Tips & Tricks to utilizing an iPad in your Early Childhood Education Classroom. Technology is becoming must-use tool for teachers & parents of children with autism and other developmental delays.

1. 25 Ways to Use an iPad
in an Early Elementary Classroom
Lindy McDaniel -Early Childhood Special Education
http://considerateclassroom.blogspot.com/
considerateclassroom@gmail.com

2. #1-To Teach Skills
• The iPad can be used to teach skills in a one on
one, small group or whole group setting.
• We are seeing amazing results regarding
cognitive, social and communication progress.
• For example, by using the apps featured on the
next slide 5 out of 6 of our morning students
have began singing along to the alphabet song
and all six of our afternoon students have
increased the number of uppercase letters they
can label and identify. (Both are skills the
students did not have prior to using alphabet
apps as part of opening circle time in January of
this year.)

3. Example of Learning Letters
Video clip goes here.
ABC Song and Starfall ABC are the apps used in this video.

4. • The iPad has apps to teach almost every early
learning skill.
• See the chart below to view some of our
favorites. (Refer to your app list for support.)
Matching
and Sorting
Color and
Shape
Recognition
Letter
Recognition

5. Number
Recognition
and Counting
Writing, Dra
wing and
Tracing
Letters
Answering
Questions
and Problem
Solving
Reading and
Spelling
Apps that
Involve
Multiple
Preacademic
Skills

6. #2-To Motivate
Video clip goes here.
(Video clip of where the student started prior to
iPad motivation and learning in seat behavior.)

7. Example of iPad used as Motivation
Video clip goes here.
Toca Boca Christmas Hair Salon is the App Used in this video

8. Key Points About this Video
• The iPad reinforced good behavior immediately
following each teacher directed work task.
• A PODD was used to increase spontaneous language.
“I want iPad” was the first phrase this student put
together on her own by flipping through the PODD
communication book.
• This video clip was taken in December, now this
student is only getting time with the iPad after every
third worktask, she works through 9 tasks each
session successfully and productively.

9. • Other students have a Velcro
strip with six or seven tokens
on it to represent the number
of tasks they need to complete
successfully before getting iPad
time, yet other students need
more motivation and still earn
iPad time after each worktask
to maximize success and
productively.

10. #3-To Reinforce Skills
Video clip goes here.
ABC Tracer and Little Speller are the apps used in this video.

11. Key Points About this Video
• Brief moments of iPad time were used to
reinforce specific skills.
• By using the iPad in this way, at direct
instruction, I have time to collect data on what
the child just did as they get reinforcement via
the iPad.
TIP- Some iPad apps have their own data
collection piece mixed in, such as Word Slapps.

12. #4- To Create Generalization
• Often our students get stuck on specific skills
or tasks as they are the ones they are most
comfortable and successful with.
• The iPad can be used to generalize worktask
skills, build confidence and support concrete
learning.

13. TIP- Put your iPad apps into folders that relate to
specific subjects such as math, writing, and literacy.
Add letters or numbers to reference to the folders
when creating your direct instruction schedules.

14. Then place notecards in your taskboxes and
worktasks so you can list apps that are similar to
the task for staff to quickly access.

15. #5-To Support Communication
Video clip goes here.
My Choice Board is the app used in this video.

16. Key Points About this Video
• This clip is from a one on one session with a new
student. From a previous session, I knew he did
not like to touch things. He resisted his object
schedule items as well as PECS icons and pointing
to items in a PODD communication book.
• I just took a shot with the iPad using a choice
board that had verbal output, hoping it would
have an impact. In the video, you can tell his
choice was purely accidental.

17. Example of Supporting
Communication with the iPad
Video clip goes here.

18. #6-To Improve Morning
Calendar and Circle Time
• Create a powerpoint for your morning
calendar (Days of the
Week, Weather, Attendance, etc)
• Save it as a pdf and open it in
Power Presenter
• Plug into your projector and you have an
electronic circle time similar to what a
Smartboard can offer but less expensive.

19. Example of Morning Calendar
(Pay close attention to the little boy in light gray.)
Video clip goes here.
Power Presenter is the app used in this video.

