Running Head: Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

Medaille College

Yasmine Allahoum

EDU 571: Teach like a Techie

Professor: Mary Beth Scumaci

August 3, 2018
Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

App Title: Ooka Island School Edition by Scholastic

App Price: Free
Subject Area: ELA reading
App Languages: English

Rationale for Curriculum Use: Ooka Island transforms teaching

foundational reading skills by breaking the process down into thousands of micro-actions —
6,695 to be exact. With an instructionally robust methodology and highly adaptive technology,
Ooka Island actively personalizes each student’s path toward fluent reading.

Students start the 3D game by creating their personal avatars. The game is organized into a series
of missions. In the beginning missions, activities include identifying letters, segmenting words
and pronouncing words. By the end of the entire game, students should be able to successfully
comprehend second grade level books. As students advance through the game, Ooka Island
analyzes their progress and plots a specific path for the student to master the skills needed to
proceed to the next level.

Teachers or parents can see students’ real time progress reports with info such as errors made
and total books read. They can even use an optional function to play along the student as another
character in the game. Teachers or parents also receive weekly progress reports and other
resources such as instructor manuals, workbooks, flash cards and printed books.

As of August 2015, Ooka Island is aligned with Ontario’s K- Grade 2 reading expectations
curriculum.
ISTE Educator Standards: 6a. Foster a culture where students take ownership of their learning
goals and outcomes in both independent and group settings.
ISTE Student Standards: 1a. Students articulate and set personal learning goals, develop
strategies leveraging technology to achieve them and reflect on the learning process itself to
improve learning outcomes.

NYS P-12 Common Core/NYS Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.3

Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.3.F
Recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.
Ontario Curriculum Expectations: Reading Familiar Words
3.1 automatically read and understand many high-frequency words, some words with common
spelling patterns, and words of personal interest or significance, in a variety of reading contexts
(e.g., the same word in different graphic representations such as: on charts or posters; in shared-,
guided-, and independent reading texts; in shared- and interactive writing texts; in personal
writing and the writing of their peers)
Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

App Title: Little Bird Tales: Storytelling Made Easy

App Price: Free
Subject Area: ELA Writing
App Languages: English

Rationale for Curriculum Use: Kids all over the world are using the Little Bird Tales app to
create their own stories, podcasts, presentations, journals and to share vacation photos. Now,
they can also download lessons from their teacher, and send them back for review when
complete! The Little Bird Tales app is easy, fast, and fun!

Teachers can ask individual kids to create stories, present research, document science projects or
field trips, make photo slideshows, and more. All students have an individual account to make
their own storybooks, or teachers can facilitate a whole class working together on a single
storybook. Lesson templates, tied to Common Core Standards, give teachers a quick start to
some creative ways to use this tool, although limited templates are available with the free
account. The storyboard includes space for teacher instructions, so teachers can provide page-by-
page guidance or just let kids create on their own. Teachers can take advantage of the voice
recorder feature by recording their own voices for instruction or by allowing kids who aren't
strong readers/writers to narrate their presentations.

ISTE Educator Standards: 6b Manage the use of technology and student learning strategies in
digital platforms, virtual environments, hands-on makerspaces or in the field.

ISTE Student Standards: 7a

Students use digital tools to connect with learners from a variety of backgrounds and cultures,
engaging with them in ways that broaden mutual understanding and learning.

NYS P-12 Common Core/NYS Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.6

With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish
writing, including in collaboration with peers.
Ontario Curriculum Expectations: Form
2.1 write short texts using several simple forms (e.g., a friendly letter; a factual recount of a
scientific or mathematical investigation; a recipe describing the procedure for cooking a
favourite food; directions for playing a game; a paragraph describing the physical characteristics
of an animal; an original story or an extension of a familiar story, modelled on stories read; their
own variation on a patterned poem; an advertisement for a toy)
Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

App Title: Epic!

