With thousands of educational apps out there for students, it is tough to know which ones will actually help your kids in the homeschool process. The following are eight of the best apps based on recommendations, ratings, and usefulness from other homeschooling parents.
Homeschool Helper
Available for your tablet, Homeschool Helper is one of the most useful apps for parents who need to plan lessons, track progress, manage lists of textbooks, determine grades, keep track of to-do tasks, and plan field trips for hands-on learning. Since it does so much, other parents say that it is well worth the $4.99 price tag, and it allows you to keep track of all this data in one place. It is available for iPad, Nook, Android tablets, and Kindle Fire.
iPlanLessons
Since there are specific educational requirements for homeschooling, and these requirements can vary by state, it might feel overwhelming to plan lessons that will meet the criteria. Enter iPlanLessons, an app available for iOS that keeps simple records so you can compare them with your state’s educational requirements and make sure your kids will get credit for the work they do. Developers have created other apps within the series, including iPlanScienceLabs for easier lab report creation, iPlanToWrite for management of writing tasks, and iPlanField Trips, that tracks locations and learning.
Screen Time
When your children are at home for school, they might start having more screen time than you want. While there are plenty of apps available for monitoring, Screen Time actually takes it a step further by encouraging positive media habits and behaviors. Parents can enable settings where kids can earn extra screen time by doing chores or accomplishing tasks, but the app also provides a way for users to trade media time for rewards that appeal to them. Available for iOS, the price is $1.99.
K12 Timed Reading Practice
Ideal for younger children who are working on their reading and comprehension skills, the K12 Timed Reading Practice app includes short, timed stories that are quick and fun. Tools within the app also help track reading levels and words per minute across multiple users. There is a more extensive version of the app, K12 Timed Reading & Comprehension Practice, that includes more comprehensive questions.
I Write Words
For kids who are working on improving their handwriting, I Write Words is a fun and interactive resource. You can use it alongside other written handwriting practice sheets or on its own for improvements in penmanship. You can also incorporate reading with usage, since kids can read back the words they are writing.
Wearable Technology
With homeschooling, most parents and students are constantly on the go and are trying to manage time more efficiently. Wearable technology helps you stay in touch with your world, and many of the apps listed are available through the Samsung Gear S2 and other similar smartwatches. When connected to a reliable network, these devices allow you to view your lesson plans, track attendance, or update the calendar from anywhere.
Duolingo
Image via Flickr by Aaron Parecki
Kids are learning languages earlier than ever before in schools throughout the country. Studies show that language learning is beneficial in the development of reading abilities, increased linguistic awareness, scientific understanding, and higher scores on standardized tests. Using Duolingo can help your homeschooled pupils learn a second language and reap these benefits as well. This app received the “Best of the Best” award from Google Play for two years in a row, and a study at the University of South Carolina and Queens College determined that using Duolingo for 34 hours is equivalent to a semester of language education.
Stack the States
When homeschooled kids are learning geography, Stack the States is a fun app that will feel more like a game. The information presented allows children to learn all the state capitals, abbreviations, flags, and much more. There is a free lite version or you can download the full version for $1.99 in the iTunes App Store.
When you provide your children with fun and educational resources, it makes homeschooling much more enjoyable for everyone. You can also keep better track of lessons and progress with helpful tools.
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