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.

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.

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.

Word Domino

Price: $0.99
Grade Recommendation: 2nd and up
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Spelling/vocabulary
Levels: 3
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

The goal is quite simple - build words (from a specific category - like sports) from the syllables shown. In 'classic' mode, syllables are shown on stationary dominoes. But in 'bubbles' mode, the same syllables are shown on floating bubbles - adding a little complexity to the task of making words.

Users can choose between 3 difficulty levels (1, 2, or 3 stars). In addition, you can play a 'Full Game' where categories change during the game. Or you can play a 'Training' round and pick a specific category.

Categories: wild animals, farm animals, musical instruments, the house, furniture, weather, colors, fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, seaside, clothes, transport, DIY, sports, food and drinks, fishes, verbs, and the human body.

Users may even choose the preferred language - from English, French, Spanish, or German. The app also keeps track of high scores in both game modes.

This is one of the rare apps that's appropriate for an elementary, middle, or high school classroom. At this price point, it's highly recommended!

Word Seek HD

Price: 99 cents
Grade Recommendation: 3rd and up
Subject: Language Arts
Specific Skill: Spelling, vocabulary
Levels: 1
Players: 1 - 2
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both (called Word Seek Social for iPod)

Please note that this game is tied to Apple's Game Center. One person can play without signing in, but that needs to be done if two people play against each other (via the 'Challenge' option on the main menu). (I assume you have to sign in to the Game Center for the iPod Touch version.)

This app is quite appropriately titled - users seek for words amongst given letters. The letters can either be arranged in a 4x4 or 5x5 array. When users find a word, they drag the letters in order (horizontally, vertically, and/or diagonally) and release to 'make' it. The letters do not change at all during the course of a game. Each found word earns points based on the letters it's comprised of. Besides customizing the board size, users can also select a 3, 4, or 5 minute time limit or get rid of the time constraint altogether.

After each game, the app displays your total score and your personal best. But it also displays the number and percent of words found out of the total that were possible for that game. It also displays the lengthy list of all possible words.

Eric Carle's My Very First App

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: PreK - 1st
Subject: Vocabulary
Specific Skill: Matching
Levels: 3
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

With this type of title, my guess is that the developers intended to make an app that would introduce young children to the iPad (or iPod Touch or iPhone) and how to swipe and press items on it. Problem is, that could be done with many other apps - especially free ones.

It's hard to even classify this app. I guess I would say it's a vocabulary matching game. Here's an explanation of the 3 levels, in the app's own words.

Easy - Swipe the images left or right. Match the top image with an image on the bottom.
Medium - Tap on cards to flip them over. Find the two cards with the exact same image.
Hard - Tap on cards to flip them over. Find the two cards that go together, like black and an umbrella.

Unfortunately, the app initially only comes with two 'sets' in which to perform those activities - colors and animal homes. You have the in-app option of purchasing four additional sets - shapes, numbers, food, and animal sounds. Each one is an additional 99 cents.

The illustrations are beautiful and in true Eric Carle style. But skip this app if money is a selling point for you.