The standard requires that the student demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. Many of the apps below can be used across grade levels.
Kindergarten
The standard has these components: print many upper and lower case letters, use frequently-occurring nouns, understand and use question words, use frequently- occurring prepositions and expand complete sentences.
iwritewords-lite (Free; full version $2.99) comes in Spanish and French. Lite version only offers you three letters -- enough to see if it will be appropriate for your student or child. Teaches printing of lower and upper case letters with an interactive game to keep student’s attention. Also includes frequently-occurring nouns.
Question Builder ($3.99) Interactive, three levels with 1200 audio clips. Works on the "wh" questions with optional text and audio reinforcement. Tracks student progress.
Preposition Builder ($7.99) More expensive, but quite extensive. Contains nine modules with 28 of the most common prepositions. Records the student reading the sentence, tracks progress and offers animation rewards upon completion.
First Grade
The standard has 10 components ranging from common, proper and possessive nouns; match singular and plural nouns with verbs; use verbs to convey a sense of past, present and future; frequently-occurring adjectives, conjunctions and prepositions; produce and expand complete simple and compound sentences.
ilivegrammar-winter ($4.99) and ilivegrammar-botany ($4.99) have four lessons - nouns, adjectives and adverbs, prepositions, conjunction, and nouns and review. Each app also includes videos links related to the topic. The sentence and answers are tracked for record keeping. Reports have been enhanced to highlight the words, the correct answer and the incorrect answer.
Silly Story Maker ($.99) allows users to create simple sentences by combining 30 basic words and phrases. Select an item from each category in the app and click play. Silly Story Maker will read back the sentence made from the selections and highlight each as it is read. More than 7500 item combinations.
Second Grade
The standard has six components, including collective nouns; form and use frequently-occurring irregular plural nouns; use reflexive pronouns; form and use the past tense of frequently-occurring irregular verbs.
Grammar Dragon (Free) This app is good for grades 2-5. Includes past and present verb tense, singular and plural nouns and pronouns. Five levels ranging from very easy to difficult.
Third Grade- Fifth Grade
In addition to the to the core standard stated above, students must demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Third Grade
Nine components, including explain the function of nouns, pronoun, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs; form and use regular and irregular plural nouns and verbs, etc. With the additional core standards, there are seven components: capitalize appropriate words in titles; use commas in addresses; use spelling patterns and generalizations in writing words; consult reference materials to check and correct spelling.
Merriam Webster Dictionary (Free) voice search, integrated thesaurus, and example sentences.
Spell Check ($.99) A spell checker/dictionary.
Punctuation-Capitalization ($1.99) Over 400 examples. Guide and reference tool for everything from commas, semi-colons, quotations, apostrophes, capitalization and more.
Mad Libs (Free; Paid versions $3.99) Yes the traditional Mad Libs is an iPad app. It is a nice reward to reinforce grammar and have a laugh along the way.
Fourth Grade
Seven components, including use relative pronouns; progressive verb tenses; correctly use confused words, etc. Also. four of the additional core standards: correct capitalization; commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text; spell grade-appropriate words.
minimod-verbs lite ($2.99) Four different levels: Action Verbs, Two-Word Verbs, Irregular Verbs, Difficult Irregular Verbs.
Homophomes-lite ($3.99) Four grade levels, 2-5. Helps the student build mastery in homophones - words that sound alike, are spelled differently, and have different meanings.
Reading Pal ($.99) Users add weekly spelling words, then take a reading test or a spelling test. In the reading test, students click on the flash card that has the same word. In the spelling test, students hear a word and must type the word correctly. Keeps track of student progress.
Fifth Grade
Five components that are more in-depth regarding conjunctions, verb tenses. The additional core standards include five components, which are also more in-depth, with comma placement and quotation marks. The apps that have been provided for grades 3-5 can be used for all grades as they are leveled for each grade.
Additional ELA apps
Spellboard ($4.99) Generate a word search puzzle from any spelling list. Create any spelling quiz in any language by entering the word (correctly spelled), the grade level (1-12) and the spoken word (recorded via the iPads built in microphone).
Grammar Express ($4.99) For the older students. Many grammar lessons, examples with grammar rules and test questions with explanations provided.
Vicki Windman is a special education teacher at Clarkstown High School South.
