Best of the Best Lists

K-12 Attendance Management Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for K-12 attendance management apps, tools, and resources that you can use in your school district? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

Academe Suite – This is a multi-functional platform that provides a combination of LMS, attendance management, video lecture delivery, and institute management system modules. Bulk SMS services are also available for elementary schools, higher education institutions, and banks.

Attendance online – Attendance online, as the name implies, is an online school attendance management system. It works for all sizes and levels of educational institutions and provides a common data-sharing platform among stakeholders (i.e., teachers, parents, and admin).

Chanakya ERP – Chanakya ERP is a multipurpose school/college management software useful for all kinds of educational institutions. Chanakya provides essential features such as administrative support, parent-teacher communication, attendance management, fee payments, grading system, assignments, and assessments, and much more.

SEAtS Software – This tool is designed to facilitate student engagement, learning analytics; attendance management; and Tier 4 compliance for universities, colleges, and schools.  From student attendance and predictive analytics to case management, SEAtS is a student success platform that empowers you to manage your data for a smarter campus.

Sisar Cams – Sisar Cams is a cloud-based comprehensive solution for managing administration and communication for your educational institution. This tool empowers management teams to collaborate efficiently with users; it involves teachers, parents, students, and administrators to integrate seamlessly within one cloud solution.  The system provides the digital contents and tools needed to engage students and parents. The attendance management module helps in digitizing the attendance and faculty leave management system.

Victor School Manager – This is a desktop app for a school management system to process student records, fee accounts, results, and conveyance. This application has all the essential features such as student information management, timetable management, student attendance management, examination management, CCE result management, fee accounts management, conveyance management, user management, session management, and SMS management.

Xplor – This app automates administration for childcare operators, simplifies the interaction between parents and teachers, and reduces data entry effort using mobile devices or tablets. Features include attendance management, online enrollment, tuition collection, accounting, and contact management. Xplor is childcare software made easy.

ISP (Individual Service Plan) Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for ISP apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

Infinite Campus– Look no further! Infinite Campus is the web-based living solution with the tools your school needs to make data-driven decisions. It helps your school’s administration by providing the needed tools to manage your students’ education processes effectively. It also helps in providing a wide range of curriculum planning and management tools for managing courses, setting standards, and effective scheduling.

Summit Learning – Summit Learning is a learning approach with a unique view of education and instruction. It can be used with any curriculum and focuses on three main components: mentoring, projects, and self-direction. Each student is assigned a caring adult mentor with whom to meet weekly in one-on-one sessions. This mentoring relationship ensures that each student feels known and supported. Summit Learning projects are designed to foster real-life skills that students can use throughout college and their future careers. The self-direction component helps students learn to set and follow through on both long- and short-term goals. The Summit Learning approach offers opportunities for individualized student support, such as small group workshops, individual interventions, and support for individualized education plans (IEPs).

Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for internet safety and cyberbullying apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

Impero Education Pro V7– Impero Education Pro has online safety features and software that detect the kinds of words students are typing or searching. Impero Software has a partnership with advocacy organizations to come up with a list of keywords associated with issues such as self-harm, cyberbullying, sexting, radicalization, mental problems, and more to alert instructors and administrators when these keywords are detected.

NetSupport School– NetSupport School is a useful tool that provides teachers with the materials they need to enhance the quality of technological innovations used in their classrooms. With this tool, the teacher can manage and interact with every student device used in the class. It comes with tones of IT features, including internet safety and cyberbullying prevention tools. The app is compatible across multiple platforms, enabling uninterrupted connectivity to a variety of devices, including Windows, Chrome, iOS, Android, and Mac while supporting BYOD policies when needed.

Interactive Simulation Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for interactive simulation apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

3D Molecules Edit & Test Interactive Simulations– Helps high school or college chemistry students learn by building 3-D models of organic and inorganic compounds for simple practice or for 3-D printing. Molecules can be viewed in 3-D using the stick, ball, and stick and space-filling (CPK) models.

PhET Interactive Simulations: Math– This is a math learning tool created by Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman in 2002. It helps students learn advanced math concepts using free, interactive math, and science simulations. PhET Interactive Simulations is a project developed at the University of Colorado Boulder; it interacts with students through responsive, simulated environments in which they learn by exploring.

