10 Apps to use with students who need support in the reading process

1. Assignment 2: iPod Touch App Match
Reading Process – 10 Apps
Presented By: Karen Dumay & Anne Levo Harrop
Presented To: Barbara Welsford (Instructor)
Date: Summer, 2012

2. Introduction
For this assignment, my partner and I selected eleven Apps that can engage
reluctant readers in and outside of schools. The Apps selected are meeting the
various stages of the reading process. Academic successes can now be attained
by those who have limited reading and comprehension skills. Below, is a list
of the Apps included in this presentation.
11 Apps
Word Dynamo by Dictionary.com - Word Games + Study Help
Young Reader – Quick Reader with Speed Reading
Sounds: The Pronunciation App
Sequential Spelling Level 2
Reading Game Lite
Science360 for iPad
Reading TherAppy
WordPokerHD
The Opposites
Flipboard
Popplet

3. APP WordPoker HD Cost: Free
Description
This is a new app for the iPad. WordPokerHD is a combination of
scrabble and poker. As letters are added to the menu, the player places
bets. If the letters are looking good, the player can bet high. Once the
betting is done, the player creates as many high scoring words as
possible in the allotted time using the list of letters that accumulated
during the betting process.
Reading Process Fit Orthographic connections, word/spelling recall, vocabulary builder
Students who live with dyslexia, attention concerns or need to build
their vocabulary will have a fun method to build words with random
Student Match groups of letters. WordPoker HD could be used to encourage
challenged or reluctant readers to work on their vocabulary in a fun
competitive manner.
I love that each round is short so that reluctant readers or attention
Notes challenged students can be convinced to try but can move quickly on to
another set of letters, especially have the have a messy hand of letters.

4. APP Flipboard Cost: Free
Description
This app is for iPad, iPhone and Android. FlipBoard is a social
magazine that can be customized to the interests of the reader.
Although no voiceover is available for all articles on FlipBoard, there
is now an audio section that one can choose articles and music from.
Reading Process Fit Engagement
Reluctant readers, students unmotivated by traditional texts
Student Match
Notes I really like this app to get reluctant readers to find types of items of
interest and build their capacity to read.

5. APP Science360 for iPad Cost: Free
Description
This app is available for iPads. High definition pictures and video clips
from the National Science Foundation of a wide variety of scientific
information. Tap on a square and go to a specific picture or video. Tap
with two fingers and up comes a menu of links to current news. Tap on
the star, choose a tag and related pictures/videos pop up. If the student
is doing a project, the pictures with associated information can be
emailed to the student for inclusion.
Engages reluctant readers, provides strong visuals to link to text.
Reading Process Fit Visuals are useful for non-readers to
Science 360 is useful for all students but especially students who are
Student Match reluctant readers. It is also useful to students who are limited in ability
to decode or are non-readers. I cannot find a voice over option, but if
the image is of interest, the student can email it to him/herself on the
same device where voiceover is available.
Notes The photography is stunning and much of it is public domain.

6. APP Popplet Cost: Free (Lite version)
or $4.99 (full version)
Description
Available for iPhone and iPad, this cool graphic organizer/mind
mapping app can be used by students to take notes from reading
material. Pictures can be added to the notes or students can draw a
visual with their finger or a stylus to show their understanding of the
linkage.
Popplet allows students to record and organize their thinking about the
Reading Process Fit material they are reading. In addition to taking notes, they can include
visual connections to the text.
Useful for ADHD students, students with short term memory concerns,
Student Match and visual thinkers.
Notes According to the iTunes promo, students can collaborate iPad to iPad or
iPad to Web on shared popples.

7. APP Reading TherAppy Cost: $14.99
Description
Reading TherAppy is an automated workbook for teens and adults to
work on one of four tasks: Phrase Matching, Sentence Matching,
Phrase Completion, and Sentence Completion.
Reading Process Fit Semantics, meaning processor
Student Match Marketed as an app for working with stroke victims, Reading
TherAppy app can be used successfully with students who have had
brain injuries, autism, or EAL.
Notes As a workbook, it is quite functional looking. Reports of process can
be sent to an assessor.

8. APP Word Dynamo by Dictionary.com
Word Games + Study Help Cost: $4.99
Description
This app is available for iPad. How many words do you know? Word
Dynamo will challenge you to a game and from there guess how many
words you know. Then from there, your challenge is to increase the
number of words in your vocabulary.
Reading Process Fit Semantics, meaning, memory, recall
Student Match EAL students, Students with limited vocabulary, building long term
memory
Notes The price is listed as Sale meaning that I expect it to go higher soon.

