BEST Brain-Training Apps for More FOCUS!

There is currently a great deal of buzz in educational circles about something called brain training. What is brain training? One definition for this term is “learning ways to increase your intelligence, memory, ability to think, etc.” (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus, published by Cambridge University Press).

How does one go about “training a brain” in order to increase the ability to focus, think or improve other executive functions? Many current methods of brain training often involve the use of digital apps targeted to address one specific or a group of cognitive skills. These may be served up via iPads and other iOS platforms or Android and similar devices.

Some of these brain-training apps are scientifically validated with documented research and can actually offer genuine cognitive training and/or even remediation or improvement programs for such issues as ADD, ADHD and other challenges that affect cognitive ability. Other “brain-training” apps are provided for their educational or entertainment value only.

This week, we have gathered here numerous brain-training apps and lists of such apps that will also include information about their scientific validation (when available). We hope these resources will provide parents, teachers and other adults some viable options for significant brain training!

iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad Brain-Training Apps

Fit Brains Trainer-by Vivity Labs (FREE)
Updated: March 20, 2013
The #1 education app in 76 countries! Top-ranked brain trainer app with more than 20,000 ratings averaging 4.5 stars worldwide. The Fit Brains Trainer is a scientifically-designed app for iPhone and iPad that provides a collection of brain games, personalized training sessions, and visual tools to help you improve your brain's performance. The Trainer utilizes an innovative and adaptive learning system that automatically scales the level of each brain game to your appropriate level.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fit-brains-trainer/id565200595?mt=8

Lumosity Brain Trainer-by Lumos Labs, Inc.
(First 5 sessions FREE with subscription for remainder)
This brain training app from Lumosity is backed by solid scientific research by leading neuro-scientists from Stanford, UCSF and Berkeley universities.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lumosity-brain-trainer/id338945375?mt=8

CogniFit Brain Fitness-by CogniFit
Updated: April 16, 2013
CogniFit is a scientifically validated brain training app. Play different brain games to challenge your mind and train your cognitive skills like never before!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cognifit-brain-fitness/id528285610?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

10 iPhone Apps that Boost Brain Function-by Become A Nanny
Posted : January 15, 2013 (Some apps are scientifically validated.)
Your iPhone may be able to actually boost your brainpower! These 10 apps are great brain-training apps that are purported to increase brain function, actually making you smarter!
http://www.awaken.com/2013/01/10-iphone-apps-that-boost-brain-function/

Ansel & Clair: Triassic Dinosaurs-by Cognitive Kid, Inc. (Price: $1.99---for iPad)
All three apps in the Dinosaur Trilogy begin with Ansel & Clair visiting a modern dinosaur dig site. Meet paleontologist Dr. Lindy Bones, learn about cool fossil tools and then dig for fossils from the Triassic period. Travel back in time to meet Triassic dinosaurs and other creatures. Learn a variety of different concepts and contextual subjects including science, geography, geology, and of course zoology, without even realizing it. The first three Ansel & Clair apps have won 15 awards from prestigious parenting and product review organizations including the Parent’s Choice 2012 Silver Award Winner and others.(Researched and scientifically accurate)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ansel-clair-triassic-dinosaurs/id578083679?ls=1&mt=8

Top 10 Brain Training Apps for iPad and iPhone-List by AppCrawler Beta (Price: FREE or $.99 each)
The 10 BEST brain-training apps from the reviews of 460 total apps ---Various developers (Some apps are scientifically validated.)
http://appcrawlr.com/ios-apps/best-apps-brain-training

Android Brain-Training Apps

Brain Training---by QQ TSUBASA (FREE)
Find out your “brain age”. Simple yet addicting app that tests your “brain age” based on your game performance. (No information is available regarding scientific validation.)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=qqtsubasa.android.brain&hl=en

Brain Training: Focus-by IT-EO (FREE)
Feeling out of focus? Want to improve your concentration skills? Train your brain with Brain Training: Focus! Focus is an addictive brain teaser game, where you match the Color of the word with it's name, while being mislead by your daily thinking habits. This app is based on a scientific discovery made by American psychologist John Ridley Stroop that demonstrates interference in attention.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iteo.crazybraincolors&hl=en

