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Four Great Common-Core Aligned Apps

Much has been made of the ever-expanding world of educational apps for mobile devices, but there has been relatively little fanfare surrounding apps that align with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

Apple Vs AndroidThe CCSS Initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators and experts in order to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.

While Apple certainly offers the lion’s share of educational apps, Android has a burgeoning catalog of classroom-appropriate titles, and both brands offer apps that were developed with the Common Core in mind. EducationWorld did some digging and found a few standout CCSS-friendly apps on both platforms.

Language Arts

Android- National Geographic Explorer is a robust classroom resource that aims to connect students to the world. It supports Common Core science and language arts standards and boasts highly interactive content with videos, audio, photos and leveled text. The app provides students with an authentic learning experience that engages while it teaches.

iOS- Alphabet Zoo is designed to teach kindergarteners letter-sound association, an essential literacy skill. More importantly, kids can have fun playing with the animals and creative sounds. Competencies supported by the app are aligned to Common Core standards for phonics and word recognition under Foundational Skills for Reading at the kindergarten level.

Math

Android- Know Your Math Facts helps children memorize addition and subtraction math facts with sums/differences to 20. The app uses two proven teaching strategies that enable children to remember and quickly recall math facts in preparation for timed tests.

A math triangle and fact families develop understanding of the relationship between addition and subtraction, helping kids learn multiple related facts simultaneously. The app aligns with the Common Core and targets one of the four critical areas in mathematics.

iOS- Learn Math1 lets users visit the island of Mondiso, where friendly monsters help them learn math. Funny characters, excellent instructional videos and intuitive games allow students to gain math skills in a fun way. All three of the app’s levels meet Common Core standards. Level 1 links to standards for kindergarten and first grade, while Levels 2 and 3 align with second and third-grade standards.


Article by Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
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