Reading
I was asked recently by a librarian for a list of multi-touch books that work well for casual and class read to's for primary school children.
- Here is my list as a Google Doc- if you have any more that you would recommend please add to it.
The MoE have a large number of readers you can download for free to support early reading. Have a look at their catalogue here.
OZ Phonics Series (various prices)
There are four in the OZ PHONICS series: Intro to Reading, Phonics and Phonemic Awareness, CVC CCVC and Consonant Blends and #5 coming soon. Great because they have a Kiwi accent. Yay.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/oz-phonics-1-phonemic-awareness/id580335894?mt=8
Record of Reading (free)
The Record of Reading app is designed to provide an electronic form for taking a running record. This video will show you how it can be used.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/record-of-reading/id543574721?mt=8
Teach Your Monster to Read- $7.49
Teach Your Monster to Read is a series of games that helps children learn to read. Play for free via the web or download the app.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/teach-your-monster-to-read/id828392046?mt=8
iBooks- free
A virtual bookcase - holds proper books and pdfs. Click on Library (or Books/Pdfs on an iPod Touch) to change between them.
Pop Out- The Tale of Peter Rabbit ($5.99)
Beautifully retold story of Peter Rabbit- love the English accent- reminds me of Sunday mornings. There are three books in the series.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/popout-the-tale-of-peter-rabbit-potter/id397864713?mt=8
Three Little Pigs ($7.49)
The more you tap the characters the more they 'speak'. There is a lite version that only plays the first few pages but give you the idea.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/the-three-little-pigs-nosy/id418543664?mt=8
Cinderella ($7.49)
From the same people as the Three Little Pigs- love the mirror of ourselves as we read.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/cinderella-nosy-crow-animated/id457366947?mt=8
Little Red Riding Hood ($7.49)
From the same people as the Three Little Pigs and Cinderella
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/little-red-riding-hood-by-nosy-crow/id626696483?mt=8
Complete Fairytale Theatre ($7.49)
From the same people as the Three Little Pigs and Cinderella. This is very like Puppet Pals but uses the scenes and backdrops from the above Nosy Crow books. Sadly, at this stage, it doesn't export as a video- you would have to record the whole screen.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/complete-fairytale-play-theater/id1132517788
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy ($6.49)
A Kiwi favourite- it supports signing and children can record their own narration.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/hairy-maclary-from-donaldsons/id383481759?mt=8
The Lorax ($6.49)
The classic Dr Seuss book- simply read. There are a series of Dr Seuss books as apps.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/the-lorax-dr.-seuss/id367260225?mt=8
Don't let the Pigeon run this app ($6.49)
The app of the 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the bus' book. You can add your own wacky extras and safe them. Also a fun drawing activity to draw your own pigeons.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/dont-let-pigeon-run-this-app!/id459749670?mt=8
Wonky Donkey ($7:49)
The app that goes with the popular book and song.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/the-wonky-donkey/id383510128?mt=8
The Monster at the End of this Book ($7:49)
The sort of book that kids like to read over and over.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/monster-at-end-this-book...starring/id409467802?mt=8
Word Bingo ($4.49)
Fun, rewarding word recognition game using words children actually need to know.
Booktrack Classroom (free)
Very cleverly and magically this app delivers a sound track for while you are reading. You can even adjust its reading speed to match you. Also an Android app and a Chrome Web App.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/classroom-reader/id847896655?mt=8
Skoolbo (free)
Multiplatform (Download to your laptop PC or Mac, Android or iPad to support literacy and numeracy targeted at 4-10 year olds.
Lexia CORE 5- free but you pay for access
Now students can complete their Lexia Reading via the iPad. The app is free but they will need a paid for Lexia log in.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lexia-reading-core5/id623853404?mt=8
Blades- The Grassland Biome ($38.99)
An interesting concept where the same content is offered with different reading levels so that a group of diverse learners could potentially find success reading the same book. There are others in the series as well.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/blades-the-grassland-biome/id617725733?mt=8
These following apps do not work with iOS11 but I live in hope that they will be updated someday...
Morris Lessmore ($6.49) Not currently in the NZ Store
My favourite interactive iPad book. A lovely story and every page provides a new way to interact with the iPad.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/the-fantastic-flying-books/id438052647?mt=8
Running Records ($2.59)
Made by my mate Matt Thomas in Tauranga. Enter the raw scores and it does the sums for you.
http://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/running-recs/id308411058?mt=8
Word Collage ($1:29)
Very much like Wordle. You enter the words and it makes word collages out of them. Save to Photo Album or email.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/word-collage/id527057508?mt=8
Ready to Read Series (free)
There is a growing series of Ready to Read Books in digital format. Some are supported with New Zealand Sign Language and Te Reo.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/artist/ministry-education-new-zealand/id507340102
CSI- Literacy Starter Kit (free)
You get one book for free then you pay $4:19 each for extra books. As you read the books you can annotate, highlight and write notes. Good targeted literacy resource.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/csi-literacy-library-starter/id588305676?mt=8
PM eCollection (free)
You can have a look at a couple of free books but to get more you have to create a PM account through your school. You can over record, draw and make notes around the text. Here's a video to show you.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/pm-ecollection/id675521971?mt=8
3:15 (first book is free- thereafter ($1:29 a book)
Great for reluctant older readers. You get a teaser video to grab your interest. Then you read for fifteen minutes and finish with a scary ending.
Victory at Point 209- Ngarimu Te Tohu Toa (free)
Perfect for reluctant readers and boys from the age of 10 years. This app is an adaptation of the graphic novel, Ngarimu Te Tohu Toa- the story of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu of 28th Māori and English.ori Battalion who was awarded the VC during World War Two.
In Māori and English.
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/victory-at-point-209-ngarimu-te-tohu-toa/id1040352319?mt=8