Using the iPad as a Teaching and Learning tool in the Classroom for Students with Specials Needs

Here are some suggestions that you may find useful:


Organisation/ Communication

• Use iCommunicate to create individualised social stories or schedules for the day.

• Download photos onto iCommunicate or iPrompts and use them to support a student in making choices (e.g., between own photo and photo of another person, their preferred snack or activity.)

• Use the visual countdown timer in iPrompts to demonstrate how much time is left until an activity ends.

• Use Voice4u, TapToTalk or Proloquo2Go to communicate thoughts, ideas, needs and questions throughout the school day.

• Use iHomework to help keep track of upcoming work deadlines.


Literacy

• Use DrawFree or Doodle Buddy to provide opportunities for students to write/ draw. Insert pictures of numbers, letters or names for students to scribble/ trace over.

• Use ABC Animals, Animal Fun Interactive Alphabet or Abc PocketPhonics to support the teaching of letter recognition and formation.

• Use Pocket Charts to introduce and reinforce the concept of upper and lower case letters.

• Engage students in a one to one or guided reading experience through interactive books such as Jack and the Beanstalk and The Cat in the Hat.

 • Use Animal Match to develop matching and memory skills.

 • Use Spell Blocks regularly to give students individual practice with spelling over 200 sight words, and teachers the opportunity to keep track of each student’s progress.

• Use Puppet Pals to produce a personalised puppet show to retell, modify or create a story.

• Use Stories2Learn, Strip Designer or StoryKit to create personalised school books compiled from photographs, pictures and labels of familiar objects.

• Use apps such as Marvel Comics, The World Factbook and Epicurious (a cookbook app) to provide a wide range of interest-appropriate reading materials.

• Use iThoughts to mind map ideas for a story, discussion or report.



Mathematics 

• Use KidCalc to support the teaching of number recognition.

• Use Toddler Counting to support students in learning to count accurately.

• Use iPuzzle or Shape Builder to develop a recognition of shapes and basic problem solving skills.

• Use Math Bingo to provide practice questions in all four operations.

• Use MathBoard to provide support and practice in a range of calculations.

• Use Numbers to record data, create spreadsheets, charts and graphs.


Other Curriculum Areas 

• Use apps such as Gravitarium, Pocket Pond and Tap Speak Button to support the teaching of cause and effect.

• Use Toddler JukeBox to help draw students’ attention to sounds and sound patterns.

• Use Talking Tom Cat to provide opportunities for students to practise speaking key words.

• Use Cookie Doodle as an introduction to students designing and baking their own cookies.

• Use MeMoves as a movement-to-music activity to build students’ coordination.

• Use Caster to create and publish podcasts about daily learning, classroom news or reactions to the introduction of the iPad in their classroom.

• Use Google Maps to plan out an area to be visited during a forthcoming excursion or reflect upon a past visit. Places can be marked and annotated. New maps can be created and saved.

• Whilst undertaking a practical work, students can record their own experiences through Tappy Memories.