Wordventure!

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: 3rd - 5th
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Vocabulary
Levels: 1
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

Remember mad libs?! Well, this app is full of them, but they're called 'Wordventures'! Unfortunately only 3 Wordventures come with the free version. Those are 'Rules for Riding on the Subway', 'Summer Blockbuster', and 'What Happened One Morning'. Additional Wordventures can be purchased for 99 cents each.

After selecting a Wordventure, students have to blindly insert various parts of speech - anything from an adjective to an adverb. I appreciate how the app gives the definition for and examples of each part of speech.

After tapping 'Done', their inserted words are placed into the Wordventure. Their words appear in red. They'll get a kick of out reading their funny story. But they're also able to edit their Wordventure. Saved stories are stored in the app until they are manually deleted.

Even if you just take advantage of the 3 free Wordventures, this app provides a fun way for students to explore the various parts of speech.

Bluster!

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: 2nd - 4th
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Vocabulary
Levels: 3
Players: Single or team
For iPad, iPod, or Both: iPad

This is yet another wonderful app developed by McGraw-Hill. It's definitely a must-have!

Here's what the user(s) must choose before playing:

A) Number of Players - Single, Team, or Versus. The last two choices are so cool! All players play at the exact same time; the iPad splits into two.

B) Grade Level - Choose between Grade 2, Grade 3, or Grade 4. Although certainly students from other grade levels may find this app developmentally appropriate too.

C) Match Type
Grade 2 = prefixes, synonyms, rhyming words
Grade 3 = prefixes and suffixes, root words, homophones
Grade 4 = prefixes and suffixes, adjectives, rhyming words

Once the 'game' begins, the student(s) have to swipe through the word list to find three words that match according to the selected type. Unfortunately, the app does not display which type they selected; they have to remember. They need to drag each matching word to the scoring area. Ten correct matches clears each round.

In the 'Team' and 'Versus' modes, weather-related "disruptors" can be used to slow down the opponent.

The app claims to feature over 800 vocabulary words. This free app is definitely worth having on iPads in elementary classrooms.

Puppet Pals HD

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: All
Subject: All
Specific Skill: Storytelling
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

Please note that the free version of this app only unlocks the 'Fairytale' theme. Additional themes can be purchased in-app for 99 cents each. But the best deal is to spend $2.99 on the Director's Pass, which makes all of the other themes available.

What a fun app! Students use up to 8 'actors' (characters) and up to 5 backdrops to tell an original or recreated story. They use their fingers to make the characters 'move' and record the story using their own voices! The app is quite customizable! Photos taken with or saved on the iOS device may be used as an actor/character or as the backdrop.

The Director's Pass includes the following themes: Arthropod Armada, Christmas, Entertainers, Fair Weather Friends, Fairytale, Monsters, On the Farm, Pirates, Political Par-tay, Space, Talk Shows, Thanksgiving, Wild West, and Zombie Attack.

Saved shows are initially saved to the camera roll. From there, they can be exported via text message or email, uploaded to YouTube, or transferred to a computer.

The possibilities for using this app are endless. Spend the $2.99 for the Director's Pass and watch your students' creativity bloom!

Flashcards*

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: 2nd and up
Subject: All
Specific Skill: All
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

The real name of this app is 'Flashcardlet'; it compliments www.quizlet.com. Both the app and the website are free! Despite the lack of a price, they are excellent alternatives to traditional flashcards created with index cards!

From the 'About' section of the app - "Flashcardlet is designed to bring the age-old practice of studying flashcards to iOS devices in an intuitive and convenient way."

Users can create their own flashcards (front and back) or browse www.quizlet.com through the app to locate and edit (if need be) flashcard decks created by others.

Please note that flashcards containing images must first be created on the website. But they can then be accessed from the app.

Easy to create, edit, and use - Flashcardlet is a must have!

Google Earth

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: All
Subject: Science
Specific Skill: Geography
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This is the app-version of the desktop version of Google Earth and it's just as stunning!

Students can use the search bar to input a street address or the name of something specific (try 'Eiffel Tower' - it's so cool!). They can then use one or two fingers to pan, tilt, zoom in/out and rotate the view.

The following layers can be added: places, businesses, Panoramio photos, Wikipedia, borders and labels, roads, and oceans.

This free app should definitely be on all iPads and iPod Touches found in today's classrooms.

