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Chronicles (iOS app) Review

May 4, 2013 by Emilee Evans


ChroniclesDo you know how you’re spending your time? Do you feel like you have a good organization system but still can’t get everything done? Well, that is what I had going on. I just couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting things done when I *thought* I was better managing my time. So, when I had the chance to review the Chronicles app I don’t know who was more excited – my husband or myself! He was always telling me that my perception of time and how much time I was ACTUALLY spending on a task were two totally different things. So, I knew this would be a great app for me!
The Chronicles app can be used on both the iPhone and iPad (if you zoom to 2x). I usually used it on my iPhone, though, since I always have it with me whereas my iPad is with me a lot of the time but not all of the time. The biggest issue where I was having time concerns was my computer time. Obviously as a blogger I do spend a fair amount of time on the computer. The problem doesn’t lie in my work per se, but the fact that I don’t focus on just my work and tend to do many other things while I’m working on things for my blog. It is really easy for me to get caught up on Facebook when I plan on getting on there to network to start chatting with people, visiting other groups, pages, etc. Before I know it, I’ve been on Facebook for an hour when I meant to be on there for 15 minutes just to post a couple of things on my page or in my blogging groups! I also get in the habit of going on “rabbit trails” when I’m posting something and am reminded of something else, so I go look that up real quick. Again, I end up spending time on the web I didn’t intend to spend! Without a visual reminder like the Chronicles app, though, I realized it was happening, but I didn’t know how extreme the problem was. There is something different about looking at the clock and realizing “oh, it’s only 7:30” vs. “oh, wow! I’ve been online for 2 hours!” They are totally different mind sets. The first one is “it’s still an hour before the kids’ bed time,” and the second one is “I’ve been on the computer an hour longer than I planned.”
TimerSo here is how I’ve been using the Chronicles app to better plan my time. First I started by using the app to track how long I was online. I created a profile for myself, “Em,” with my picture (fun, right?) and the activity, “online” and added it to my Favourites so I would have immediate access to it each time. Once I started on the computer I would start the timer. Each day I started cutting out more unnecessary activities to reduce the time I was on the computer. Once I got it down to a comfortable time I started using the timer to count down. So I would set the timer for an hour, and when it was up I had to finish what I was doing (no cheating!) and I was done. I give myself a few times a day to be online but only for specific periods of time each day, and the Chronicles app is what helped me create a “work schedule” for myself. My blog IS my business, and a work schedule is exactly what I needed! I can then go in to the Chronicles and view all the activities that have been recorded!
I have tried using various stopwatch and timer apps in the past, but nothing has been as feature rich as Chronicles! It’s nice to be able to create a profile to each family member and assign specific activities. I was able to use it for so much more than just creating a work schedule for myself! I was able to keep track of “screen time” for the kids – computer and iPad time as well as study time, chores, physical activity, etc. The possibilities are endless! The chronicles feature allows you to store all of this information if you choose so you can refer back to it when needed!

For More Information:

Visit the Chronicles Website
Connect with eMCeSqrd on Facebook
Follow eMCeSqrd on Twitter
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own and may be different than yours.

Meek-a-Moo iPad app Review

April 28, 2013 by Emilee Evans

iPad app kids

Meek-a-Moo is a fun iPad app for young kids to learn about animals. There are 2 modes from which you can choose: “Learn” and “Play.” In play mode they can guess animals based on sounds and little hints of seeing part of the animal. Our 3 year old absolutely LOVES it! There will be 3 animal pictures displayed on the screen, and you will start to see part of the animal peek over whatever is cover it. They will start to make their sounds, too. His face totally lights up when he realizes he knows which animal it is! I love that it helps build confidence with something he already really enjoys – animals! I also love that it encourages him to say each animal’s name, which is really helping his speech come along as he has a speech delay. I love that there is an option for both “Play” and “Learn,” but I’ve noticed that even in “Play” mode he is still learning quite a bit! In “Learn” mode they touch the screen to learn about the animals: their names and the sounds they make. I love when apps combine both play and learning. It uses games to teach!

kids apps

Meek-a-Moo is full of great animation and uses real animal sounds! There are 4 scenes available in the full version of Meek-a-Moo: Zoo, Farm, Home and Lake. It is available on the App Store for only $2.99. You can Download the Lite Version, which includes the Zoo scene for free!  Meek-a-Moo supports both English and Spanish. I like Meek-a-Moo because it’s easy for him to use, fun for him to look at and play, and he’s learning along the way!

