The best special education apps on iPad consider not just instruction, but classroom management and behavioral strategies as well.
The modern special education classroom needs to accommodate all types of students and the individual needs they may present. Special education apps can help students with their specific needs, whether the students need help communicating, improving fine motor skills, reinforcing positive behavior with visual aids or simply processing external stimuli that may overwhelm students with Autism.
We asked former teachers at eSpark which special education apps they have used in their classrooms to address special needs through blended learning, and we compiled the top four app recommendations below.
Top 4 Special Education Apps
These apps offer a wide array of tools teachers can use in their classrooms to promote learning, classroom management and behavioral strategies for their students.
1. Sounding Board
Developer: AbleNet
Price: Free
Description: Turn your iOS device into an instant Sounding Board with this incredibly practical app. Create your own custom boards with often used symbols to help facilitate better communication with children in special education.
Why It’s the Best: Custom, image-focused boards specialized for each student’s unique needs, Tons of intuitive, clear symbols to choose from to create personal boards, Simple, clean layout that focuses on improving student communication
2. Pocket Ponds
Developer: TriggerWave, LLC
Price: Free
Description: A sensory and calming app that features a serene pond with fish you can interact with. This app is perfect for special education students that need to reduce stimulation or take a break.
Why It’s the Best: Realistic graphics and sound effects that accurately imitate a real pond, No frills layout that focuses on touch interactions with the fish and pond, Includes various maintenance tasks and reward system for interacting with the pond
3. iReward
Developer: Grembe Inc.
Price: $2.99
Description: Motivational tool to help reinforce positive behavior by organizing tasks and accompanying visual rewards.
Why It’s the Best: Flexible user interface that allows easy visual customization of both tasks and awards through the use of colors and images, Organize students within the app, perfect for special education teachers
4. Dexteria - Fine Motor Skill Development
Developer: BinaryLabs, Inc
Price: $3.99
Description: Provides therapeutic hand exercises to practice fine motor skills and development. Perfect for developing handwriting skills in young students.
Why It’s the Best: Short, repeatable and engaging exercises that work on fine motor control, Modern design takes advantage of multi-touch features of the iPad in fun, engaging ways, Different types of games correlated to motor movements like pinching
For more games and activities for your special education students, try eSpark for free today.
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