Pages

Price: $9.99
Grade Recommendation: 2nd and up
Subject: All
Specific Skill: Word processing
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

While pricey, a powerful word processor is quite necessary on iPads in particular. (I'd probably skip this one for use strictly on iPod Touches.) Think of this app as Microsoft Word for Apple's mobile devices.

The app comes loaded with the following templates: modern photo letter, classic letter, formal letter, personal photo letter, modern photo resume, classic resume, project proposal, term paper, visual report, poster, syllabus, party invite, thank you card, recipe, and flyer. Of course, you may also choose to begin with a blank page.

Users unfamiliar with Pages can tap and scroll through the handy and comprehensive 'Getting Started' document.

Text, photos, shapes, tables, and charts can be added, deleted, and edited with ease. Students as young as second grade will be able to create fun and creative documents!

There are several options to share created documents or to save them for access elsewhere.

SimpleMind +

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: 2nd and up
Subject: All
Specific Skill: Graphic organizer
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This app enables students to organize information and ideas by creating "mind maps", sometimes called graphic organizers. They start with adding text to a center oval. Thoughts and ideas can be mapped out from there. This version allows them to change the style and color of the text.

This is one of those rare apps where the free version is more than adequate for a classroom setting. But feel free to upgrade to the full version ($6.99) to obtain more functionality.

Word Wagon

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: PreK - 2nd
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Phonics
Levels: 4
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

If you're looking for a phonics app for early readers, this is an acceptable choice! Users join a mouse and his bird friend on a conveyor belt adventure. There are several categories to choose from: animals, numbers and colors, vehicles, food, and Mozz and Coco (the mouse and bird); you may also choose to get words from all the categories at the same time. After touching an object that passes by, the user must perform a task - according to the selected level.

The app consists of 4 levels:

1 - Letters
The letters that make up the word are scrambled on the screen. The word is also written. The user has to drag the letter onto its matching spot. The device says each letter when they are touched.

2 - Phonics
Quite similar to Level 1 - Letters. However, the app phonetically pronounces each word after the user is done dragging the letters to the matching spot in the word.

3 - Spelling 1
Similar to Level 2 - Phonics. But, students have to figure out the correct order of the letters in order to spell the word.

4 - Spelling 2
It's just like Level 3 - Spelling 1; but the words are slightly more difficult.

You can change the settings for each level to use capital or lowercase letters. A cute little animation occurs after each task is correctly completed.

Sound Sorting: Beginning Sounds

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: PreK - 2nd
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Phonics
Levels: 1
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This app is developed by Lakeshore Learning - one of my favorite education stores. It's quite simple, yet effective. Students sort pictures of objects according to their beginning sounds.

Here are the objectives it's designed to meet:
- Building phonemic awareness
- Identifying words by beginning sounds
- Matching words by sound

Students can either choose 3 beginning sounds or have the mobile device randomly choose 3 sounds for them. Nine balls with pictures appear on the side. Students must drag each ball under the picture that has that same beginning sound.

I appreciate how the app verbally states both the names of the pictures on the balls and the names of the pictures atop each column.

Incorrect placements cause the picture balls to return to the area where the remaining balls are, giving students another chance to correctly place it.

It would be nice if this app also addressed middle and/or ending sounds. However, that's not its purpose. Despite this, it's still worth retrieving from the App Store.

Dino Digger

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: 2nd - 4th
Subject: Science
Specific Skill: Paleontology and dinosaurs
Levels: 1
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

Your budding paleontologist will love this app! By swiping a finger across the screen, they can 'dig' up 6 different dinosaurs. The six dinosaurs are parasaurolophus, brachiosaurus, compsognathus, stegosaurus, triceratops, and tyrannosaurus rex.

After 'digging' up all of the bones, the app automatically builds them into a 3D skeleton. The skeleton then comes to life, turning into an animated dinosaur. The dinosaur, background graphics, and sound are stunning.

I wish the app included even more graphics and especially text about the dinosaurs. Nonetheless, it's a great interactive app to have.

A Life Cycle App

Price: 99 cents
Grade Recommendation: 2nd and up
Subject: Science
Specific Skill: Life Cycles
Levels: n/a
Players: n/a
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

The cycle of life is covered in state and national science standards at almost every grade level.

