Apps for Ms. Sue’s OT Room by Sue Chynoweth

Hi all!  This is Sue Chynoweth COTA/L, more commonly known around my school as Ms. Sue.   I am very excited to have been asked to host a “classroom” on the AppyMall page.  My room is named Apps for Ms. Sue’s OT Room, and is dedicated to apps used to address OT (Occupational Therapy) concerns, including fine and visual motor, visual perception, handwriting, and sensory issues. Many apps can work on skills addressed by OT.   My iPad houses many apps that I have not had the opportunity to use with my students yet.  My initial list for Apps for Ms. Sue’s OT Room includes only the ones that I have used so far during my sessions, and that are particular favorites of mine and/or my students.  Some of our favorites on this current list include iWriteWords for handwriting, Draw With Stars for drawing and handwriting,  Injini: Child Development Game Suite for fine/visual motor, as well as other skills, and Pocket Pond for sensory, but there are many more. Please make sure to check my “classroom” for the complete list.  I will update the list periodically, to include other apps that I try during future sessions.

Below are some comments about the apps I mentioned above. I did not include an age group in my comments, as all of the students I work with have delays in fine motor, visual motor, handwriting, and/or sensory issues, so an age range could be misleading.  I hope you enjoy Apps for Ms. Sue’s OT Room and check out all the other “classrooms” on the AppyMall site!

iWriteWords	This app is chosen most frequently by me AND my students for handwriting practice. The size and the thickness of the letters, as well as the number of visual cues, are all easily adjusted. The letter formation sequences are correct. After the tracing, the app shows the word in the student’s tracing, and I usually snap a picture to monitor progress.  Once the students have completed the letter/number/word, they love to “throw” the letters into the spinner.  A really great app!!!
Draw With Stars	My OT students and I LOVE this app!  We love being able to draw with stars, changing their size, color, and spin.  And the kids especially like touching the existing stars and watching them fly away!  In addition to drawing, I use this as a creative way to practice shapes, letters, numbers, and names.
I Luv Drawing Dinosaurs	This is one of the 5 I Luv Drawing apps, which, except for the different subjects, follow the same format.  The app has a step by step format to trace the image. It also has a blank page for independent drawing. Once completed, the child can color and decorate with different backgrounds and stickers. Pictures can be edited over and over, saved, and shared.  It is a great app to develop fine and visual motor skills, as well as creativity!
Injini: Child Development Game Suite	This is a great app that was designed for special needs children, but typically developing preschoolers also find it engaging.   It has very colorful graphics, and it is easy to navigate the 12 separate games.  The games include matching, colors/shapes, letters, same/different, tracing, patterns, cause and effect, and auditory and visual discrimination. There are not many settings to customize the app, but the games automatically grade the difficulty level to the child’s responses.  There are also printables to supplement some of the learning games at www.injini.net.  The kids really enjoy this app, although some find the pace between activities a bit too slow, and have difficulty waiting.  I do think the price is quite high, but occasionally the app has been discounted.
Furry Friend	A fun game that encourages speech, fine motor, and fun!! Leonard, the Furry Friend, will repeat anything you say, does funny things when you tickle, poke, or swipe him.  You can play with him by spinning a pinwheel, popping balloons and bubbles, as well as other things.  The kids really enjoy this app!
Pocket Pond	Another good sensory app!  The kids love touching the water and scattering the fish! Some just like to swirl their finger in the water.  The water is so realistic sounding!!  Very calming nature sounds.