Using the iPad in Our Homeschool

A few weeks ago we purchased an iPad 2.  While I know that I have barely scratched the surface figuring out all of the wonderful, educational things the iPad can do, I thought I would share some of our favorite apps that we have been using on the iPad.

Kinderbach is one of our favorite apps. (I am posting a full review on it in the next few days)  A fun way for preschoolers to learn about, enjoy, and play music!

Bugs and Bubbles is a great app for younger kids.  My 3,5, and 7 year olds love Bugs and Bubbles! It has 18 different imaginative learning games with awesome graphics. 

My 5 and 7 year old boys love Rocket Math!  Not only do they get to practice their math facts, they get to build and fly their rockets into outer space.

My 8 and 10 year old boys love Stack the States ( teaches facts about the states and geography) and Stack the Countries , but their absolute favorite app is Presidents verses Aliens.  In Presidents verses Aliens you learn facts about each of the 44 Presidents.  After you collect your Presidents you get to play a fun game of flinging the Presidents to knock down the aliens.

Spelling City now has an app.  After we work on our spelling words from All About Spelling, Alex has an opportunity to practice them on the iPad.

There is a free app from iSwifter that enables you to play Flash based videos called Rover.  With this app we have been able to use Reading Kingdom and Samson's Classroom.

For P.E. everyday, instead of unplugging and dragging the laptop into the playroom, I can just take the iPad and open the file and videos from Family Time Fitness.

Some of my favorite things about the iPad is the ability to use both Kindle and Nook apps and download free books both from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  I am so excited to be able to read The Old Schoolhouse Magazine on the iPad using their free app!  I also have found and used apps for menu planning and grocery shopping.  Even thongs like online banking and checking the weather have gotten easier with the iPad.  The portability and versatility really makes the homeschooling opportunities endless!