Parents,
As each child is at a different level in their phonics/decoding abilities - I will send home individual apps for students to download at the beginning of the year, once I have had a chance to assess their abilities.
The following apps apply regardless of your child's reading/writing ability.
FlashGram: This app will help your child identify the parts of the sentences we will be learning this year (noun, verb, adjective and pronoun). They may not be quite ready for this app yet, but they will be soon.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flashgram/id288908796?mt=8
Smiley Sight Words: Your child will be expected to master the Fry and Dolche reading words over the course of the year. This app has the most common children's reading words in a myriad of different lists to help them master their basic sight words. You can then rate & record your child's ability to read the word with a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Mastery is achieved when your child reads the word correctly three times.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smiley-sight-words/id361006388?mt=8
ABC Word Families: This app will walk your child through both short and long vowel word families. Have your child start at the beginning and read, spell and write each word in the word family. Then have them rhyme the word orally with you. For challenge: Have your child write and use the word in a sentence. All of their spelling words for 1st grade are from word families (i.e. - same endings).
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-phonics-word-family-writing/id389376615?mt=8
Words Free - Word Families: Another way for your child to interact with word families, including unscrambling and spelling the words.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-phonics-word-families/id371052413?mt=8
Fill in the Gap: Adjust the settings to meet your child at their level. On this app, your child must find and identify missing letters. This can be at the beginning of the word, end of the word or the middle of the word. An essential first grade skill.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fill-the-gap-smudge/id415104902?mt=8
Teach Me 1st: A comprehensive app that reviews spelling, sight words and math skills with your child. It follows the first grade standards and allows your child to earn "coins" to spend at the store as they master content areas.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/teachme-1st-grade/id355940964?mt=8
Analogies for Kids: Wow, what a great app, but your child will need your help. Last years first graders could do it independently at the end of the year, but needed individual help at first. This app asks your child to recognize the pattern between two objects and the following two objects just like the SAT for college admissions does. Try it yourself first to make sure you understand what they are asking. If it is too hard for your child initially, don't worry - they will grow into it! This is an app it's okay to wait until January to tackle.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/analogy/id377667559?mt=8
