Apps for Literacy and Learning

Helps kids recognize anger cues in themselves and others. Consider using it as an activity for whole-group instruction with your younger students (such as kindergarten or first grade) or use as a station in a small group during social studies or social skills time too. Small groups could work together to select and play through mini-games. Consider incorporating the game into purposeful social and emotional learning time after a morning meeting or for soft landings in the morning. Place the device and app in a calming corner for students to engage with when they need a break. 

An early-education social and emotional learning app for preschoolers and kindergarten-age kids. It can support teacher-led, general social and emotional skills lessons, or serve as a supplement to specific discussions about conflict resolution, anger management, or expressing and controlling emotions.

The Social Express II is an animated app for boosting kids’ social-awareness skills. Each lesson presents daily interactive social situations using video modeling, “hidden rules,” and suggestions for how to solve problems in daily life. Beginner lessons encourage kids to explore nonverbal cues and stress the importance of eye contact. Intermediate and advanced lessons help kids transfer social rules into real life. Each level includes teacher tips to help teachers guide students in resolving the intended social lesson.

Model Me Going Places 2 is a social skills aid designed for students with Asperger syndrome, autism, and developmental delays, but the tutorials could be useful for any student who needs help building social skills. Six sets of photos with narration demonstrate appropriate and expected behaviors at a hairdresser, mall, doctor’s office, playground, grocery store, and restaurant.