Top 5 Homeschooling Apps We Don’t Want To Homeschool Without!
Do you use homeschool apps to make your life easier? As a busy working mom, who is also homeschooling her kids, I need all the help I can get to make learning fun and more manageable for my kids and me.
This is where our favorite homeschooling apps come in!
In the past, I’ve shared with you the exact curriculum we use.
However, as you can see in these past examples, we don’t limit our homeschooling resources to books and computers in our homeschool.
We also use tablets and, in my case, a cell phone to learn on the go!
Homeschool apps are a great way to make learning fun, help you reinforce a concept, or just add a little sparkle to your homeschool without a ton of work on your end.
What Are Homeschooling Apps?
Technology is always changing and adding new vocabulary, so let’s talk about what an app is before we dig in.
Simply put, app stands for application, you find them mostly on mobile devices (cell phones and tablets) and some computers.
According to the article A Beginner’s Guide To Mobile Apps, “It’s a piece of software which comes pre-installed on your device or it’s software that you install yourself.”
These “apps” help you or your child perform certain tasks more easily. Homeschooling apps are an app used to help your child learn.
Why You Should Use Homeschooling Apps As A Working Mom
As a working mom, having apps on my phone can help me get things done, remind me of deadlines, and even help me figure out where I should go when driving!
I use Homeschool Planet, Google calendar, reminders, and notes for various things, just to name a few.
When my kids were gifted tablets so they can do homeschooling on the go, we decided to dig into a few homeschooling apps to help them learn. Below you will find our favorite apps that we use and love.
Look, I work full-time and homeschool my kids full-time (yes, it’s possible) so I have to find opportunities where I can sneak learning in while I am not with them. Learning apps fill that need perfectly, and the kids don’t complain because they are having fun!
By the way, another great way to reinforce learning is through games. If you are looking for a great list of games be sure to read: My Top 15 Favorite Games for Teens to Reinforce Learning
Our Favorite Apps for Homeschooling
Please note: These homeschooling apps have been tested and work great on our devices which are an I-Pad Mini, Samsung (Galaxy S6) and at the time my son had an older Android Tablet. These should work on your devices but please check the requirements before purchasing.
1. A Novel Idea
My daughter found this on her own while looking for something to help her create, write, and record her stories.
Features are: drag and drop scenes, scene goals, a simple interface for creating your characters, locations, scenes and novels and more!
She enjoys using this tool, however, she says it’s difficult to use if you want to create more than one story. Otherwise, she loves it. Apple, Free!
UPDATE: We have been informed that A Novel Idea is no longer available for download.
A few alternatives to check out are:
2. ColorNote
ColorNote is simple and easy to use. You can create lists, color code them, and organize them as you wish.
ColorNote also has a remind feature for saved notes so that you will never miss anything important.
My son loves it because you can color code it, each color can be used to represent a category/subject, he loves the archive feature and calendar.
You can choose between text option or checklist and has a calendar included as well as many other options such as the ability to link and share! Apple or Android Free!
Here is a quick ColorNote Tutorial I found on YouTube if you wanted to see inside peek.
ColorNote is great for working homeschool moms, too! Here are a few ways I use it.
For blogging: I use it to keep track of blog post ideas, hex codes, and things I need to do that day.
For school: I use it for subjects I need to cover in school, project materials to buy, subjects to track/mark.
Using my favorite homeschooling tools, I know what I need to teach when. I use ColorNote to help me keep track of what to pick up at the library, what supplies I will need.
For life: Use it for a to-do list for groceries, chores, pick up items, appointments, etc.
For fitness: Keep track of your food intake, water, workouts, and activities.
This app is super flexible for both your kids and you, download it here: ColorNote.
3. Snap Collage
This photo-editing app is awesome for creating custom collages and adding text to photos.
Some of its features are: make multiple colleges, arrange as you like, color choices and patterns, add text, stickers!
Wondering how to make this photo app work for homeschooling?
SnapCollage is an excellent tool for recording homeschool projects, hands-on fun, and nature walks. You can share them through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (Available for Apple-Free!)
Using tools like this allows you to remove some of the paper clutter that comes with homeschooling!
Honorable mention: Instaquote, used to add text to images.
4. Duolingo
Duolingo has gained popularity among the homeschool community as a fun way to learn languages on the go!
Every time I visit this app’s homepage, it gets better. I love that the team is always listening to the users and doing what it can to meet their needs.
Duolingo is fun and addictive. Earn points for correct answers, race against the clock, and level up. The lessons are short and the rewards keep the kids motivated to keep learning!
Duolingo also offers in-lesson grading. My favorite is that it isn’t just reading, but includes reading, grammar, and speaking. It makes learning fun! Free!
Did you know Duolingo has a new friend called Tiny Cards? Much like flashcards, it allows you to practice in another way. Check out Tiny Cards and yes, it is free!
5. Dictionary.com
One of my kid’s favorite homeschool apps. Their favorite feature is the daily “word of the day”.
Dictionary.com also provides grammar tips, different writing tips, and access to a Thesaurus.
As a mom, I love to encourage them to look up where words came from, what they really mean vs. what slang they have heard, and that they can learn on the go.
Homeschooling moms are always worried their kids aren’t learning enough, but if your kids can master researching – they can learn anything! Apps like Dictionary.com are one way to teach this life skill.
Are You Looking For Homeschool Apps?
If you are an Amazon Prime Member you should have access to Amazon Underground. A great source of free high-quality Kindle apps for kids of all ages.
I also have a great list of learning apps for kids ages 4-6, you can find that here.
Using apps for your kids is a great way to give you focused attention on one child while the other keeps learning and having fun.
We love using apps to help us learn, create, write, and more! What are your favorite homeschooling apps? Share below and let me know!
Take Care,
Jen
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Hi, I’m Jen. I help working moms juggle their career and homeschool their kids by providing support, systems and tools. You are warmly invited to Join the Online Community Here!
