Day 7: Must Have Educational Apps for Home Ed

Welcome to Day 7 of our Home Educating series!

Today, we’re exploring the world of educational apps. In our increasingly digital world, apps can be powerful tools to enhance learning, stimulate creativity, and develop problem-solving skills.

From subject-specific apps to creativity boosters and problem-solving games, there are countless resources available at your fingertips. Let’s check out some of the best educational apps that you can incorporate into your home education routine.

Subject-Specific Apps

Using apps tailored to specific subjects can help reinforce concepts and make learning more engaging. Here are some top recommendations for various subjects:

•  Maths:
• Khan Academy: Offers comprehensive lessons and practice exercises in maths for all levels.
• Prodigy: A fun, game-based learning platform that covers the maths curriculum through interactive gameplay.
• Mathway: Provides a step-by-step solutions to maths problems, helping students understand and solve complex equations. 
•  Science:
•  National Geographic Kids: Features engaging science content, videos, and interactive activities.
•  PhET Interactive Simulations: Offers free interactive maths and science simulations that make abstract concepts tangible.
•  BBC Bitesize: Covers a wide range of science topics with videos, quizzes, and interactive lessons.

  Languages:

• Duolingo: A popular language-learning app with bite-sized lessons in various languages.
• Rosetta Stone: Provides immersive language learning experiences.
• Memrise: Uses fun and engaging techniques to teach new languages and vocabulary.

Creativity Boosters

Fostering creativity is essential for holistic education. These apps can help your children explore and develop their artistic skills:

•  Drawing:
• Procreate: A professional-grade digital drawing app for iPad.
• SketchBook: An easy-to-use drawing app that’s perfect for beginners and advanced artists alike.
•  Tayasui Sketches: Offers a variety of tools and an intuitive interface for digital drawing and painting.
•  Music Composition:
• GarageBand: A versatile app for creating music and learning about audio production.
• MuseScore: Allows users to compose, edit, and share sheet music.
•  Simply Piano: Teaches piano basics through interactive lessons and practice.

Problem-Solving Apps

Developing strong problem-solving skills is crucial for academic and personal growth. These apps provide engaging puzzles and strategy games to challenge your children’s minds:

•  Puzzle Games:
• Lumosity: Offers a range of brain-training games designed to improve cognitive skills.
• Monument Valley: A visually stunning puzzle game that requires creative thinking.
•  The Room Series: Engaging puzzle games that involve intricate mechanisms and hidden clues.
•  Strategy Games:
• Chess.com: A great platform for learning and playing chess, suitable for all levels.
• Civilization VI: A strategy game that involves building and managing a civilisation through various historical eras.
•  Minecraft Education Edition: Combines creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving within an immersive, game-based learning environment.

Resources and Tools

 To help you integrate these educational apps effectively, here are some additional resources and platforms:

•  Google Play Store: Access a wide variety of educational apps for Android devices.
• Apple App Store: Find educational apps for iOS devices.
• Common Sense Media: Provides reviews and ratings for educational apps, helping you choose the best ones for your children.

Tips for Using Educational Apps

To make the most of educational apps, consider these tips:

•  Balance Screen Time: While educational apps are beneficial, it’s important to balance screen time with other activities, such as physical play and hands-on learning. 
• Set Goals: Use apps to compliment  your educational goals. Set specific targets for what you want your children to achieve with each app.
•  Monitor Progress: Regularly check your children’s progress and engagement with the apps. Adjust the usage as needed to keep them motivated and challenged.

Share Your Favourites

We’d love to hear about your favourite educational apps! Share your recommendations and experiences on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram. Your insights can help other home educating families discover valuable resources.

What’s Next?

 Join us tomorrow as we continue exploring practical subject-specific tips, focusing on how to make science engaging and fun for your children.

We’ll provide you with activities, resources, and ideas to help foster a love for everyday science at home in its various guises.

Until then, happy home educating and enjoy discovering new educational apps!

Tracey 

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