As K-12 education becomes more remote during the coronavirus outbreak, special education is facing major challenges. On a good day, it may be difficult to deliver differentiated material in a well-equipped classroom. But now that most schools are closing or being closed, special educators working with children with special requirements must completely reinvent their approach.
Parents and teachers both have to ensure that students are on track to achieve their individual education plan goals. These goals and objectives are customized for each student. Teachers and parents must now work together more closely to support their children’s learning at home. Of course, It is easier to use some sources and write “who can I pay to do my homework”. In some cases, students are more comfortable having their own aides than teachers in the classroom. It is a great responsibility to take on, but digital tools can make it easier.
Contents
5 Best Free Learning Apps For Students
#1. My PlayHome
My PlayHome allows kids to play with up to 15 digital dolls in different skin colors. These shared stories improve students’ verbalizations. They also provide a platform for social, emotional, and language learning.
#2. SoundingBoard
SoundingBoard a mobile app for augmentative and alternate communication (AAC), is free and available to children who are unable or limited in speech. It helps them communicate by helping them speak. Preloaded boards include symbols with recorded messages. This is to suit the needs and preferences of this population. Students will need to select and press images on the boards in order to prompt a written message.
#3. LetterSchool
LetterSchool helps children tap, touch, and trace animated images to promote literacy and numeracy early in their lives. LetterSchool helps children learn letter formation and sounds and names. They also learn spelling, counting, and many other primary and preschool skills. This app offers a free test and teaches fine motor skills as well as eye-hand coordination.
#4. Tales2Go
Tales2Go provides a one-month free trial that helps struggling readers and improves their listening skills. This app includes a huge collection of stories and books, along with scores of impressive narrators to bring the stories to life.
#5. Epic!
Epic! This e-library is great for struggling or reluctant readers. It has access to over 20,000 books and videos for children. The collection includes fiction as well as nonfiction books. Epic offers schools free access during this time.
6 Best Paid Learning Apps For Students
#1. Edoki Academy
Edoki Academy has developed Busy Shapes based on Piaget’s research in cognitive development. It starts as a cause-and-effect game that develops into an exercise in problem-solving and tool usage. It helps children develop their fine motor skills with a series on puzzles within an exploratory and changing playground.
Edoki Academy has a series of math apps. These apps follow a step-by-step approach. Students learn Montessori math using manipulative objects that appear on their screens. It improves motor skill development.
#2. Math Drills
Math Drills enables students to test their skills and increase their accuracy. It offers basic math operations such as subtractions, multiplications, and division. Advanced options are available in the settings, so teachers and students can create personalized environments. You can also track scores, and test history, and track your progress.
#3. Phonics Genius
Phonics Genius allows children to quickly learn how to read, write, and recognize words through letter sounds. You can also practice your skills by playing fun games and more than 6000 words.
#4. SentenceBuilder
SentenceBuilder teaches elementary-aged children how to communicate with others in social situations. It can be difficult for students with special disabilities to use this simulator. ConversationBuilderTeen, for older students, is geared to help kids learn when it is appropriate to introduce themselves, ask questions, and change the subject of the conversation. This app also covers sarcasm.
#5. Word Wizard’s
Word Wizard’s talking alphabet allows children to learn phonemic awareness as well as word building. Voice feedback provides non-threatening learning by allowing children to create words and have the voice read them out. This allows for corrections. The app supports letter recognition and phonological awareness as well as spelling. There are 184 built-in word lists including 1,000 most frequently used sight words. It keeps an eye on the children’s progress, provides detailed monitoring, and includes a comprehensive teacher activity guide.
#6. Anti-Coloring Book
Anti-Coloring Book Apps are my favorite resource. They are now available in app form. This set of online books allows the child to fill in the blanks at the bottom of each page with a question. After that, the child can draw the answer. These questions can be posed to children without requiring them to answer any particular question.
Digital Modifications
For students with special learning needs, online home education is not only possible through apps but also via digital modifications. Text to speech (TTS), is a type if assistive technology which reads digital text aloud. It works with almost any digital device, whether it’s a phone, an iPad, or a computer. TTS software allows you to convert most text files and websites into audio.
* Mac/iPad–in Settings under Accessibility
* Windows-in control panel under ease of access
* Android-in settings > Accessibility > text to speech output
* Chromebook – in Settings under Accessibility
The most common tool found on digital devices that allows for speech recognition (dictation) is another. It allows students the ability to express themselves simply by talking, without having to worry about spelling, grammar, or typing. The settings menu on most devices has dictation software. This helps students improve their writing skills and attain new levels of success. Apple’s speech recognition software is better than Windows.
Eleggible’s Final Words
Out-of-school learning in the midst of the coronavirus virus pandemic is a major challenge. But it’s especially challenging for students with special education needs who already face obstacles in their education. It is important to be patient with special needs students who are trying to adjust to this new environment. Change can be extremely disruptive for children. Many will need some time to adjust. You should not be surprised by a decrease in social and/or emotional behaviors. You can help students with problems by using small strategies, such as breathing exercises, structure, and helping them to organize their thoughts.