Algodoo– Algodoo is a physics-based 2-D sandbox freeware from Algoryx Simulation AB as the successor to the popular physics application Phun. Bring your ideas to life with Algodoo. Use the drawing tool, materials like ropes, lasers, gears, motors, and even water to test your funniest ideas in a simulated world. Share your inventions with friends and challenge them to use their creative abilities. The simulated world is based on the latest technologies in advanced engineering simulations and virtual reality simulators used by Algoryx.     

C-Factor – C-Factor provides gamified assessments that are neuroscience-based and driven by artificial intelligence for pre-screening of candidates. It lets employers run in-depth insights into prospective employees using ability and aptitude tests. It uses gamified simulations of real-life work scenarios to assess candidates; C-Factor is a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative to the recruitment process.

CoderZ by Intelitek– This platform enables schools to make artificial intelligence and computer technology readily accessible to students. It is a cost-effective, communicative, and captivating online platform that drills, prepares, and provides a simulation environment for students in grades 6 to 12. It prepares them for the rigors that they might experience in real life.

Prepmagic– Prepmagic offers science simulations for students to improve learning; it allows teachers to design materials and tools to engage and enhance student learning. Its key components are Reimagining and Retooling STEM Content. It provides materials that publishers and educators need to create responsive and insightful science content and assessments. It also helps them to make connections between scientific theories and real life.

Nico & Nor Shadow Play– Shadow Play is an app that lets preschool children explore the science of shadows using beautiful simulations. With this app, children learn about shadows and develop their scientific method skills. The Shadows program has two apps (Shadow Play and Shadows Journal) working hand in hand to help preschool kids and their teachers to take pictures and partake in scavenger hunts and matching games.

GeoGebra– GeoGebra comes with an easy-to-use interface and many features that help you create, modify, and share math simulations and models. It comes with multiple platforms and dynamic math software that brings together tables, graphing, geometry, algebra, calculus, and statistics in a free easy-to-use package. The app also comes with free and open source software; it has received many educational software awards in the US and Europe.

Lemonade – Lemonade is a learning platform that works alongside customers’ existing LMS to deliver a different learning experience and tracking system. On this platform, effective learning experiences can be created using game-based training, product simulations, and role-play scenarios—all in a story-driven narrative. The platform uses real-time analytics to measure performance and identify gaps in the learning process and improve business value. Lemonade allows the integration of other LMD, CRM, and employee reward platforms that users have used previously.

Interactive Sites for Education– Select an interesting, interactive, and educational game and simulation for ELA, math, social studies, holidays, brainteasers, music, art, and science with  Interactive Sites for Education. This app can be used at home for individual learning or in the computer lab or with your interactive whiteboard for a group of students. Many of the activities are flash-based and, as such, will not work on iPads unless you are running an app that let’s Flash play on iPads.

Handwriting Without Tears: Wet-Dry-Try– This app allows students to practice writing letters and numbers on a virtual chalkboard. Kids learn correct ways of writing numbers, lowercase letters, and capitals while practicing along. Kids can learn handwriting skills most productively and easily through the simulation of Blackboard and Slate Chalkboard with Double Line.

Independent Reader Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for independent reader apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

Accelerated Reader 360– This app helps teachers increase student engagement by using personalized reading goals and word class reading materials. Teachers no longer must search for close reading practice content as Accelerated Reader has a collection of high interest reading content that is searchable by level, topic, or skills. Teachers can also gain valuable insight by using Accelerated Reader’s reading dashboard, which provides comprehensive data and skill progression.

Kids A-Z– Children can select from a library of eQuizzes, eBooks, and hundreds of developmentally appropriate eResources by using the Kids A-Z mobile app. Students can complete corresponding quizzes to improve their comprehension skills and use interactive annotation tools that aid in the development of close reading skills. Kids A-Z mobile app is a must-have for kids that have access to Raz-Kids, Science A-Z, Headsprout, or Raz-plus.

7 Speed Reading– This app can help you become a proficient reader in the English language while eliminating old habits that hold you back. With 7 Speed Reading, students can learn to recognize large clusters of words and read without first vocalizing in their heads.

Speakaboos – This is an interactive reading app designed for children ages 2–6. It features real-along highlighting to capture kids’ attention and help build early reading skills. It also features touch screen interactions to engage children in reading and improve comprehension. This app is free for a seven-day trial period, followed by the option to subscribe. A wide selection of kids’ favorite books is available; the stories have one or all the “read to me,” “read by myself,” or “read and play,” options.