9. APP Young Reader - Quick Reader with Speed Reading
Cost: $4.99 or FREE (Lite)
Description This App can be use with the iPhone and iPad. The Quick
Reader/Young Reader App can help parents and teachers develop
effective reading skills in students (child). This App can help students
with eye tracking and proper reading skills. Furthermore, the Quick
Reader/Young Reader App can help students focus (attention to task),
while increasing their reading comprehension abilities. Finally, with
this App students can test their reading speed. Over 130 children’s
classic books are pre-loaded. This App is perfect for children between
the ages 8-13.
Concept Processor: language/vocabulary /comprehension gathering
Reading Process Fit meaning from print - Attention to task/focus & select/sequential
processing/memory
Student Match Students with ADHD/Students who have difficulties with eye
tracking/Anyone who wants to improve their reading fluency and
comprehension
I highly recommend the Young Reader – Quick Reader App to
anybody who wants to improve their reading fluency. I personally like
Notes
the fact that one can highlight how many words they want to focus on at
a time (eye tracking). Finally, students can track their progress in
reading efficiency.

10. APP Sequential Spelling Level 2
Cost: $ 12.99
Description
The Sequential Spelling App is compatible with the iPad and requires
the latest version of iOs. This App can help learners of all ages learn
how to spell in a non threatening way. The Sequential Spelling App
teaches the pattern present in the English Language. The main objective
of the App is to help individuals master the English language by
providing them with the signification of the words (root words,
suffixes). The Sequential Spelling App does not include any
complicated definitions or jargons. A great buy!
Concept Processor: Sequential processing/vocabulary retrieval/prior
Reading Process Fit knowledge/syntax/experience
Student Match Students with dyslexia/Students with short term memory can benefit
from the pattern of spelling/EAL learner
This App is fantastic. The Sequential Spelling Level 2 makes learning
English vocabulary so easy. I which I had access to this program when
Notes
I was learning English. I will definitely purchase this App once I get my
hand on an iPad. Furthermore, I just recommended this App to my
niece who is struggling with English (junior high Francophone student).

11. APP The Opposites Cost:$ 2.99
Description The Opposites App is compatible with the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.
The Opposites App is compatible with the iPad and iPhone. This word game App
teaches children about opposite words such as tall vs. short. A customized
dictionary is included. The Opposite App contains various levels to challenge
learners (easy to complex and abstract matching). Users can either use a male or
female character to voice out each word. The Opposite App will increase children
and adults’ confidence. Finally, the Opposite App will support learners in their
reading, writing and oral literacy skills.
Meaning Processor: Prior Knowledge/built vocabulary & vocabulary retrieval –
Comprehension gathering & meaning from print
Reading Process Fit Cognitive: orthographic processor & phonological processor
Students with limited vocabulary/ Students who struggle to identify the concept of
Student Match opposites/Autism spectrum disorder/reading comprehension difficulties
This App is perfect for individuals ranging from the ages 7+. This App can see
students through their academic career. Students can increase their vocabulary prior
Notes to completing any of the proposed activities.

12. APP Sounds: The Pronunciation App
Cost: FREE (Lite Version) or $ 5.99
Description This App can be used on an iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad. This App does require the
latest version of iOS 4.0.Sounds: The Pronunciation App help students with word
pronunciation and recollection. Non-Anglophone students (EAL) will benefit
greatly from using this App. They will be able to learn phonemes to properly
pronounce English words.
Cognitive: Memory/Auditory/Recall/ Phonological Processor auditory/Sounds
letter association/Cognitive visual processor
Reading Process Fit
EAL students/Students who are trying to make sense between letters and
sounds/weak reading fluency
Student Match
Another favorite of mine. This App can be confusing at first because of the
phonemic symbols that it uses. However, once one memorizes each symbol and
Notes sounds attached to each one reading becomes much easier. This App requires one
to be focus in order to build up sounds and images recognition.

13. APP Reading Game Lite Cost: FREE
Description This App was created to help improve students reading skills. This App teaches
children new vocabulary by drawing on an animated blackboard. Students can
connect images to words with this App. Each time an image is properly connected
the App will read it aloud (proper pronunciation). The images bring the vocabulary
to life. Reading Game Lite can be used in the following languages: English,
Spanish and German.
Recall/ Orthographic processors visual = what we see
Reading Process Fit
Students who lack focus/Students who need to built up vocabulary/Increase fine
motor skills – connect image to word/
Student Match
This App is very basic. Should be used at the elementary and early junior high
school level. Fun and interactive way to build up vocabulary and reading fluency.
Notes