Kelli Williams

LITR630/M. Morgan
Apps Standards
6/29/16

Epic!
Epic! is like the "Netflix of books". On Epic! students from ages 12 and under have unlimited
access to thousands of e-books to read. Students are able to read them to themselves or some
books have an option to read it to them. This app can be used during Daily 5 for read to self or
listen to reading. Epic! encourages kids to read by rewarding students with badges and rewards.
Teachers are able to assign books to students to track individual reading progress. If the
students would like to use Epic! at home it is $4.99 per month. Epic! can address all reading
standards of CCSS including, but not limited to, RL and RI 2.1 and RL and RI 2.3. These
standards are asking students to recall information from the text in order to demonstrate
understanding of key details in the text as well as make connections between the reading and real
life events.
App
Name and
Description
A digital library of
thousands of books
students can choose
from.

ILA
ILA Standards 1.2,
2.2, 2.3, 4.2, 5.1

ISTE
ISTE 1, 2, 3, 4 and
sub-standards
Standard 3.b and c
Element 2.3
Research and
Candidates use a
information fluency:
wide range of texts
students apply digital
(e.g., narrative,
tools to gather,
expository, and
evaluate,
poetry) from
and use information.
traditional print,
b. Locate, organize,
digital, and online
analyze, evaluate,
resources. This app
synthesize,
gives students a
and ethically use
variety of digital texts information from a
at their fingertips.
variety of
Students will be able sources and media
to read informational c. Evaluate and
books as well as
select information.
fiction with this app. By giving students a
variety of books in
Element 5.1
the digital library,
Candidates design
students are able to

KTS
KTS 6.1, 6.2, 6.5
KTS 6.2 Uses
available technology
to implement
instruction that
facilitates student
learning
Students are able to
use apps regularly
and technology is
integrated into daily
practice during
reading and writing.

the physical
environment to
optimize students use
of traditional print,
digital, and online
resources in reading
and writing
instruction. By using
this app, students will
be using digital print
and online sources in
reading instruction.
They will be able to
read to self or listen
to reading during the
Daily 5 instruction.
This can also
translate into writing
as students write
about their reading.

gather information.
Students are still
reading the books in
order to locate,
organize, analyze,
synthesize, and
ethically use these
sources. They must
also read the text in
order to evaluate the
information they are
reading.

Brain Pop ESL

Brain Pop ESL is a program that uses animated movies to model conversational English. The
program is geared for students who are English Language Learners which also means it is
appropriate for any grade level. The movies are related and reinforced vocabulary and language
standards. Concepts are presented in everyday situations, helping to provide context. This will
also help students build background knowledge. By purchasing the full version, students are
able to take a placement tests that indicates at which level of English proficiency they are at.
This also indicates which lesson the students should begin. With each lesson, the students have
an opportunity to listen and watch the movies, click and listen to sentences and record their own
voice which practices their conversational English, look at vocabulary from the lesson, flash
cards with common English words, listen to a lesson about a grammar lesson that was embedded
into the movie, and take a quiz. Student progress is tracked for teachers. Although you cannot
use all of the features when you are using the free version, there are still over 15 videos and
lessons the students can do using the free version of Brain Pop ESL. This app also addresses
many CCSS. The app gives students information in all subject areas from reading, language,
social studies, and sciences. Some of the literacy standards it addresses is SL 2.4 where the
students are asked to recount information and experiences with appropriate facts, describe
details, and speak audibly in coherent sentences. This program is teaching ESL students to speak
conversationally to their peers. The program also addresses language standards like L2.1 which

asks the students to demonstrate command of conventions of standard English grammar and
usage when writing or speaking.
App
Name and
Description
Animated movies
modeling
conversational
English for ESL
students.

ILA
ILA Standards 1.2,
2.2, 2.3, 4.2, 5.1
2.2 Candidates use
appropriate and
varied instructional
approaches,
including those that
develop word
recognition,
language
comprehension,
strategic knowledge,
and readingwriting
connections. By
using this app,
students are
developing an
English word
recognition and
learning to speak
English
conversationally.
They are also using
many different skills
and methods to
reinforce what they
are learning in the
videos.

ISTE
ISTE 1, 2, 3, 4 and
sub-standards
3. Research and
information fluency d. Process data and
report results
This app allows the
student to learn by
interacting with the
video and various
games related to that
same concept. Then
the student can take a
quiz and show the
results to the teacher.
The teacher then can
record the score and
give necessary
feedback.

KTS
KTS 6.1, 6.2, 6.5
6.2 Uses technology
to implement
instruction that
facilitates student
learning.
This app will
facilitate the learning
of ESL students by
allowing them to
watch digital videos
to learn English
skills, learn
vocabulary, and it
imbeds a grammar
lesson.

Endless Reader
This app introduces sight words that kids need to recognize in order to achieve reading fluency.
Each word features an interactive puzzle with letters that come alive and then a sentence puzzle
with words that become what they describe. As the students click each letter, it makes the sound
of the phoneme in each word. Students are not only learning letter sounds, they are learning
words and sentence construction. There are various levels that can be purchased. Each level is
$5.99, but there are free features on the app that can be used. This app should be used with
emergent readers in K-3rd grade. This can also be used for any ELL students at the appropriate
reading levels. One of the CCSS addressed is L2.1f which asks students to produce, expand, and

rearrange complete simple sentences. This app allows students to use the words they have
learned and build sentences using the new words.
App
Name and
Description
Endless Reader
With this app,
students practice
constructing words
and sentences from
letters and words on
the screen. It
functions a little bit
like a magnetic
whiteboard with
magnetic letters and
words.

