEST Apple-Compatible Apps for Challenged Spellers

Spelling Bee Challenge---by Galaxyreach, LLC (ALL Ages)
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later ---Over 13,000 words on 10 different levels with increasing degrees of difficulty---The words are split based on word length. Words are arranged in groups of 4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 or more letters.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spelling-bee-challenge/id435201514?mt=8

Sight Words & Spelling with Pixopop HD---by Marcel Widarto (Price: $2.99)
Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later. Appropriate for younger children. This app will help your child learn sight words through seeing, hearing and spelling. The three different game modes (Flash Card, Word Challenge and Spelling) will guide your child through the different stages of learning the sight words.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sight-words-spelling-pixopop/id520191544?mt=8

American Wordspeller---by i.m. Press (Price: $4.99) (ALL Ages)
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad & requires iOS 4.3 or later.
Looking up a word in a dictionary isn’t that simple if you have no idea how to spell it. This app removes that problem and employs a method that lets you much more easily pinpoint how to spell just about any word.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/american-wordspeller/id397617771?mt=8

Typ-O HD-Writing is for Everybody!---by SecondGuess ApS (Price: $14.99) (ALL Ages)
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad & requires iOS 5.1 or later.
This app is optimized for iPhone 5. Updated: Feb. 2, 2013---Poor spellers can rejoice over this great application that helps spell words correctly in any typing-related program for iPhone or iPad.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/typ-o-hd-writing-is-for-everybody!/id372971659?mt=8

A1 Spelling App---By Power Math Apps (Price: FREE) (ALL Ages)
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
This application is a great way to help poor spellers begin to learn the correct spelling of common words, increasing difficulty as kids master words.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a1-spelling-app-free/id438784501?mt=8

Rocket Speller---by Little Big Thinkers (Price: FREE) (Ages 3-7)
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5. Updated: Jan. 23, 2013--- Rocket Speller is a fun and engaging spelling app for 3-7 year olds now with 5 levels of difficulty. Educators, occupational therapists, special education teachers, and parents agree that kids are engaged and learning with this app.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rocket-speller/id492504689?mt=8

SoundLiteracy---by 3D Literacy, LLC (Price: $24.99—expensive but could be worth it with a portion of the proceeds from this app going to the Dyslexia Association) (ALL Ages)
Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 5.0 or later.
This app is incredibly useful to many, employing the Orton-Gillingham method to help students recognize the spellings of English phonemes.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundliteracy/id409347075?mt=8

Spell Trekking---by Centra Professional Services Limited (Price: $1.99) (Ages 5-12)
Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 5.1 or later. Updated: Dec 13, 2012
The multi-sensory lessons in this app make reading and spelling easy and fun, even if your child has struggled with learning before. Based on a proven system developed and used successfully over the last 25 years, this simple but brilliant intervention app will build independent learning and improve self-confidence for every user.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spell-trekking/id547625622?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Merriam-Webster Dictionary---by Merriam-Webster, Inc. (Price: FREE) (ALL Ages)
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.
When spelling is a problem, it’s always a good idea to have a really great dictionary on hand. This app from Merriam-Webster can provide that.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/merriam-webster-dictionary/id399452287?mt=8

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTM4ODAyNzI1OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDAyOTY4OA@@._V1.jpg

Android Apps for Challenged Spellers

We understand our readers' need for more educational Android apps and those for the Kindle Fire HD. Unfortunately, these apps are not as plentiful---yet! However, there is every indication that eventually they will be more numerous and may even surpass the number of Apple-compatible apps available today.

For sometime now, having an app selling in the iTunes store was a real accomplishment, but that may be changing, too. Outside the U.S., the use of Android devices is much more prevalent---for Apple, not so much. So, more and more educational Android apps will be developed, tested and released.

As for Kindle Fire HD, it is a new device---so fewer apps may be available at the moment. This, too, will eventually change for the better. Patience for a little longer may be required.

This week, we wanted to provide a collection of spelling apps for Android devices (and 1 for the Kindle Fire). Spelling is very often a serious challenge for struggling readers, contributing to less fluency and poor comprehension. Recently, we have had more than a few requests for Android spelling apps. So we hope this new list of Android spelling apps will address that pressing need.

Android Spelling Apps

Spell Checker (+voice input)---FREE app for Androidsx---Updated January 7, 2013
#1 Spell Checker for Android with more than 2 million and a half downloads! Supports English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and other languages
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidsx.checkspelling&hl=en

Kids’ Spelling (Android) Apps---Some apps are FREE here
Short list of Android spelling apps for kids of various age groups
http://www.appszoom.com/android_applications/kids+spelling

Brilliant Spelling with TUTOR (Lite)---FREE Android app
By Effective Objects
Fun and entertaining app---Good for children with dyslexia or dysgraphia
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.effectiveobjects.bspellinglite&feature=more_from_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiY29tLmVmZmVjdGl2ZW9iamVjdHMuYnNwZWxsaW5nbGl0ZSJd

Brilliant Spelling with TUTOR (FULL version of the above app)---Android app ---Price: $2.99
By Effective Objects
Fun and entertaining app---Good for children with dyslexia or dysgraphia
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.effectiveobjects.bspelling&hl=en

Spelling Bee Android App---Price: $.99
By Socratica, LLC --- For All Ages---Available instantly for Kindle Fire or Android devices
Spelling Bee is an ideal study aid for children, but it's also great for anyone who wants to improve their spelling skills. It features a database of more than 2,300 English words--along with definitions and clear audio clips of each word's pronunciation--so you can expand your knowledge base quickly and easily.
http://www.amazon.com/Socratica-LLC-Spelling-Bee/dp/B007FGM2EE

Happy spelling!

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Source: USAToday article of January 29, 2013, on the growing popularity of Android devices on U.S. college campuses: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/01/29/apple-rim-google-iphone-android-samsung/1868775/.)

Image courtesy of:
http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/7397028/KNC+710+PC+Tablet+7inches+Android#imageGallery