App reviews

 PE19.6.1  

Anchor Standard 1: Motor Skills and Movement Patterns: The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns. 

 

PE19.6.3 Anchor Standard 3: Physical Activity and Fitness: The physically literate individual demonstrates the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.   

 

 

 

Nike Fitness App: https://www.nike.com/a/running-goals 

 

The Nike Fitness app is an app that offers structured workouts. Structured workouts are vital for the middle school level kids that I teach. The kids must have structure, and the workouts must be broken down in a way that is understandable. Nike Fitness app offers exactly that for kids. The app offers techniques to ensure that one can understand how the form must be done for different exercises to allow one to perform the exercises the correct way. The Nike Fitness app is completely free; the majority of everyone in the world has an iPhone. This app would be great to use because it has all you need in one place. Routine, sets/reps, audio, and many more features that will give one the advantage of staying fit.  

 

 

MyFitnessPal App: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/myfitnesspal 

 

 

The MyFitnessPal app is a free app that can be used. This app is free and can be used on the iPhone as well as other phone carriers. The free premium of the app does not offer the same things as the other premium. The other premium prices can range from $19.99 a month to $79.99 a year, that is a price that will not suit well people. This app is an app that mainly tracks one food calorie intake, but this app allows one to be able to track their fitness goals. The app offers one to log their physical activity so that one can keep up with their progress. Progress and consistency are vital for results. I strongly believe this app is a great app to use because it allows one to track their overall calorie intake and log workouts to ensure one can maintain a stable routine. The routine is one of the main factors to one being able to see results and improve with form/technique.  

 

 

FitOn: https://www.byrdie.com/review-fiton-app-5120926 

 

 

 

 

The last app is called FitOn. This app allows one to perform several yoga movements. Yoga is vital to the longevity of life. Especially for the joints, stability and most importantly the muscles. FitOn is a platform that doesn’t just offer yoga classes, but there are classes on strength training and cardio. These different ways of staying fit have an instructor go along to give guidance in a way that will allow one to be able to be motivated with a partner virtually. FitOn is an app that is completely free. The more you want to improve your fitness goals, FitOn offers a premium that is worth $25/6 months or $30 a year.  

 

 

Narrative:  

I coach Track and football at Mcadory Middle School. I recommend the Nike Fitness App to all my athletes and students because the app has so much to offer. The app is completely free, and the app is set up in a way that cares about the civilians in the world. This app has structured my coaching philosophy in a way that has allowed me to gain an infinite amount of knowledge. The knowledge that I have gained and continue to gain allows me to pass the knowledge down to the youth so they can evolve at an exponential pace over my generation, perhaps they already have due to a revolution. The app offers core work, cardio, flexibility/yoga, and it challenges the kids each day after they are done with a workout. The motivation that is given at the end of a workout by an athlete or an instructor motivates one to come back eager for more work to get better.  

App Reviews-Abbi Underwood

Standard Selected: 

"Explain how authors use setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view to contribute to the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing. ” This is Standard 6.3, covering critical literacy in the Alabama Course of Study: ELA Grade 6. 

So, think helping students recognize the tools authors use to shape a story’s meaning. It’s foundational for both reading comprehension and critical thinking, and it gives students a lens to explore not just what is written, but how and why! 

App 1: BrainPOP! 

    BrainPOP brings literature concepts like theme, plot, and point of view to life with animated videos, vocabulary tools, and interactive quizzes. It’s a great entry point for kids who need visual reinforcement or quick, engaging explanations. It offers a free version with limited access; full access starts at $9.95/month for families or via school licensing. The app is designed for grades 3–8, and is compatible with iOS, Android, and web browsers. 

Review Link: Brain Pop Review from Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit that evaluates educational content for quality and safety. Our family uses it a lot to pre-screen movies and shows before we allow our son to watch them. Their educator-focused reviews assess content accuracy, engagement, and pedagogical value, making them a credible source.

App 2: BookBreak

    BookBreak offers livestreamed author talks (15–25 mins) for K–12, complete with Q&A sessions, lesson plans, and writing workshop integrations. These short, live author sessions give students the chance to hear about character development, setting choices, and how authors build theme or resolve conflict, all the elements we’re trying to teach.  BookBreak is subscription-based at the school-building level, with district discounts and a Buy-One-Give-One model for under-resourced schools. It serves elementary and middle school students now; high school programming launching in 2025–26. It is fully web-based, accessible via tablets, Chromebooks, or desktops. 