This app covers the following life cycles:
- Life Cycle of a Frog
- Phases of the Moon
- Life Cycle of a Butterfly
- Plant Life Cycle
- Pollination and Fertilization
- Rock Cycle
- Water Cycle
- Photosynthesis
- Nitrogen Cycle
- Oxygen Cycle
- Life Cycle of a Ladybug

Each cycle of life is illustrated in a kid-friendly manner. In addition, each step in each cycle is accompanied by explanatory text and a narrator is available to read the text too. Both of those options can be turned off - making the app customizable to meet your needs.

At this price point, this app should be on all iPod Touches and iPads that are used in science classrooms.

Presidents vs. Aliens

Price: 99 cents (free Lite version)
Grade Recommendation: 3rd and up
Subject: Social Studies
Specific Skill: U. S. Presidents
Levels: Multiple
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This app's developer also brought us the apps 'Stack the States' and 'Stack the Countries'. It's one of my favorite kinds because it mixes a fun and addictive game format with learning.

Those unfamiliar (or who need a refresher) with our country's 44 Presidents can first 'study' the included flash cards. Each gives the following information about each President: number, name, dates in office, political party, Vice President, nickname, events, quotes, and facts.

There are plenty of customization options and the app stores information for up to six players. Users can choose which types of questions they are asked from the following choices: Identify President, Political Party, Before and After, Historical Events, Nicknames, Quotes, and Facts.

After correctly answering a question, the user gets to fling a President towards a group of aliens. The goal is to remove all aliens from the screen. Correctly answering 3 questions in a row allows the user to power up to a new level.

Moving to higher levels also unlocks two bonus games - Head of State and Executive Order.

Some adults may find the premise (flinging Presidents at aliens!) kind of lame/juvenile. However, any app that 'sneaks' in learning is an app I recommend! Students will love it and will benefit from the information they are learning.

ABC 123 Word App HD - English Spanish Edition

Price: $4.99
Grade Recommendation: PreK - 2nd
Subject: Reading, Spanish
Specific Skill: Vocabulary
Levels: 1
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: iPad

This robust app is great for the bilingual learner! It features 4 different activities.

- Alphabet and words
After clicking on a letter, the iPad states the letter and says the picture that accompanies it in both English and Spanish. The user can then trace a capital and lowercase letter. Or you can hide the printed letters and they can write the letter on their own.

- Numbers and counting
After clicking on pictures depicting the numbers 1 - 10, the iPad states the number in both English and Spanish. It then counts that number of objects and announces the results in both languages. Again, the user can trace the number or write it independently on the lines provided.

- Shape blocks and matching
A shape is shown in the middle of the screen. Students drag the matching shape around the perimeter of the screen to the one in the middle. Incorrect shapes bounce back. But correct ones are met with the name of the shape announced in both languages.

- Colors and painting
An easel appears where students can use the brush to paint a picture. Each time the color is changed (by clicking on the palette), the name of the color is announced in both languages. This activity comes with the option to take a screen shot (or picture) of the completed masterpiece.

This app is quite pricey. The 4 activities are definitely beneficial, however. The use of this app is an easy way to expose younger students to Spanish vocabulary.

Spanish Adventures for Kids

Price: $3.99
Grade Recommendation: K - 2nd
Subject: Spanish
Specific Skill: Vocabulary
Levels: 1
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: iPad

Students accompany Lucy and Max on ten adventures in order to learn Spanish vocabulary. The adventures are: ocean, carnival, space, garden, zoo, farm, classroom, beach, rainforest, and city.

Each adventure provides them with 10 words to find. The app shows the picture of an item and says its name in Spanish (the Spanish word also appears on the screen). After clicking the 'Find It' button, the whole adventure picture appears. The user must then find and click on the picture of the object.

While it's nice to hear and see the Spanish words, I'm not sure how much learning is actually taking place in this app. Students can simply ignore the Spanish vocabulary altogether and just search for the matching object. At this price point, I'd skip this app. But feel free to obtain it if you have the money to spare. The graphics are appealing and students will enjoy selecting different adventures to embark upon.

Pebble Jump HD

Price: 99 cents (free version too)
Grade Recommendation: 3rd and up
Subject: Game
Specific Skill: Logic
Levels: 3
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This challenging game is a cross between checkers and peg solitaire. The object is to clear the board by jumping over the pieces. In order to do so, the last jump must land in the home space.