ILA
ILA Standards 1.2,
2.2, 2.3, 4.2, 5.1
2.2 Candidates use
appropriate and
varied instructional
approaches,
including those that
develop word
recognition,
language
comprehension,
strategic knowledge,
and readingwriting
connections.
With this app,
students can use
technology to
practice building
words from sounds
and sentences from
words. Constructed
words and sentences
are read back to the
student to reinforce
the connection
between reading and
writing.

ISTE
ISTE 1, 2, 3, 4 and
sub-standards
4c Collect and
analyze data to
identify solutions
and/or make
informed decisions
Using letter, sound,
and word information
provided by the app,
students must use
critical thinking skills
to determine how to
construct words and
sentences based on
prompts given.

KTS
KTS 6.1, 6.2, 6.5
6.2 Uses technology
to implement
instruction that
facilitates student
learning.
This app provides
word and word
sounds exercises that
are being
implemented in the
classroom. This app
will reinforce this and
facilitate student
learning for all
students during the
emergent reader
stage.

News-O-Matic
News-O-Matic is a free app that gives younger readers a way to keep up with current events. It
is presented like a digital newspaper and is updated daily with five new news stories. Students
are also able to go back to past news stories. This is also accompanied with maps, videos, and
other interesting facts. Students are also able to "write to the newsroom". They can write to the
"editor-in-chief" about what they have read. There is also an option for the app to read the
stories to the students, which is nice for ESL students. This app can be used for students as

young as 2nd grade and as high as 8th grade. This app addresses all informational reading
standards in CCSS. One of the standards it address is RI2.2 which has students identify the main
topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the texts.
Another standard is RI 2.5 which has the students using text features to locate key facts or
information in a text efficiently.

App
Name and
Description
Online Newspaper
for younger readers
to stay up to date on
current events.

ILA
ILA Standards 1.2,
2.2, 2.3, 4.2, 5.1
2.3 Candidates use a
wide range or texts
from traditional print,
digital, and online
resources.
News-O-Matic is a
digital resource for
information texts.
Students are able to
read digital texts and
use online resources.

ISTE
ISTE 1, 2, 3, 4 and
sub-standards
3b Locate, organize,
analyze, evaluate,
synthesize, and
ethically use
information from a
variety of sources
and media.
News-O-Matic is a
source of
informational
articles. By reading
these articles,
students have
located a source of
facts and will be
continually
analyzing and
synthesizing the
information they are
gathering as they
read.

KTS
KTS 6.1, 6.2, 6.5
6.2 Uses available
technology to
implement
instruction that
facilitates student
learning.
This app can be used
to facilitate learning
by allowing the
students to be
knowledgeable about
the world around
them. Students can
read these
informational articles
during read to self or
listen to reading.

Fun English
Fun English is a free app that combines English language courses with engaging lessons. Each
course is divided into lessons and each lesson teaches core vocabulary and presents words in
several contexts. The app is broken up into different categories like colors, animals, school,
food, etc. There are also games to play that are unique and fun. I use this app with my
Newcomer/ESL students to learn the English language and vocabulary. This app gives these
students the required background knowledge and vocabulary needed for conversational English.

One of the CCSS that is addressed is L 2.4 which asks the students to determine the meaning of
unknown words and multiple meaning words and phrases.
App
Name and
Description
Lessons broken into
different categories
that teaches students
necessary vocabulary
and background
knowledge. Words
are presented in many
contexts to enhance
student learning.

ILA
ILA Standards 1.2,
2.2, 2.3, 4.2, 5.1
2.2 Candidates use
appropriate and
varied instructional
approaches,
including those that
develop word
recognition,
language
comprehension,
strategic knowledge,
and readingwriting
connections.
This program
differentiates
instruction to meet a
variety of learners.
This app also
implements
instruction in phonics
and is meeting the
needs of English
language learners and
emerging readers.

ISTE
ISTE 1, 2, 3, 4 and
sub-standards
2b Communicate
information and
ideas effectively to
multiple audiences
using a variety of
media and format
This app is allowing
information to be
implemented to
multiple audiences by
using media (tablet).
Students are able to
use the program to
learn vocabulary
skills.

KTS
KTS 6.1, 6.2, 6.5
6.2 Uses technology
to implement
instruction that
facilitates student
learning.
This app provides
word and vocabulary
exercises that are
being implemented in
the classroom. This
app will reinforce this
and facilitate student
learning for all
students including
emergent readers and
ELLs.

TPACK
According to Davies (2011), TPACK stands for technological pedagogical content
knowledge, which is a framework to help teachers understand, evaluate, and promote effective
technology integration. TPACK is described accurately when classroom teachers understand
content they are teaching and know the best way to teach it, and then effectively and
appropriately integrate technology into the learning process. Students are using technology in

this lesson by the use of apps during literacy instruction. By incorporating the use of technology,
I am facilitating the needs of all learners in the use of differentiation and collaboration. Students
are able to use multiple modes of technology in order to meet the needs of diverse learners. By
using these programs, I am benefiting students reading and writing development as well as their
language development, especially my ELL students.
The regular use of technology in the classroom, is also preparing students for their future
in the digital world. According to Hutchison, Beschorner, and Schmidt-Crawford (2012) there
was success in literacy growth when instruction is paired successfully with technology.
Although apps can be very beneficial to the learner, they should not be used as an add-on to
the instruction rather a way to enhance instruction. Through the teachers knowledge of
technology, they are able to decide in which ways to engage students through technology.
Teachers are able to look at their goals to determine which program or app will benefit and
enhance instruction of students.

References
Davies, R. S., (2011). Understanding Technology Literacy: A framework for evaluating
educational technology integration. Tech Trends, 55(5), 45-52.
Hutchinson, A., Beschorner, B., Schmidt-Crawford, D., (2012). Exploring the use of iPads for
literacy learning. The Reading Teacher, 66(1), 15-23.