20. Key Points about the Video
• Each child was working at their own level.
• Some were working on letter identification, and
color matching.
• While others were working on training their eye
to watch the screen and be in tune with what is
going on around them.
TIP- An extended pointer was used to draw
attention to the screen as well as motivating
pictures of animals and vehicles on each slide. A
hand icon and job chart were also used to support
the children when it was their turn. (see next slide)

21. Color Recognition
Training to Look Individual Task
Individual Task 1
Letter Recognition
Individual Task
Training to Look
Individual Task 2
Pointer with
extend dowel
to draw
students’
attention to
Training to Look specific items
Individual Task 3
Job Chart and iPad Shelf

22. #7-To Encourage Whole
Group Participation
• The iPad can be a bridge to help children
join group that are not normally
interested in being a part of the group.
• It helps motivate and engage them
during whole group learning activities.

23. Key Points About the Next Video
• The next video clip is of the little boy in the light gray
shirt in the previous video. Initially he did not
participate in large group instruction unless physically
prompted with hand over hand support. He left or
attempted to leave the group setting as many as 5
times each session.
• This clip is about a month after the previous one. The
student has been using the app in this clip during one
on one instruction for a few weeks.
• The app in this clip is programmable to support
confidence and success. During one on one instruction
the student has to chose between 2 and 3 colors during
large group he simply has to pay attention and touch
the 1 color presented.

24. Example of Creating the Bridge
Video clip goes here.
Word Slapps is the app used in this video.

25. #8-To Complete Step
by Step Directions
Video clip goes here.
Cookie Doodle is the app used in this video.

26. Key Points about this Video
• By using the Cookie Doodle App for this step by step
cooking activity, the students had a visual of how
many ingredients needed to be added. This
decreased anxiety in the group setting and helped
the students wait successfully.
TIP- Recently we have added a token name system for
one student to see when it will be her turn to help with
whole group iPad activities. This has helped her attend
to the activity at hand rather than being so excited for
her turn that she couldn’t listen and watch
appropriately.

27. #9-To Enhance Thematic Units,
Activities and Lesson Plans
Video clip goes here.
Animal Dentist is the app used in this video.

28. Key Points About this Video
• This activity was created quickly to fill time
while waiting for a guest speaker.
• It was highly engaging as all the students
attended for the duration of the activity but
also purposeful as it related to our dental
health unit and practiced skills related to
name recognition, fine motor skills, number
recognition, counting and number concepts of
more and less.

29. #10- To Support Literacy and Reading
• The iPad can be a medium for reading
interactive books one on one, or in a small or
large group setting.
Interactive Touch Book, Bunnyfur’s Easter Eggs is the app featured in this picture.

30. TIP- For students that have a difficult time
attending during large and small group
download books you
have a paper copy of
and let them follow
along.
Dr. Seuss’s ABC is the app featured in this picture.

31. #11- To Create One on One Time
During Direct Instruction
Video clip goes here.
Letter Quiz is the app used in this video.

32. Key Points About this Video
• When supporting more than one student at
direct instruction at a time, I was struggling to
support students’ individual needs. This system
provides students with one on one teacher time
as well as motivating iPad time.
• It has helped students who tend to be on their
own agenda with no need to increase their pace.
• It has also supported progress regarding
individual goals and needs as I have found 5-8
minutes of one on one teacher directed time is
more purposeful than 10-15 minutes of small
group teacher time.

33. #12-To Support Students in Calming
Video clip goes here.
(Video clip of student’s behavior earlier in the day.

34. Example of a Student Calming with an iPad App
Video clip goes here.
Move Me is the app used in this video clip.

35. Key Points About this Video
• This video clip was the second time the child
used the calming app.
• Since that time we have used the app as a
proactive measure. The child uses the app
when he gets to school and then two other
scheduled times within his day.

36. #13- To Build Imitation Skills
Video clip goes here.
(Video clip of student participating in a song without the iPad.)

37. Example of a Student Imitating with an iPad App
Video clip goes here.
If You’re Happy and You Know It is the App used in this video.

38. #14- To Support Visual Awareness
Video clip goes here.
Doddle Buddy is the app used in this video.

39. Key Points about this Video
• Often students have a difficult time, training their
eyes to look and track purposefully. We are often
prompting “Look at your paper.” or “Eyes looking”.
Drawing and writing apps have significantly increased
students ability to look at what they are coloring or
writing as the iPad is a motivating item to look at.
*This student’s filling in the space work before and after using apps to support looking.

40. #15- To Support Fine Motor
and OT needs
Video clip goes here.
Wood Puzzle is the app used in this video.

41. Key Points about this Video
• This student has a difficult time tucking his
fingers under his thumb to create a pointer
with his index finger.
• The iPad can be a motivating tool for learning
to develop pointing skills for PECS and PODD
communication books.
• By using a stylus with the iPad students can
also work on the correct pincer grasp.

