Day 7- Thur., July 12, 2012.

There are a plethora of apps out in the technology world. They range in function from helpful reminders for appointments, to helping us with directions, to counting calories at your favourite restaurant and a billion other things! If you can think of it chances are there is already "an app for that"! With that being said my partner, Nancy and I have found ten apps we believe to be useful in the classroom to support students in the reading process. We have answered the following questions about each app:

What does it do?

Where does it fit into the reading task analysis? (all apps can fit into more than one area)

Who can benefit from using it?

Why use it?

How can you use it in the classroom?

APP	WHAT WHERE  WHO WHY  HOW
1. Sensory Training  ($1.99)	WHAT- touch images on the screen for a visual response, you can also manipulate images WHERE- attending to task, using visual orthographic processing WHO- students who will benefit from developing their attention abilities (ADHD/ADD, etc.), sensory needs, tactile and visual abilities WHY-  to get students ready for learning to read, they need to be able to concentrate, focus on one task even with distractions and develop their executive functioning skills HOW- independent use, or take turns in small learning groups
2. Tappy Memories  ($0.99)	WHAT-  An app similar to pictella, where pictures and speech to text are used to document events. Also has a question option to help guide documenting the event. After the story is complete you can email the entries in PDF format to read and share. WHERE- orthographic and phonological processors that recall experience, vocabulary retrieval, sequential processing WHO- students who need to use pictures and oral communication to re-tell a story instead of traditional paper and pencil WHY- motivating for readers and writers to tell their own stories and utilise background knowledge and lived experiences without getting hung up on the sound/letter relationships that can make reading difficult HOW- independent use or use in pairs
3. Audio Books  (FREE)	WHAT- Listen to 4,382 classic audio books on your iPhone or iPad. WHERE- the meaning processor category WHO- anyone and everyone, especially those with decoding difficulties WHY- it allows you to concentrate on the meaning of the story instead of focusing on decoding the words HOW- independent use, small group or whole class
4. Sentence Magic  (FREE)	WHAT- This app helps your child read words & sentences as well as build sentences, it also reads the sentences you create back to you. It is a self correcting game WHERE- context processor, vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar WHO- students who have little experience (ESL) or are delayed in oral language and who have difficulty with proper sequencing of words WHY- It provides the missing link between reading just words and putting the words together to read and make meaning from a sentence, it also gives emerging readers a next step that will encourage skill building and confidence in reading. HOW-independent use, take turns in small learning groups, or use in a whole class lesson
5. Reading Ther Appy  ($14.99/Lite version is FREE)	WHAT- an automated self correcting workbook that provides cloze activities in comprehension, naming, reading and writing  WHERE- context processor, vocabulary, sequential, memory WHO- students with delayed language development or English as a Second Language Learners WHY- It provides support for reading   comprehension, attention issues, problem solving, visual processing, reasoning HOW- this app would be more suited for the individual user or pairs
6. Word Dynamo by Dictionary.com – Word Games + Study Help  ($4.99)	WHAT- combines engaging games with Dictionary.com’s entire word library empowering students to master their word learning. WHERE- meaning processor WHO- students who need vocabulary development and need assistance with comprehension (everyone!) WHY- when students come across a word they don't know they often do not look it up, this app can encourage them to search for the word meaning to ensure understanding HOW- this app would be best suited for an individual or small group reading the same text
7. Reading Rainbow  (FREE)	WHAT- App offers a library of books that you can pick and choose from to customise to the student's interests, plus it includes interactive pictures embedded in the text and exciting video field trips to fascinating people and places. WHERE- visual & auditory processes, practising with engagement to task WHO- the student who has difficulty decoding, the reluctant reader, as well as those with attention difficulties who need visual stimulation to attend to task WHY- this app could be highly motivating to the reluctant reader as it highlights the words as it is reading HOW- independent use, take turns in small learning or a whole class lesson
8. Melvin's Marvellous words (FREE)	WHAT - teaches readers high frequency words that are most commonly found in print WHERE- context processing,working memory, letter/sound relationships WHO- any beginning reader, English as a second language student WHY- beginning readers need the core high frequency words to get them started in the reading process so they can begin to try new words and read for meaning HOW- individually, small group and teacher demonstrated with whole class participation
9. ABC Magic Line 3 Match (FREE)	WHAT-  Students tap the letters or objects to hear their sounds. They also draw lines with their fingers to connect the sounds or pictures to the corresponding pictures. WHERE- phonological processes, auditory, sound/letter association WHO- students who need to develop letter sound relationships WHY- beginning readers and struggling readers need to know the sounds the letters make, not just their names, so they can apply this relationship when decoding new words HOW- individual, small group, interactive whole class activity
10. Speak It! ($1.99)	WHAT- import any text, by copying and pasting it into the app, and it will read it to you (you can also select from a few different voices) WHERE- meaning processor WHO- any student who has visual or decoding difficulties because this allows them to auditory process the information WHY-  when the focus is on being able to understand the text, not just decoding it, then they can get the message HOW- individual or small group

The reading task analysis is a work in progress that is continuously being adapted and added too. It is very complex, so this version is by no means meant to reflect a final product but rather the beginning of our understanding of everything that needs to happen in order to read.