Review Link: BookBreak Review from Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is a respected industry magazine. Their in-depth review highlights curriculum alignment, pedagogical support, and national recognition of the app! 

App 3: Write the World 

Write the World is an online community for teen writers where students can respond to weekly prompts, enter contests, and get peer feedback. It’s especially helpful for exploring things like character voice and point of view, and students can see how others handle similar writing challenges. It is completely free for educators and students, geared for ages 13–19 (middle and high school), and is entirely web-based.

Review Link: Write the World Review from Larry Ferlazzo

Larry Ferlazzo is an education advocate. He praises its "authentic audience" and peer review model.  TeenLife notes global student participation, making these credible, classroom-centered sources. 

My choice? Probably BookBreak.

While I believe all three apps enrich students’ skills toward meeting Standard 6.3, BookBreak stands out to me for middle school classrooms. There’s something special about students hearing directly from an author who created the world they’ve been reading about. When they get to ask, “Why did you write the character this way?” or “How did you come up with that ending?" it makes setting, plot, theme, and all those big literary concepts click in a deeper way. It brings the standard off the page and into real life. BookBreak helps students go beyond just identifying story elements. They start to understand why those elements matter. Plus, the lessons that come with each session are already aligned with what I’m teaching, which makes planning a breeze. The fact that it helps bring author access to schools that wouldn’t otherwise have it just seals the deal. 

App Reviews- Kaitlyn Woodall

  Standard: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4

Verbiage: "Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality."

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To effectively support early math development in kindergarten and first grade, particularly with the standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4, I researched three educational apps that can be used to teach and reinforce the concept of connecting numbers to quantities. These apps—Nearpod, MobyMax, and SplashLearn—each offer interactive and age-appropriate learning experiences for children in grades K–2. In today’s classrooms, where digital learning tools are increasingly common, it’s critical for educators to select apps that are engaging, and easily accessible. These three apps support a range of instructional goals, from whole-group guided learning to individualized remediation and practice.

The first app I examined is Nearpod, an interactive presentation and assessment tool that transforms traditional lessons into engaging multimedia experiences. Teachers can use Nearpod to create or access lessons that include embedded formative assessments, interactive drawings, videos, and gamified quizzes. For kindergarten math, Nearpod offers pre-made lessons on counting, number recognition, and cardinality. For example, students may be asked to drag and drop counters to match a numeral or draw groups to represent quantities. The app encourages participation from all students, especially in a live session where responses are submitted in real-time. Nearpod offers a free basic plan, while premium plans with additional features and storage start at around $120 per year. It is compatible with all major devices and browsers, including iPads, Chromebooks, Android tablets, and laptops. The review from Common Sense Education (https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/nearpod), a widely trusted nonprofit known for evaluating educational technology, confirms Nearpod’s high quality in both design and instructional impact. For teaching this standard, Nearpod’s ability to visualize abstract number concepts and keep young students engaged makes it an excellent tool for whole-class instruction. Since it is a lesson made by the teacher, this app is great for all ages and all subjects!  https://www.trustradius.com/products/nearpod/reviews/all

The second app I explored is MobyMax, a comprehensive digital learning platform that adapts to each student’s skill level. MobyMax is particularly useful for differentiated instruction in early grades, as it offers personalized learning paths in math and other core subjects. For the standard on counting and cardinality, MobyMax includes modules that teach number recognition, matching numbers to sets, counting in sequence, and comparing groups. These activities are presented through interactive animations, voice narration, and feedback that supports independent learning. One of the strongest features of MobyMax is its diagnostic tool, which identifies learning gaps and automatically assigns lessons to fill them. This is especially helpful for young learners who may be at very different levels in the same classroom. Although it can be used for all grades. The app is free for individual teachers and can be used on any internet-enabled device, including tablets, Chromebooks, and desktop computers. Common Sense Education (https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/mobymax), which reviews educational tools using a team of certified teachers, praised MobyMax for its comprehensive coverage of Common Core standards and effective use of adaptive learning technology. MobyMax is a strong candidate for small-group instruction or intervention settings, as it allows students to progress at their own pace while providing teachers with valuable performance data.

