Handy Homeschooling Apps - SLO Classical Academy
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Welcome to Down Home, San Luis Obispo Classical Academy’s blog! We are a classical school offering several options to make our education work for families with infants through high schoolers. Our signature hybrid program, which is part-time classroom and part-time home instruction, provides an engaging education for preschool through middle school (with full time options available). We also have a university model high school. This blog is meant to support and encourage on the home front because, in so many ways, the heart of what happens at SLO Classical Academy happens down home.

Semper discentes—always learning together.
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Handy Homeschooling Apps

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Ever wonder if there are any apps out there that might be useful or applicable to our SLOCA program? Although we encourage pencil and paper, real books, interacting with people, and hands-on learning as much as possible, we know there are times when supplementing with a mobile app can add in a little variety or help simplify a busy day. There are also some great tools out there to help us use our curriculum.

Here are a few apps we found that you might be interested in having as resources, or to use periodically on home days, especially on the go. This is by no means a complete list (there are tons of educational apps out there), but the focus here is on tools that go along with what we are already doing here at SLO Classical Academy. As always, no pressure to add these to your day –  they are just for fun, and completely optional.

These were found on Apple devices (anyone want to share their non-Apple finds?), and some are free while others will cost you a little. Not all apps are available on all devices, and these have not been tested by anyone at SLOCA, so use your best judgement:

  IEW Writing Tools (FREE – for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

Includes charts and lists based on the structural models and stylistic techniques presented in the “Teaching Writing Structure & Style” program. This app features organizational tools and lists of interesting word choices to improve your writing and vary your sentence structure. 

  All About Spelling Phonogram Sounds (FREE – for OSX 10.6 or later, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

Interactive app that features clear enunciation of the 72 basic phonograms as taught in the All About Spelling program.

  Phonics with Phonograms by Logic of English ($2.99 – for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

A simple app that basically just quizzes the child on phonogram sounds, allowing parents to see at a glance which phonograms have been mastered, which need review, and which have not been introduced yet. (This is not developed or endorsed by All About Spelling, but seems to complement it nicely.)

  BOB Books Reading Magic ($3.99 – for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

Phonics-based interactive game featuring BOB Books characters and full-color animations. BOB books readers are a nice supplement to our reading program, The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading. 

  Latin Hangman ($0.99 – for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

The classic game, but with latin words! Good for beginners through advanced latin learners. Also available from this developer – Latin Word Search.

  The Pocket TimeMap of World History (FREE – for iPad)

A history atlas that connects a huge number of maps together into a framework that can be navigated chronologically. This developer has other TimeMaps available as well.

  Number Bonds Memorizer ($2.99 – for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch) 

Singapore Math teaches math facts using number bonds, and this app helps young kids memorize the number bonds (addition facts) through 10. 

  Number Bonds: Addition and Subtraction to 99 ($1.99 – for iPad)

Games to help learn the number bonds through 99.

  Singapre Math Bar Models Grade 2 (FREE – for iPad)

This activity uses the signature Singapore math method for problem solving and teaches children in grade 2 how to visually represent word problems in a fun and interactive way. This app is also available for Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grade 5.

  Thinking Blocks Addition (FREE – for iPad)

Another interactive tutorial that teaches how to model and solve addition and subtraction word problems, using the model drawing strategies found in Singapore Math. This developer also has Thinking Blocks Multiplication, Thinking Blocks Fractions, and Thinking Blocks Ratios

  Number Pieces (FREE – for iPad)

Base-10 block app that helps students develop a deeper understanding of place value while building their computation skills with multi-digit numbers. This developer also has Number Pieces Basic, a simplified version of Number Pieces designed for primary students. It has fewer features, putting greater focus on place value, counting, addition, and subtraction.

And of course, there’s always 

  The Khan Academy (FREE – for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch)

Covering a massive number of topics, this app allows you to view Khan Academy’s complete library of over 4,200 videos and articles.

Have you discovered a great app that goes along with what we are doing and enriches
your home days? Please share in the comments below! 

SLO Classical Academy is not affiliated with any of the above mentioned websites or businesses.

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