The app gives the option to receive hints, to reset the game board, and to undo a move. All of these options will definitely come in handy!

The higher levels (medium and hard) are unlocked after the easy puzzles (40 in all) are completed. This app will make a great addition to devices where students enjoy logic games.

Rainy Days: A Stella and Sam Adventure

Price: $2.99
Grade Recommendation: PreK - 2nd
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Listening to a story
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: iPad

What a cute little adventure! Students follow Stella and Sam as they entertain themselves on a rainy day. The adventure is fully animated and narrated.

Every so often the adventure pauses to allow students to complete 3 brief, interactive activities:
- Paw Prints
- Autumn Treasures
- Pinecone Race

Four chapters are included; the user can jump to any chapter or activity - they do not have to experience them in order (although it makes more sense to).

This app plays more like a short television program. I wish the words to the adventure were printed on the screen. Nonetheless, it's still fun and young children will love it!

Freefall Time

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: 2nd - 4th
Subject: Mathematics
Specific Skill: Time
Levels: 1
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This app is acceptable for building skills related to telling time. One, two, or three (depending on your settings) clocks fall from the top of the device. Students have to drag the clock(s) to their digital match before the clock(s) reach the bottom. You can customize the minute increments: 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, or 30 minutes.

Another activity is for students to match a digital time in clouds to the clock shown before the clouds reach the bottom of the device.

After accurately matching digital and analog times, students must also set the hands of a clock to the time given.

Overall, this is a sufficient time telling app to have. There are others out there (Telling Time HD and Jungle Time) that do more, however.

Little Speller First Words

Price: $0.99
Grade Recommendation: K - 3rd
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Spelling
Levels: N/A
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

Wow! I am quite impressed with how much this spelling app can be customized to meet students' needs. It features over 1,000 words already, but you can even add (and delete) words too.

Once the app begins, a picture is shown along with the letters needed to spell the word. The app also states the intended word. Students then have to drag the letters in the correct order to spell it. Immediate feedback is given.

That's the gist of the app, but there are so many ways to customize it - making it easier or more challenging. You can turn on/off the following: sound, word hints, visual hints, letter hints, and letter repeat. Also, the order of the words can be alphabetical or random. The letter order can be left to right or in any order. You can even use all lowercase, all uppercase, or capitalized letters. Also, you can customize the length of the words. But perhaps the most beneficial customization option is the ability to control the word library.

This app is a must-have for classrooms with younger students in it. At this price point, it's a steal!

Times Tables

Price: $0.99
Grade Recommendation: 3rd - 5th
Subject: Math
Specific Skill: Multiplication
Levels: Multi
Players: 1+
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This is the kind of app that's meant to be used over time. It tracks the progress of students as they master multiplication facts. It will save information for more than one student.

After selecting their name (or adding a new player), the app gives 4 choices:

Single Table Quiz
- Choose between tables 1 - 12. All start at level 0, where the questions are asked in order (1x1, 1x2, 1x3, etc.) and students can make up to 4 mistakes. New levels are reached according to accuracy and speed.

Quick Quiz
- It is unlocked only after higher levels are reached on the single table quizzes. Once it's unlocked, users can choose between the following quizzes: 30 questions, 100 questions, 1 minute, 3 minutes, or 1 mistake.

Competition
- This mode is also unlocked only after higher levels are reached on the single table quizzes. Once it's unlocked, users can choose between the following quizzes: 30 questions, 100 questions, 1 minute, 3 minutes, or 1 mistake. These quizzes are meant for 2 - 5 players and can have between 1 - 3 rounds.

Custom Quiz
- Choose between tables 1 - 12 (or a combination) and between 30 questions, 100 questions, 1 minute, 3 minutes, or 1 mistake.

Although this app only focuses on one skill (multiplication), it comes highly recommended. It's customization and ability to track progress make it well worth the small price tag. I also appreciate how it provides instant and ongoing feedback to students.

Word Topple

Price: Free! (99 cents for ad-free version)
Grade Recommendation: 3rd and up
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Spelling and vocabulary
Levels: 12
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

The object of the game is to form words in order to topple buildings and other structures. Words can be formed by swiping a finger across letter blocks or tapping each letter individually. The final letter in each word needs to be double-tapped to 'play' that word.

