Mobile

1. Memory Trainer – this app has quizzes and games that help build memory – specifically spatial memory, which generally orients us to your environment. I think this app would work well in a driver’s ed class (not exactly mainstream, I know). It would also be a good bell work (or whatever it’s called now) since it gets the mind going in a fun, interactive way.

2. Flash Card Maker Pro – this app is a bit limited since it’s only for Android products. However, it does seem very cool. It makes digital flash cards (in case it wasn’t clear), but it accepts all methods of creation. It uses advanced and text-to-speech capability which allow for all types of learning – like kinesthetic.

3. Guitar Solo Light – this app is a realistic version of Guitar Hero, so kids will already be into it. It has all the strings of the guitar and helps kids learn how to play. This would be a great way for elementary kids to be introduced to guitar (and I’m sure there are more with different kinds of instruments) whose parents can’t afford an instrument right off the bat or don’t want to shell out cash for something the kid may hate. I know it’s far from a real instrument, but at least it’s a place to start. Plus there’s so much research out there that supports the idea that kids need a lot of exposure to music from an early age.

4. Nook for Android – yes, I know this is very basic. However, I think this is the number one thing English teachers should push on their kids. They are so much more likely to read if it’s easily accessible and not obvious that they’re reading so they can’t be judged. In addition to this, I allow my students to use their iPads, Nooks, and phones in class and it has given me so much of a range. They can get books for extra credit reading with ease for free and there’s never an excuse to not have a book for class. I only teach two books all semester that aren’t copyright free now and free online so I almost never have to deal with the “I don’t have my book” excuse. They’re never gutsy enough to lie and say they don’t have a phone!

5. GeoQuiz – this app covers all aspects of geo-anything. It’s trivia, always a cool thing that kids enjoy, but it covers capitols to flags to geological features and resources making it a thorough app for a history teacher.

6. Document Scanner – okay, as an English teacher I have had to deal with the excuse that the computer died and then the printer caught fire way too many times. Sadly, I tend to believe my students too. Now I won’t have to worry at all about kids lying or not. They can take a picture of what they’ve done (either the document that they hopefully would be smart enough to get a scan of before the crisis or of the computer notification that there was a crisis) and I’ll know I’m not being a sucker. Of course, they could still cheat the system, but at least this is better than nothing and I tend to be a person who is lenient as long as they can prove it was done (by a picture, save date on a document, etc.).

7. Formulas Lite – this would be great for a math or science teacher. It has a ton of formulas that are most commonly used in different areas of science and math. Since most science and math teachers allow the kids a cheat sheet of formulas since the important thing is that they can work a problem and not remember a formula, this is a great thing to save a kids who keeps losing the piece of paper in the depths of the book bag.

8. Google Sky Map – my husband actually has this app on his phone. It’s really cool. You just open it and point the phone anywhere in the sky and the map labels the constellations and stars you choose. We offer astronomy at midnight my district and I’m sure he’d appreciate this app for those who keep forgetting their star charts.

9. Plink Art – this is the same as the above app, but it deals with art. You just take a picture of a piece and it identifies as much as it can. This would be great for students on field trips to museums or for a classroom because kids can browse famous paintings from specific genres.

10. Kids Numbers and Math – this app is for young children in preschool. The app is like all other apps really – it helps with learning numbers and adding and math. The cool thing is that it’s designed for kids so young. It’s nice to orient kids at an early age to technology since so much of their lives will be consumed by it.