Starfall Learn to Read – Using this app, children learn to read with Zac the Rat. Each numbered section features a vowel sound and its related spelling. Children hear, touch, read, and master sound-spelling through a variety of engaging activities, movies, and songs. The game encourages children to play and explore while they learn.

Read With Me Fluency – This is a tool that helps train reading fluency in children. Teachers can create content for their classroom offline or online (both modes cannot be used simultaneously). Content can be accessed on the app, PC, or paper printout. As students read, they are recorded (audio and video), and the teacher notes mistakes and problem words that can be corrected later. The app collects student data that can be accessed by the teacher.

Bookopolis – The Bookopolis platform allows users to read and review books online. With help, students can create accounts and have access to a long list of books to read; books are available for early readers, older readers, and middle school readers. Students can also have access to books from writers and award winners. Bookopolis also features games to help take some time off the reading.

PebbleGo – PebbleGo is designed for beginning readers in kindergarten through second grade. It provides reading materials in English and Spanish for a broad selection of topics such as animals, earth and space, biographies, and social studies. Materials include text, photos, videos, links to similar topics, printable assessment sheets, and correct citations.

Informal Writing Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for informal writing apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

Writing Prompts – Writing Prompts uses current events, random words, scenes, sketches, genres, and text to provide hundreds of writing prompts for whole class or individual student use. Simply swipe through the available prompts until one strikes your fancy or save favorite prompts in a favorites folder for easy access later. With additional packs of prompts available for purchase, there are millions of prompt possibilities so students will never run out of things to write about.

Writing Challenge – Turn freewriting into a game with the Writing Challenge app. Helpful for students that struggle to freewrite or waste valuable literacy time trying to think of a topic, the Writing Challenge offers a set of prompts and allows the student to select the one they want. Then, every minute (or longer if the app settings are changed), it offers additional prompts to further the student’s writing, such as adding new characters, words, places, or actions. The best way to improve writing is to practice, and for students that struggle to practice independently, the Writing Challenge can decrease writing anxiety and help deal with the fear of the “blank page.”

Strip Designer – Strip Designer allows students to create their own personal comic books from personal or classroom photos. With more than 100 included templates, students insert their photos, add filters, text balloons, word stickers like “BANG” or “POW,” and even draw directly on their comic strips within the app. Once students have completed their comic strips, the files are easy to share via email, Facebook, Twitter, or save as a PDF. Strip Designer can be used as an engagement tool in literacy class for writing hesitant students, to create final projects across any subject, or as a fun reward.

Comic Book!– This app allows users to create a version of their favorite comic superheroes and villains. The app comes with a plethora of interfaces, which allow users to customize their creations using virtually every form of editing, such as picture filters and deception heading.

Image Scanning Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for image scanning apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

itSeez3D– Scan your family and friends and anything you would like to capture in 3-D such as bags, shoes, toys, and so on with this mobile 3-D scanner. This is done with the use of an iPad with the Occipital’s Structure Sensor to capture color and structure any information before processing them into 3-D models. You can then share it on sketchfab.com from the app and become a member of the 3-D community.

Sense 3D Scanner– Sense 3D Scanner changes the way you work. Fast, uncomplicated, portable, and practical, it presents full-color 3-D scanning for use in your home, school, and business. It is the first USB-powered handheld scanner to use the ultimate short-range scanning technology from Intel, the RealSense SR300 3D camera. By making use of HD cameras and a highly sensitive infrared projector, the RealSense technology permits a closer scan range and higher resolution than former generation devices.

Claro ScanPen – This is a text-to-speech app for iOS devices that works for scanned documents. Take photos, scan or select from your gallery, and use your hand to select the portion you want to be read to you. It does not require Internet access.

Image Creation & Editing Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for image creation & editing apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

Comic Book!– This app allows users to create a version of their favorite comic superheroes and villains. The app comes with a plethora of interfaces, which allow users to customize their creations using virtually every form of editing, such as picture filters and deception heading.

ChatterPix Kids– The ChatterPix app lets you use still images taken with your phone’s camera, record your voice over them, and make them chatter! This free app does not collect any personal data, and it does not contain any third-party ads or in-app purchases. Suitable for children between the ages of 6 and 12.