The letter tiles used to form an acceptable word 'fall', disrupting the building or structure. Longer words cause more damage than shorter ones. The user clears a level by getting all of the blocks below the checkered line (after causing damage) - so strategy comes into play as well as word sense.

I like how the app provides the definition for all acceptable words.

Even the ad version is recommended; this is a fun little word game that students will enjoy.

ABC Spelling Magic 2 - Consonant Blends

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: K - 2nd
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Spelling and phonics
Levels: 2
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

I'm quite impressed with this free app. It focuses on consonant blends and is the perfect way to tackle spelling and phonics instruction.

Children have a choice between 2 levels/activities:

Word Jumble: They're shown a picture and the letters (out of order) that spell the picture. They must arrange the letters to correctly spell the word. When a letter is selected, the device says its sound. The app is self-correcting; letters put in an incorrect spot will automatically 'bounce' out of that spot. There are 7 categories of single consonant blends (animals, outdoors, actions, people, home, work, and items). But you can also choose between double or even triple blends!

Moveable Alphabet: This level/activity is more challenging because the needed letters are not provided for the user. Rather, the entire alphabet is presented. The consonants appear in red and the vowels are in blue. The categories and choice of double or even triple blends remain.

The app can be customized even more by turning the following features on or off: letter sounds, letter hints, and double letter helper.

This is an excellent free app; it should be on every iPad or iPod Touch that will be used with early learners.

FLUP

Price: $1.99 (Free version also available)
Grade Recommendation: 3rd and up
Subject: Challenge Puzzle
Specific Skill: N/A
Levels: Many!
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This app is meant for your visual-spatial learners who are ready for a challenge! This app is visually-appealing and simply complex! It's a 3-D puzzle that requires swiping and tapping to solve. It comes with more than enough levels that are unlocked based on performance.

The app gives the user a small picture of the completed puzzle. S/he will then need to slide and/or tap the individual cubes to correctly replicate the shown solution.

I highly recommend this app for use in classrooms where the occasional challenge is greeted with open arms!

Trace Right!

Price: $0.99
Grade Recommendation: PreK - 2nd
Subject: Writing
Specific Skill: Letters and numbers
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

In this simple app, young children can trace numbers and letters with a finger. They can begin by watching an animation of the tracing of the letter or number while the app also verbally says the letter or number. After tracing the letter, students can press a button to receive instant feedback. The letters and numbers can be traced consecutively or in any order. Children may choose between upper and lowercase letters and the numbers 1 - 10.

In addition, users can click on alphabet pals that accompany each letter. For example clicking on the pal beside the letter A causes the device to say, "Aloha, my name is Ally and I am an alligator."

Get this app if you have the need for children to practice forming letters and numbers the correct way.

Baseball Multiplication 1 - 6

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: 3rd - 5th
Subject: Math
Specific Skill: Multiplication
Levels: 1
Players: 2
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This is yet another app developed by the McGraw-Hill Companies. It compliments their Everyday Mathematics series; some students may find it quite familiar.

This particular version of the app multiplies numbers 1 - 6. A separate version exists for numbers 1 - 12.

The object is to correctly multiply number pairs in order to score points. The app is set up as a 3-inning baseball game. The player with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.

After choosing a representative color, the first player touches the pitcher. The pitcher 'throws' a multiplication problem. The batter then uses the keypad to input the product. With a correct answer, the batter's 'hit' is based on the product.

1 - 10 = Single
12 - 16 = Double
18 - 20 = Triple
24 - 36 = Home run

An incorrect answer garners a strike; 3 strikes and you're out! But the umpire may also call a batter out or the ball may be caught, also resulting in an out. It's then the next player's turn.

A comprehensive tutorial is included. Students can also choose to turn on the 'Guided Play' option.

In general, I'm not a big fan of the Everyday Mathematics apps. But due to the two-player format and fun task, I do recommend this one.

Name That Number

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: 3rd - 5th
Subject: Math
Specific Skill: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Levels: 1
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

The McGraw-Hill Companies developed this app in conjunction with their Everyday Mathematics program. Students in classrooms where this series is used may find the app familiar.

The object is to make the target number using the 4 operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or division) and the given number cards. Students do so by making a numerical expression. They also must keep the order of operations in mind as they make the expression.

Points are earned for making an expression that equals the target number. More points are earned for using more numbers in the expression.