App Price: Free/ 7.99 month membership for extensions
Subject Area: ELL/ ENL enhancement for ELA
App Languages: English

Rationale for Curriculum Use: Epic! Is an unlimited Books for Kids is a subscription-based
ebook service for kids age 2–12. Kids and parents can choose from more than 25,000 books, and
they can read them online or offline, on the Web, or on mobile devices. Many selections are by
well-known authors or from major publishers, and the collection includes Spanish/English,
Chinese/English, and French/English bilingual books. Users can search books by subject, genre,
and age, and some are audio or read-to-me versions where kids can follow along with
highlighted words. On a Reading Stats page, time spent reading, number of pages flipped, and
books read are tracked, and kids can earn badges and rewards based on certain milestones.

ISTE Educator Standards: 5a. Use technology to create, adapt and personalize learning
experiences that foster independent learning and accommodate learner differences and needs.

ISTE Student Standards: 1c

Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to
demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.

NYS P-12 Common Core/NYS Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.4

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.4.A

Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

Ontario Curriculum Expectations: 1 Reading for Meaning

1.1 read some different literary texts (e.g., poetry, folk tales, fairy tales from diverse cultures,
stories, books from home in their first language), graphic texts (e.g., simple maps, charts,
diagrams, graphs), and informational texts (e.g.,“How to”books, non-fiction books about topics
of personal interest, electronic texts, primary dictionaries)
Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

App Title: The Sounding Out Machine

App Price: 3.99
Subject Area: SWD (ELA Reading)
App Languages: English

Rationale for Curriculum Use: This assistive reading device is used for students who struggle with
reading fluency and comprehension due to auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, or any other learning
disability. The app shows students how to use phonic strategies to blend phonemes together, sound out
difficult words, and to break words into chunks. Included in the app are features to upload texts, take
snapshots, zooming and isolating words, modelling, and a dictionary with over 80, 000 words. Parents
and teachers can also track students’ progress by having their reports emailed to them.

ISTE Educator Standards:

2.a Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to
promote student learning and creativity.
2.c Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse
learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.

ISTE Student Standards: 4.d Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore
alternative solutions.

NYS P-12 Common Core/NYS Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.2
Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.3
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Ontario Curriculum Expectations: Reading with Fluency

3.1 Reading Familiar Words
Automatically read and understand some high-frequency words and words of personal interest or
significance, in a variety of reading contexts
Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

App Title: Brain Pop Jr.

App Price: Free
BrainPOP Jr. Full Access Subscription $6.99
BrainPOP Jr. Explorer Subscription $2.99
Subject Area: Science
App Languages: English, French, Spanish, Mandarin
Rationale for Curriculum Use: The BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week app delivers a different
animated movie every week - plus related quizzes and educational activities - free! Ideal for kids
in Kindergarten through grade 3, the BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week app spans topics across
Science, Social Studies, Reading, Writing, Math, Health, Arts, and Technology. The gentle,
humorous, and relatable characters Annie and Moby serve as guides through each topic,
empowering kids to form their own ideas. BrainPOP Jr. is designed to cultivate critical thinking
skills and encourage children to ask questions and make connections. The app is easily navigable
by kids ages 5-9.

Much of the curriculum-based content is aligned to state education standards. Teachers can
search for specific videos and activities using the search tool, which categorizes content by
subject, grade, and state standard. Training and PD opportunities, plus resources such as lesson
plans, standards alignment, graphic organizers, and more, are available on the BrainPOP
Educators hub.

Short films are a terrific introduction to any topic. Use the videos to spark kids' interest on a new
topic or to reinforce what they've already learned in class. You could even have students make
their own short films on one of the topics they've explored or connect video content to other non-
digital activities. For instance, have them watch the video about the water cycle, then follow it up
with related games or outdoor activities.

ISTE Educator Standards: 6b Manage the use of technology and student learning strategies in
digital platforms, virtual environments, hands-on makerspaces or in the field.

ISTE Student Standards: 3d

Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing
ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.

