1. Four iPad Apps to Use with Beginning Literacy Learners
Presenter: Meghan Boyle, Minnesota Literacy Council

2. Meghan Boyle, MA ESL Teaching Adult ESL since 2009
Level 1 ESL Teacher (CASAS 150 on 27/28 to 190 on 81/82)
Minnesota Literacy Council’s Open Door Learning Center--Arlington Hills, East Side of Saint Paul
Karen refugees from Burma, more Somali students recently
Several LESLLA Learners (Literacy Education & Second Language Learning for Adults)--new to print literacy in any language, little to no prior education

3. Session Objectives: Participants will be able to...
Articulate reasons for using iPad apps in a beginning literacy classroom
Articulate ways to overcome obstacles to iPad use
Use and select the most appropriate iPad apps for your individual beginning literacy students

4. Reasons to use iPad Apps: Research
Potential to enhance emergent literacy skills such as letter name and sound, print concepts & phonological awareness
Interactive activities address many learning styles—visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic
Instant feedback
Half of households have access to touchscreens
(Neumann & Neumann, 2013)
Phonological awareness: Parts of syllables, onsets and rimes whereas phonemic awareness is down to individual sounds

5. Reasons to use iPad Apps: My Observations
Engaging
Easily differentiated
Self-paced
Interactive
Easy for students to navigate
Reduces the fear factor around using technology

6. Reasons to use iPad Apps: Standards
Northstar Digital Literacy (not specific to iPads)
Demonstrate knowledge of keys on a keyboard.
Drag and drop.
Plug in headphones correctly.

7. Reasons to use iPad Apps: Standards
College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS)--Reading Foundational Skills from MN Common Core
RF.1. Print Concepts: Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print (K-1)*
Understand the spoken to written language relationship
Follow print from left to right, top to bottom, and page to page
Recognize and name all upper and lower case Roman alphabet letters*
Speak briefly--details on the handout

8. Reasons to use iPad Apps: Standards
College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS)--Reading Foundational Skills from MN Common Core
RF.3. Phonics and Word Recognition: Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills (K-3)
Know the primary or most frequent sounds for the 21 single consonants
Associate short vowel sounds for the 5 major vowels
Know letter-sound correspondences for common consonant blends/clusters (bl, st, ts, gr, dr, etc.)
Know letter-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs (two letters make one sound)
Speak briefly--details on the handout

9. Overcoming Obstacles
Collect used iPads from staff, friends and volunteers
Fundraiser: Give to the Max Day, Go Fund Me and the like
Some apps are free
No internet access needed once app is downloaded
Abbreviate if most ppl have iPads in their programs

10. iPad use in Meghan’s classroom
Twice a week for minutes--20 to 25 minutes per app, some other uses
Other alphabet and phonics work integrated into the course content
Story Creator for special projects

11. Starfall Free Use with true beginners with no prior school experience
Content: letter recognition, letter name, letter sound, upper and lower case
As I demo, people can determine which CCR standards it addresses

12. PocketPhonics $6.99 (Lite version is free)
Use with those who have begun to learn letter sounds
Content: letter sounds, lower case, blend sounds to form words, write letters with finger, starts with consonants and short vowels and moves into digraphs
Features: students’ names, and therefore, their progress, can be saved in the app

13. Spelling Magic Free
Use with those who have begun to learn letter sounds
Content: use letters and sounds to form CVC words
Features:
Real pictures
Differentiate for various levels
Word Building: arrange three letters
Moveable Alphabet: choose three letters from the entire alphabet to make a CVC word
Available word lists use a single short vowel sound, or all are mixed together in the shuffle setting

14. Story Creator Free All students can use this app
Content: simple, icon-based app that allows students to produce digital books
Features: use student photos, record student voices

15. Time to try it yourself! You’ll find the apps in these folders:
Literacy: Starfall and Pocketphonics
Spelling: ABC Spelling Magic 1
Create & Show: Story Creator

16. Final thoughts Which apps can you envision using in your classroom?
How often would you use them?
During what parts of your week or in what situations?