Get a glimpse:

For More Information:

Visit the AZ Books Website
Connect with AZ Books on Facebook
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am not required to write a positive review. My opinions are my own and those of my family and may be different than yours.

Caillou World App Review

February 20, 2013 by Emilee Evans

 photo C1_zps23eb9f49.jpg

About the app:

Join Caillou and friends and family as you explore his world and learn about letters, words, spelling and phonics!
Features:

  • 7 different scenes to explore, with big clues and small
  • Over 100 pictures to find and letter pairs to learn
  • For ages 2-5
  • Challenges adapt to your developing skill
  • Original music and a friendly narrator

My review:

Our kids are big fans of Caillou, so I was really excited to have them try this app. As usual, our 2 year old was the first to get to it! I wasn’t sure how he would do since it does have letters, which he’s not too familiar with yet. The way the app is set up, though, is so that it is not discouraging if you guess incorrectly. It’s very encouraging, which I think is great. I’ve actually seen a few “learning apps” that are kind of harsh when the child guesses incorrectly. The Caillou’s World app, though, was very positive and encouraging. Our 2 year old particularly loved that the pictures would start off “plain,” and would fill in with color as you go along. He loved “coloring” the pictures. Our older 2 kids really enjoyed more of the letters – and helping Chaz learn the letters. I think that was the most enjoyable part for me is that they enjoyed playing it together and helping out their little brother with the letters so he could enjoy his favorite part of “coloring” the pictures. As they proceed through it they earn stars, which sets goals for them to reach as well. I love that it rewards them for their work because our kids respond best to reinforcement based learning. I always think it’s great when you can find characters your kids love and offer that learning experience, too! It really encourages them to learn and have fun while doing it!
 photo C4_zps2ea0db1f.jpg

For More Information:

Visit the Night & Day Studios Website
Connect with Night & Day Studios on Facebook
Follow Night & Day Studios on Twitter.

*Giveaway!!! (Ended 2/25)*

About the Giveaway: This giveaway begins on 2/20 at 12:01am and ends on 2/25 at 11:59pm (times are EST) and is open Worldwide. Please refer to the full terms and conditions in the Giveaway Tools.

The Prize: THREE lucky winners will receive a code for the Caillou World app for either iPhone or iPad (Winner’s choice)

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above in exchange for my honest opinion. Regardless, I only recommend products I feel would be good for my readers. My opinions are my own and my family’s and may be different than yours. Pea of Sweetness is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Handwriting Without Tears iPad App Review