Top Android Apps for the Brain-by ModernChakra (Lists provide both FREE and $ apps)
This article is actually a compilation of several short articles with different lists of brain-training apps. Obviously designed for mobility, these apps are great for keeping your brain sharp when you have a bit of free time. Take a few minutes and play some memory games, or reflex games---anything to keep your mind active and alert. (Some apps are scientifically validated.)
http://www.squidoo.com/android-brain-apps

Top 10 Brain Training Apps for Android-List by AppCrawler Beta (Price: All are FREE)
The 10 BEST brain-training apps for Android devices from the reviews of 154 total apps---Various developers (No information is available regarding scientific validation.)
http://appcrawlr.com/app/search?q=brain+training&topic=brain+training&topicId=1&category=&device=android&search=search&_src=facet_device

General Brain Training Program Lists from BrainGameReview (with Reviews)
Web page offering 3 categories with links to various types of brain-training programs:
1. A children’s section or product for general cognitive skills training
2. A list of brain training publishers offering K-12 cognitive training or ADHD remediation/improvement programs
3. A list of sites providing online games with an educational or entertainment focus. Most of these sites do not offer (or claim) any scientific validation behind their games.
http://www.braingamereview.com/brain-training-games-for-kids/

Sources:

BrainGameReview
Website with lists, links and reviews of brain-training apps
http://www.braingamereview.com/neuroplasticity-brain-plasticity/

Brain-Training Tools for More Attention, Less Deficit-Article by Paul Gilbert (ADDitude Magazine)
These ADHD therapies offer fun and games with a serious purpose: increasing your child's focus.
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/10076.html

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://assets1.bigthink.com/system/idea_thumbnails/49980/headline/brain_gears_2.jpg?1365347453

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

Brain-Building Apps to Get Kids Thinking!

Trick-or-treaters may have already come knocking at our doors! Did YOU have your treats ready for the big and little goblins who came a-calling?

We were certainly ready with our "treats" this week---and no tricks were required! We wanted to offer our readers some "goodies” in keeping with the holiday of All Hallows’ Eve. At the same time, they happen to be "healthy treats", too. The brain-building apps to follow here will be "treats" to sharpen the brains in the “skulls” of your kids, your students, and YOU while having fun at the same time. They'll provide a WIN-WIN opportunity for all of you---especially for struggling readers and learners!

Hope you had a Happy and SAFE Halloween, dear readers!

Brain-Building "Treats" for All Age Groups

12 FREE Brain-Building Apps for Kids --- (Android & Apple) Here's a list of mobile apps that are great for keeping young (and old) minds at work!
http://kennesaw.patch.com/blog_posts/12-free-brain-building-apps-for-kids

Kids Shape Puzzle --- (Android) From tots to teens, these are your go-to brain-building apps. Take this portable puzzle anywhere – and never lose the pieces. Kids Shape Puzzle entertains
Price: $2.99---From intellijoy
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
http://phoneappsmag.wordpress.com/tag/kids-shape-puzzle/

Kakooma Addition Pro --- (Apple) Do you love the challenge of a great puzzle? Kakooma® is the quick-thinking, brain-building app that is getting kids and adults of all ages hooked on numbers. So what are you waiting for? It's time to Kakooma!
Price: $.99---From Creative Smarts, Inc.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kakooma-addition-pro/id524425633?mt=8

BEST Critical Thinking Apps = GREAT “Brain” Workouts --- (Apple) These apps focus on increasing critical thinking, problem solving and brain-building skills (all age levels).
FREE and various prices in lists provided
http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2012/06/best-critical-thinking-apps-great-brain.html

Special "Treat"!

Halloween Matching Game - Ghost, Witch, Skeleton, Pumpkin, Bat --- Exercise your memory skills by matching each picture with it's spooky look alike pair while celebrating Halloween with this fun Halloween Matching Game!
by Jeremy Larsen
https://itunes.apple.com/ag/app/halloween-matching-game-ghost/id566440707?mt=8

Happy brain building, goblins!

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

Image provided by: http://osxdaily.com/2011/06/04/black-white-ipads-and-iphones/