Nutshell Camera– Take three pictures, edit them with fun cartoons and captions, kick back, and watch Nutshell as it turns your pictures into an exciting, shareable short film in a matter of seconds. Nutshell creates the video with your images in the beginning, middle, and end of the movie. It makes the images the keyframes of the video, but you don’t have to know that because Nutshell has simplified it for you; it delivers the power of visual creative freedom at your fingertips, sort of like Instagram does with videos.

Comic Life This is an easy-to-use, fun, and quick app useful for creating picture comics. The look and function of the iPhone OS device have been changed to give the user full control over pictures taken with the camera or imported from the photo library .

Comic Book Camera– This application enables users to create comics and animated photos using their camera phone or pictures from their phone’s file manager. The process can be done in a short time using the user’s preferences for filters and how texts are displayed.

IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan) Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love*No apps listed

Are you looking for IFSP apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

Illuminate– With Illuminate, educators and administrators can create report cards, state compliance reports, and reports for information. It is an easy program for administrators and educators to use because of its compatibility with most of their service. Messaging and notifications can be sent via Illuminate.

Illumine – Illumine is a one-stop technology platform for early education that caters to the needs of parents, teachers, and administrators. Illumine helps preschool and daycare simplify administration, share updates, manage inquiries, streamline observations, and improve planning. Illumine provides a simplified dashboard, so you can keep track of student and family data, staff members, accounting, payments, and detailed reporting.

IEP (Individualized Education Plan) Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for IEP apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

Summit Learning– Summit Learning is a learning approach with a unique view of education and instruction. It can be used with any curriculum and focuses on three main components: mentoring, projects, and self-direction. Each student is assigned a caring adult mentor with whom to meet weekly in one-on-one sessions. This mentoring relationship ensures that each student feels known and supported. Summit Learning projects are designed to foster real-life skills that students can use throughout college and their future careers. The self-direction component helps students learn to set and follow through on both long- and short-term goals. The Summit Learning approach offers opportunities for individualized student support, such as small group workshops, individual interventions, and support for individualized education plans (IEPs).

Edvance School-wide Management System– Edvance is a user-friendly online school management software system for K-12 schools. Users enjoy cloud-based access to efficient software with a suite of modules such as admissions, student and teacher profiles, workloads, timetabling, course planning, academic reporting, grade book, attendance, behavior/discipline, message center, IEP module, parent portals, LMS tools, and curriculum management. The system also offers student-centric and analytics solutions; it helps to reduce the administrative workload to divert more attention to students.

Infinite Campus– This is a web-based, enterprise-wide student information system, including grade book, state reporting, special education IEPs, and more.

OctoPlus– Octoplusis a math app that uses interactive gaming to help children develop math skills. This app takes you into an underwater world where you battle turtles to earn points. It has both drill and challenge modes, designed to develop children’s math abilities using their innate intelligence. It is also helping develop motor skills in children who have motor or cognitive delays. This app can be customized to keep children interested and motivated; it comes packed with features designed to improve visual attention, timing, coordination, and control. Parents can also use this app to emphasize individualized education program (IEP) objectives.

History Apps, Tools, and Resources That We Love

Are you looking for history apps, tools, and resources that you can use with your students? If so, we have you covered. Check out our list below. Let us know if there are any that we missed.

CK-12– Helps students and teachers to improve elementary learning worldwide by making personal education tools available. Learn more than 5,000 math and science topics at a speed that suits you. Math topics include arithmetic, measurement, algebra, geometry, probability, statistics, trigonometry, analysis, and calculus. Science subjects include geography, life science, physical science, biology, chemistry, and physics. Other subjects include SAT exam prep, engineering, technology, astronomy, English, and history.

History Line– History line is a game that talks about US history. The game can be played by an individual or a maximum of six players. For a single player, a series of historical events appear on the screen, and you must place the events in the right sequence on a timeline below the screen. The date appears below when the event you place on the line is correct. For multiple players, they can connect their iPads via Bluetooth after one person starts the group.

Khan Academy– Khan Academy has more than 40,000 interactive Common Core-aligned practice questions and above 10,000 videos and explanations in economics, history, math, and more. This is the best study app and tutoring app for students of all ages who are struggling in science and other subjects. You can easily bookmark your best content to “Your List,”  which can be used offline when you’re not connected to the Internet.