42. Place a sticker on the nail of the child’s
pointer finger to support them in using
Use a glove and cut the tip of the index the pad of their pointer finger.
finger off to create a more precise point.
Have the student wear a whole glove on
the other to hand to brace the iPad and
work on hand dominance.
Put two small sticker dots on a stylus and
prompt students to pinch the dots for
the correct pincer grasp.
Touch Trainer, Dexteria, and Road Vehicle
are three great apps for training small
hands to work on the iPad. *You can also go into settings under general
on your iPad and turn off Multitasking
Gestures which can be helpful for students.

43. #16- To Support Communication
and SLP needs
• You can purchase apps that support
communication and work on vocabulary,
language concepts, pragmatics and articulation
such as Artic Pix and
TIP- If your speech clinician also has iPad, ask them
to share what iPad apps they are using in session,
then purchase those apps to reinforce skills beyond
speech time.

44. #17- To Teach Turn Taking Skills
Video clip goes here.
Preschool Memory Match is the app used in this video.

45. Key Points About this Video
• A PODD communication book was used to
encourage language from the student in
white.
• You can also download apps that support turn
taking with various toys and items in the
classroom. Two of our favorites are Sharing
Timer and Turn Taker .

46. #18-To Build Pretend Play Skills and Interest
• The Toca Boca App Series has been helpful in
building pretend play skills and interest for
everything from house play, to doctor’s
office, grocery store, hair salon, restaurant and
birthday party.
* For info look on iPad Matrix under Toca Boca Christmas Hair Salon

47. #19- To Teach Skills
through Social Stories
• You can download social story apps such as
Model Me Going Places.
• Or create your own social stories with apps
like Story Buddy and Pictello. .
TIP- Autism App Tracker is always adding
new social story apps.

48. #20- To Teach Skills
through Video Modeling
The pros. . .
• It is quick and easy!
• Students can watch it immediately.
• It can be referred at anytime for re-teaching.
The cons. . .
• It cannot be edited.
• It cannot be viewed on the projector.

49. Example of Video Modeling. . .
Video clip goes here.

50. The results. . .
(5 minutes later)
Video clip goes here.

51. #21- To Support Individual Schedules
and First/Then Concepts
The Pros
• It is easy and quick to create.
• It can be easily edited.
The Cons
• It can be difficult to use for individual
student if your iPad serves the needs of several
students in your classroom.
• Students are easily distracted by the iPad ‘s
many uses making it difficult for them to see
it as a tool for their schedule. They will try
to click out of their schedule to get into
other motivating apps.

52. #22- To Track and Reward
Positive Behavior
• You can download behavior and reward chart
apps such as iReward.
TIP- Autism App Tracker is always adding
new reward systems and behavior charts under
the topics Reward Systems and Behavior and
Social Skills.

53. #23- For Data Collection Purposes
• You can download data collection apps to
support and monitor student growth.
• You can also take notes and manage your
caseload with a variety of apps.
TIP- Autism App Tracker suggests a variety
of data collection apps.

54. #24-To Share Progress
• We often record video of our students working in
the classroom to share with IEP team members
and parents. The iPad can be a quick and easy
medium to do just that.
• We can showcase a timeline of videos showing
student progress to parents and a receiving team
during a transition meeting. This works especially
well in showing progress with skills that are less
measurable and more observable.

55. #25- To Build a Home
and School Component
• Since the use of the iPad in the classroom, several
families have chosen to purchase iPads for their children
to use at home. We have been able to use this as an
opportunity to share educational apps with them that
support individual goals. For example, with one student
who is working on identify colors as an IEP goal, I
suggested the Word Slapp app. Since the app is
programmable, the parent has purchased it but only
allows the student to work on the specific colors he has
mastered at home as reinforcement. Then as he masters
new colors in the classroom, I email his parent to add the
colors to the app on his home iPad.

56. • Suggesting educational apps has been a great
addition to our parent consultation meetings.
A good app that I parents had recently found
helpful is iTouch iLearn Life Skills: Morning
Routines.
• Great places for parents to look for fun
educational apps for children to use at home are
by downloading the Autism App Tracker and
Moms with Apps.

57. Resource
• Brady, L.J. Apps for Autism: A must Have
Resource for the Special Needs Community.
Arlington, TX: Future Horizons. 2011.

58. The Potential of the iPad is endless!
If you have questions or if I can help you in anyway
with your iPad endeavors,
please feel free to contact me at mmcdaniel@usd489.com