NYS P-12 Common Core/NYS Standards:

1.4. Scientific Inquiry: The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of
natural phenomena in a continuing, creative process.
1.4.1. Students ask 'why' questions in attempts to seek greater understanding concerning objects
and events they have observed and heard about.

Ontario Curriculum Expectations:

1. Relating Science and Technology to Society and the Environment
1.1 identify positive and negative impacts that animals have on humans (society) and the
environment, form an opinion about one of them, and suggest ways in which the impact can be
minimized or enhanced
Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

App Title: Go Noodle

App Price: Free
Subject Area: Physical Education
App Languages: English

Rationale for Curriculum Use: This app can be used in a variety of ways and allows for group
participation. It offers instructional videos that promote mindfulness in areas such as: dance, physical
movement, games, yoga, Zumba, and fitness. The app incorporates high energy music that are relatable
to students and promotes a healthy lifestyle. These videos are a great way to get kids moving and
engaged. This app can also be used as a brain break during class/throughout the day. Through this app,
students, parents, and teachers can create accounts to track goals.

ISTE Educator Standards

6b: manage the use of technology and student learning strategies in digital platforms, virtual
environments, hands-on makerspaces or in the field

ISTE Student Standards:

1a. Students articulate and set personal learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology
to achieve them and reflect on the learning process itself to improve learning outcomes.

NYS P-12 Common Core/NYS Standards:

Standard Strand: Physical Education Learning Standards
Topic: Personal Health and Fitness Standard 1
Students will have the necessary knowledge and skills to establish and maintain physical fitness,
participate in physical activity, and maintain personal health.

Ontario Curriculum Expectations:

A1.1 actively participate in a wide variety of program activities, according to their capabilities,
while applying behaviours that enhance their readiness and ability to take part
Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

App Title: Motion Math

App Price: Free, includes in app purchases

Subject Area: Math
App Languages: English

Rationale for Curriculum Use: Motion Math is an educational game that challenges students to practice
K-6 math concepts. This app develops mobile learning games to teach fundamentals of mathematics. The
games in this application combines math concepts that are aligned with the Common Core State
Standards in mathematics.

ISTE Educator Standards:

6a Foster a culture where students take ownership of their learning goals and outcomes in both
independent and group setting.

ISTE Student Standards:

5b. Students collect data or identify relevant data sets, use digital tools to analyze them, and
represent data in various ways to facilitate problem-solving and decision-making.

NYS P-12 Common Core/NYS Standards:

1. OA Work with Addition and Subtraction equations
7. Understand the meaning of the equal sign, and determine if equations involving addition and
subtraction are true or false.

Ontario Curriculum Expectations:

Grade 1 Number Sense and Numeration
Solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of whole numbers to 18, using a variety of
mental strategies
Integrating Apps across the curriculum Recommendation Assignment

App Title: Kahoot!

App Price: Free
Subject Area: Math, English, Science, Social Studies
App Languages: English, French

Rationale for Curriculum Use: This is a diverse app that allows educators to engage large or small
groups of students through fun quizzes that can be used to review or assess students on specific content.
The teacher will create questions and students will log onto the app and everyone will answer the same
questions. The app also keeps a record of individual students answers for the teacher to evaluate if they
chose to do so.
ISTE Educator Standards:
7b: use technology to design and implement a variety of formative and summative assessments
that accommodate learner needs, provide timely feedback to students and inform instruction.

ISTE Student Standards:

1c: students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to
demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.

NYS P-12 Common Core/NYS Standards:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.G.A.1
Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-
defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size); build and draw shapes to possess
defining attributes.

Ontario Curriculum Expectations: Grade 1 Geometry and Spatial Sense:

Identify and describe common two dimensional shapes (e.g., circles, triangles, rectangles,
squares) and sort and classify them by their attributes (e.g., colour; size; texture; number of
sides), using concrete materials and pictorial representations (e.g.,“I put all the triangles in one
group. Some are long and skinny, and some are short and fat, but they all have three sides.”