February 19, 2013 by Emilee Evans

Handwriting without Tears Logo
The first thing we did after downloading the App was creating an account for each child – our 5 year old and 6 year old. Both are learning at the 1st grade level but both have special needs that affect fine motor skills. Our daughter, in particular, has trouble with reversals (reversing both letters and numbers). According to their FAQs The Wet-Dry-Try App is age-appropriate for Pre-K and Kindergarten children, or for 1:1 remediation with older children. So although our children are academically at the 1st grade level I feel the app is still a good fit for them due to their special needs and their need for reinforcement and practice.
HWT Wet/Dry AppHandwriting Without Tears helps children learn how to write properly by using hands on methods. It is actually a program our 6 year old uses sometimes with his Occupational Therapist and comes highly recommended by their therapy staff. We had the opportunity to review their Wet-Dry-Try App on our iPad. It actually resembles their slate chalkboard activity used in some of their hands on activities. The Wet-Dry-Try App helps reinforce handwriting habits for the capital letters and numbers.
There are two ways to use the Wet-Dry-Try app. It teaches only the capital letters and numbers because they are the easiest letters to learn, and that is the basis to set children up for success. After choosing their name the kids could choose “Pick and Practice” meaning they could choose any letters or numbers to practice or “HWT’s Winning Order,” which starts with a specific letter and then unlocks the other letters according to their “Winning Order” as you go. The “Winning Order” starts with letters that have similar starting points and stroke sequences to make it easier to build on rather than going through the Alphabet in traditional orders where very different letters are next to each other. Here you can find out more about their Teaching Order. We chose to use the “Winning Order” and practiced for about 15 minutes each school day as a reinforcement activity. This worked out well for us because there is another project we’re working on that requires the kids to do something separately, so one can do that while the other works on the Wet-Dry-Try App. The app also allows different settings, so you can choose for it to be a little easier as far as sensitivity if necessary.
HWTBrayden, our 6 year old, did really well with the Wet-Dry-Try app. You can see in the picture there is a nice rewards based system in which he earned a lot of stars and even the special cards when you get all 3 stars for a letter. At the first star level there are voice prompts and helpful hints to help the child start, and by star level 3 there are no prompts at all because the child should be able to do the activity on their own. You can even “lock” letters at a certain star level. So if you know your child needs extra practice they can be locked at Star Level 1 or if you know they need higher level practice you can lock them at Star Level 3. We did not use this feature, but it is a nice feature to have available. For Brayden I had everything set on the hardest intensity and use the “HWT’s Winning Order.” I think another reason he did so well is he has also had the hands on practice of the real slate board in his Occupational Therapy because she had mentioned to me that he told her all about the Wet-Dry-Try App saying it was like what they were working on in therapy. So, it’s nice to know we’re reinforcing his therapy as well!
HWT AppAurora, our 5 year old, had a much harder time with the Wet-Dry-Try app. The first thing I did was change the setting to easier because she became overly frustrated and didn’t even want to try it anymore. This is very common for her as she has Sensory Processing Disorder, so when she feels overwhelmed she tends to want to shut everything out. So, after the first day of frustration we just finished for that day, but I set it to the easier mode for the next time around. It was still fairly difficult for her, but her frustration level was much easier to maintain at the easier level as she wasn’t making as many mistakes. I often, though, had to sit with her and try to coach her through it, which I feel was a good learning experience for both of us! I actually have neurological issues with my hands, so there were even some that I tried and was unable to do without correction! So, I could definitely relate to her frustration being a perfectionist like her! So, though her older brother breezed through the Wet-Dry-Try app I do think the lack of the hands on activities that he is accustomed to through his therapy affected her ability to start off as well and as quickly as he did. It is slowly getting better, though, which is obviously the whole idea of the app – improvement. There are still some struggles she has to work through – particularly with the round letters, but I just keep encouraging her and reminding her it’s OK to make mistakes because that is how we learn. This is something we have to work on daily anyway! As of now, she hasn’t earned any of the cards, but she has that goal in mind, which keeps her motivated to keep trying! I do often have to remind her, too, though, and it will be much easier if she puts the iPad on her desk or the table while she’s working on it rather than her lap, which she prefers.
Overall, I think the Handwriting Without Tears Wet-Dry-Try App is great reinforcement for young children and those that need the extra help. I do feel it would be best used with their hands-on products as well, though, for further learning and reinforcement. I do think there may be some benefit for making a range of levels rather than just the most strict and the easy (which has proven to not be that easy particularly to start), so I think with younger learners they may need a lot of help at first. This will give you the opportunity to be more involved, though, which is always a positive thing!
The Wet-Dry-Try App is available on the App Store as well as Google Play for Android devices for $4.99
For more great reviews on not only the Wet-Dry-Try App but also more of Handwriting Without Tears Curriculum click on the button below!
Curriculum Reviews
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. No other compensation was received. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family and may be different than yours. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. Please refer to my Disclosure Policy for more information.

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