Using 2 cards = 2 points
Using 3 cards = 4 points
Using 4 cards = 8 points
Using 5 cards = 16 points

A comprehensive tutorial is included. Also, students can turn on the 'Guided Play' mode where the app guides them through the task.

This is one of my most recommended apps from the Everyday Mathematics series. Although only one level is available, it lends itself to differentiation because of the choices of operations and the number of cards used to make the target number.

Perfect Captions

Price: $1.99 (free version also available)
Grade Recommendation: 1st and up
Subject: Photography
Specific Skill: Editing
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This app makes a great companion to your iPad or iPod Touch's built-in camera. It allows students (or you) to add captions to pictures. But unlike traditional captions that appear under the photo, captions created with this app can appear anywhere.

The app is highly customizable - from the font (type, color, size), background of the caption's text box (color, opacity), and the actual shape of the text box.

The finished product can be exported via email. But it can also be sent to social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr) and back to your photo library.

Monster Squeeze

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: PreK - 1st
Subject: Math
Specific Skill: Number sense
Levels: 1
Players: 2
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This app was developed by The McGraw-Hill Companies in order to compliment their Everyday Mathematics curriculum series. Students in classrooms where the series is used may find the app quite familiar.

The object of the game is to guess the secret number that is being represented on the number line. To begin, the first player clicks any number on the number line. At that point, the iPad will say whether that number is too small or too large - making the octopus's arms squeeze the number line to make it smaller. The next player then chooses from the numbers that are left. Play continues until one player guesses the secret number. That player wins the round and receives a point. There are 5 rounds in each game.

The Options tab allows for customization. The number line can be 0 to 10, 5 to 15, 10 to 20, 15 to 25, 20 to 30, or all of the above. This feature increases the difficulty level of the app.

A comprehensive tutorial is also included.

It's my general opinion that the Everyday Mathematics apps are too pricey for the few tasks they contain. But this would make a good addition to iPads that are going to be used with students just learning number sense.

Tric-Trac

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: 2nd - 4th
Subject: Math
Specific Skill: Addition
Levels: 1
Players: 2
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This app is yet another developed by The McGraw-Hill Companies; it's meant to compliment their Everyday Mathematics curriculum series. Children in classrooms where the series is used may find this app quite familiar.

This is a sum-matching game that can be quite confusing at first. The object of the game is to be the player with the lowest score by leaving the smaller sum of numbers uncovered. To begin, the first player clicks the dice to 'roll' them. They'll need to add them together to get the sum. They'll then click one or more numbers (1 - 10) to make that sum. For example, if their dice add up to 7, they can click the 5 and the 3 OR the 7 OR the 6 and 1, etc. If their sum is correct, that amount will be subtracted from their score. It's then the next player's turn. Play continues until one player rolls a sum in which no matching sum can be made. The player with the lowest score wins the game.

Players can use the 'Add 1', 'Add 2', or 'Add 3' buttons to increase the sum of the dots on their dice. So an initial roll of a sum of 7 can increase to 8, 9, or 10.

A comprehensive tutorial is included. Also, students can select the 'Guided Play' option for additional support.

This is one of Everyday Mathematics' more challenging and strategy-based apps. Even at this price point, it's still recommended.

Subtraction Top-It

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: 2nd - 5th
Subject: Math
Specific Skill: Subtraction
Levels: 1
Players: 2
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This app, like several others I've reviewed, was developed by McGraw-Hill as a companion to their Everyday Mathematics curriculum series. Students in classrooms where the series is used may thrive on the familiarity this app brings.

The object of the game is to score more points than the other player by comparing differences of two cards. After being dealt two cards (each with a 2-digit number on it), the first player enters the difference of the two cards. Player 2 does the same. Next, the highlighted player clicks the arrow that points to the largest of the two differences or hits the tie button (if the differences are equal).

A game consists of eight rounds. Players earn 10 points each time they: correctly enter a difference, correctly compare the differences, and/or have the higher difference.

I like how the cards that are dealt automatically rearrange themselves to put the larger number first (always making 93 - 10, never 10 - 93).

A comprehensive tutorial is included. But players will most likely need to use a slate and/or paper and pencil to compute the differences.

This is one of Everyday Mathematics' better apps. Although you can't control the level, students can definitely practice their 2-digit subtraction skills (with and without regrouping) through this app.