Mayan Mysteries – Join Team Q, featuring Alex Quinn, Fionna, and Charlie on their quest to protect ancient Mayan artifacts from the villainous thief, Ladrone. They visit four archaeological sites where they outrun looters, map Mayan territories, unearth artifacts, and solve riddles. Task completion releases a Spirit that transports them to the past where they go on missions and play mini-games and learn more about the Mayan history.

Learning Games for Kids Learning Games for Kids provides children with games that help them to learn math, language, science, history, and more. Geared toward preschool to elementary-aged children, these games are fun, visually stimulating, and auditorily appealing to keep kids engaged and wanting to learn more.

Sites in VR – Sites in VR allows students to explore famous landmarks from the classroom or their own home. This app primarily focuses on Islamic temples, tombs, and ancient cities; however, there is also an outer space component. Landmarks from Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Morocco, Kuwait, Yemen, Macedonia, Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, and Greece are included. If you’ve always imagined your history or social studies students touring through the pyramids of Egypt or the Colosseum in Rome, this app can fulfill that wish. Sites in VR includes more than 1,000 high-quality panoramic images and promises that “you will feel as if you are there…”

Smarty Pins – Well suited for history, geography, or social studies courses, Smarty Pins, was created by Google engineers as a fun way to brush up on map skills and review trivia. There are six main categories that students can choose from: March Madness, Arts & Culture, Science & Geography, Sports & Games, Entertainment, and History & Current Events. Once a category is selected, the student is asked a trivia question and prompted to find the location on the map that provides the answer. Bonus points are awarded for quick thinking! If a student finds themselves stumped, hints are provided as the remaining time to submit an answer runs out.!

Civilization VI– Help the humans survive from the dawn of time, through the Dark Ages, up to this moment. This game focuses on developing players’ critical thinking and creativity. Players use their imagination to help civilizations take the leap to the next stage of development.

Zoom In – Zoom In includes 18 interactive, document-based inquiry units for American History classes. It is Zoom In’s goal to ensure that teachers are challenging students with authentic, engaging texts; working with students to write explanatory and argumentative essays; teaching debate with claims and counterclaims, and ensuring students use evidence, including period documents, to back up their ideas. Zoom In provides teachers with assessment tools such as interactive rubrics to give personalized writing feedback to students.

FieldTripZoom– With the FieldTripZoom, you have an online service that enables you to order, search, schedule, and connect to hundreds of live interactive programs. These programs provide your students with distinctive learning experiences that target the learning materials and align with your courses. The educational content includes zoos, museums, and historical sites.

Murder at Old Fields– Forensic science is a tricky topic to teach without allowing students to get their hands dirty and try some experimenting themselves. Murder at Old Fields is available as a real-world kit or online activity. It is based on the real 1842 double murder of Rebecca and Alexander Smith at a farmhouse in Old Fields, Long Island. In this forensic science lab activity, students gain evidence and conduct lab experiments on historical artifacts. They take lessons and quizzes while exploring this 3-D crime scene to figure out the case. Overall, this is a great tool to provide a real-world example for forensics classes, and it can help give students the confidence to pursue a forensic career.

Museums of the World– Museums of the World gives free access and availability to thousands of museums all around the globe. Whether you love art, culture, science, or travel, you can virtually travel anywhere in the world and gain knowledge. You can find events, exhibits, and shows based on GPS locations. There are also detailed presentations and galleries to give you all the information you need to get around and learn as much as possible

Sail the Book– Sail the Book uses Google Earth to transport the reader on a virtual journey to locations mentioned in six inspirational books of maritime nonfiction literature. Google earth also involves activities that use the ruler tool, historical imagery, and street view. 

IWitness – This game is designed to build empathy and social awareness among children using the Holocaust as the reference point. From their dashboard, teachers can hand out tasks to children, which include testimonies, archives, and a video editing project that allows children to tell their own stories from what they have learned. Students can also work together or individually to search, watch, listen, learn, and build word clouds while they work with multimedia activities.

The Pyramids – The Pyramids is an interactive app that allows children to explore the remnants of the great ancient Egyptian civilization, focusing on the Giza Plateau. Sites include the Sphinx, Tomb of Meresankh, the Great Pyramid, and much more. Students can explore the places by themselves or recruit an audio tour guide who leads them through the sites. Beautiful 3-D images and a softcopy book are available for the curious cats that want to learn more.