First Grade Learning App

What is the app "First Grade Learning Games"?

First Grade Learning Games is an app that is created to help first graders work on their curriculum in a fun and exciting way.  First Grade Learning Games has twelve mini games that teach them reading, spelling, math, fractions, compound works, contractions and so much more.  This app can help students review work they have been working on, or help introduce them to new concepts.  This app can help students, ages 6-8, master their knowledge in first grade curriculum.  This app helps students by engaging them in fun games, all of which helps students problem solve and work on their math, and literacy skills.  This app is easy to use, and fun for younger elementary students.  There are three games that are provided for free, but to unlock all twelve games you have to make an in-app purchase.  There are many games that the student can play, all of which are ways that teachers test their students in class.  The types of games that this app offers include:

• Patterns
• Ordering
• Word Bingo
• Compound Words
• Advanced Counting
• Add and Subtract
• Contractions
• Spelling
• Fractions
• Verbs, Nouns, Adjectives
• Sight Words
• Compare Numbers

Of the three free games that the app offers, students can play math games with patterns and ordering, they can also play a word bingo game for the free language game.  The games are simple enough to understand.  In the patterns game for math, a student must find the missing piece in a given pattern.  The game gives you four different options to complete the pattern.  By continuing to choose the correct shape or image to finish the pattern, you add to your streak.  If the student does not choose the correct shape or image, there is no penalty, but the streak goes back to zero.  If the student does choose the wrong image, it will disappear, and only three images will remain.  This continues until the correct one is left for the student to choose.  No matter how many times the student gets the answer wrong, the game will still cheer when the correct answer is chosen.  The patterns that the students complete have everything from basic shapes and colors, to animals and objects.  The patterns will get a little harder as your streak ascends.  

The other math game, ordering, is a little different than the pattern game.  In the ordering game, student have to listen to instruction to know what to do.  The game tells the student to pick balloons that have numbers on them and go either highest to lowest, and vice versa, or balloons that are largest to smallest and vice versa.  These are the basic options the students have on the default difficulty level.  If you decide to increase the difficulty level, the balloons will have letters on them, and if you want to decrease the difficulty level, the balloons will have simpler numbers and will stop moving around on the screen.

The language game, word bingo, requires the student to listen to the app for instructions.  When playing word bingo there are two different options for the size of the board to play on.  There is a four by four option, and a five by five option.  The four by four option has simpler sight words, while the five by five option has a little bit of harder sight words.  This game test the student's ability to pay attention and listen for the word given.  The words for bingo can be any number of sight words, and common words that first graders can make out.  This game requires the students to read either 16 or 25 different words to find the correct one.  There is no time limit, and no streak for this game.  

First Grade Learning Games Features

There are many good things about this app for first grade students.  This app helps first grade students practice their math and literacy skills outside of the classroom.  The app uses many ways to engage students, and have them have fun when learning.  There are many good things that this app does for students.  These games are all educational, even thought the student does not know that they are learning while playing the games.  This game is perfect for students who are trying to learn math, reading, writing and words.  The fun colors, images, and sounds help the students stay engaged.  Keeping your students engaged is very important in helping them learn the curriculum.  The worst thing about this app is that only three out of the twelve games are free.  If you want your child or student to learn for this game, then it would be best to pay for the additional nine games.  It is easy to use, and students have a good time learning how the app works.  Many parents, as well as teachers, enjoy having their children and students use this app.  Many people have reviewed the app, and said that this is an educational app that they enjoy using.  

You can use First Grade Learning Games in your classroom

This app can be used for many things in your classroom.  Although this app can only really be used in first grade, it can help with many different subjects that you teach for your curriculum.  The students can use this app to review content that you have already covered in class.  It is a great way for them to do their work, and think that they are just playing a game.  The first grade learning app is a great way to give teachers extra time to meet with students that need extra help.  This app will allow other students to practice at their own level, and own pace.  Since the students can chose their difficulty, they can determine how hard they need to be tested.

First grade learning games can be played on any sort of tablet or mobile devise.  Since this app can be played almost anywhere, the students can practice at their desk, in groups, or individually.  Students can play this game while the teacher, you, work with other students or on extra work.  This app is also a great tool to help test your students.  Students can play the games and try to beat their overall streak, to prove that they are consistent in their math and literacy skills.  You can either have the students test themselves, or have them all do a specific game and test them as a group.

What do I think?

The first grade learning games app is a good app for students to use in their classroom.  Although it is not the best app, because you have to pay for the majority of them, it is good for students to use to test their knowledge in a fun and exciting way.  This app might be best for parents, and have their children use it at home.  Although this app could be used in the classroom, it is best used as a review after your student has learned the curriculum that a game covers.

Reference

"Apps for First Graders." Best First Grade Apps. Retrieved October 1, 2016 from
http://www.theimoms.com/apps-for-1st-graders.html

"First Grade Learning Grades." Itunes Preview. Retrieved October 1, 2016 from
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/first-grade-learning-games/id530703273?mt=8

Learning Games [online image]. Retrieved October 1, 2016 from
http://www.theimoms.com/apps-for-1st-graders.html

Word Bingo [online image]. Retrieved October 1, 2016 from
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kevinbradford.games.firstgrade