Lastly, I reviewed SplashLearn, a highly visual and gamified app focused entirely on math for grades K–5. SplashLearn is specifically designed to build foundational math skills in a fun, student-centered way. For K–2 students, it includes hundreds of activities targeting number recognition, one-to-one correspondence, counting objects, and identifying the correct numeral for a set—skills that align directly with CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4. The app uses colorful characters, rewards, and animations to maintain student interest and motivation. Teachers and parents can assign specific skills, monitor progress, and view detailed reports. SplashLearn offers a free version with access to a limited number of lessons and a premium version starting at $7.99 per month for full content access. It is available on iOS, Android, and through web browsers. According to Common Sense Media (https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/splashlearn), SplashLearn excels in both engagement and instructional value, making it a trustworthy resource for early math education. Its setup makes it ideal for young children who are still learning to navigate digital devices. In a classroom setting, SplashLearn could be used during math centers, individual practice, or even at home for reinforcement, helping students make strong connections between numbers and quantities through visual play.

While all three apps provide excellent support for the selected math standard, I believe MobyMax is the best overall choice for classroom use. Its biggest strength lies in its adaptability and diagnostic tools, which allow teachers to tailor instruction to each student’s individual needs. Unlike Nearpod, which is more suited for teacher-led lessons, or SplashLearn, which is heavily game-based, MobyMax combines structured skill development with data-driven progress tracking. It’s also completely free for individual teachers, making it both practical and accessible. MobyMax helps ensure that every student, regardless of their starting point, can master key number sense concepts through personalized, interactive instruction. For a standard that is foundational to all future math learning, this app will set the students up for success.

App Review-Joseph Myricks

 Standard: 

PEWT.1

The physically educated student demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.

PEWT.2

The physically educated student applies the knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics related to movement and performance.

PEWT.3

The physically educated student demonstrates knowledge and skills to help achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.

PEWT.4

The physically educated student exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.

PEWT.5

The physically educated student recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.

Nike Fitness App - Review Link

• The Nike Fitness app has a variety of on-demand workouts, including strength training, HIIT, yoga, endurance, mobility, and core exercises, with options for both bodyweight and gym-based routines. It offers multi-week training programs that guide users through proper exercise form, mindset, nutrition, and recovery. Other features like guided meditations, wellness tips, and healthy recipes are also included, and it syncs with Nike Run Club or Google Fit for run data and heart-rate tracking. It’s completely free on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and rated E for everyone. Reviews from this particular website are useful here because they specialize in fitness apps, offering deeper and more relevant insights than general tech platforms.

Couch to 5k App-   Review Link

• The Couch to 5K app is designed for beginners who want to ease into running with a structured 8–9 week plan that gradually builds you up from walking to running a full 5K (3.1 miles). It uses alternating run/walk intervals and includes in-app audio coaching with motivational cues to guide you through each session. The app also tracks stats like distance, time, and pace, and integrates seamlessly with Apple Health, Google Fit, WearOS, Samsung, and Fitbit. It’s free to download on both iOS and Android and is rated “Everyone” on Google Play and “4+” on the Apple App Store, making it accessible to users of all ages. Business Insider, a trusted media source and gave the app a review, highlighting its beginner-friendly design while honestly pointing out challenges, like the tougher workouts around week 5. The review gives a realistic take on what to expect, making it more helpful than hype.

Rackcoach App/ Program - Review Link 

• RackCoach is a program/  app designed specifically for weight rooms, making it easier for coaches to build, schedule, and display workouts for their athletes. It features audio and visual timers like whistles and countdowns to guide athletes through reps and tempo, creating a structured and efficient training environment. The app is free to download on both iOS and Android, with a 30-day free trial of the Pro Subscription, which unlocks more advanced features like detailed analytics and enhanced timers. After the trial, a paid subscription is required for continued access to premium tools. This app is rated 12+ on the App Store, RackCoach is ideal for both teens and adult athletes. Reviews from this website come from actual users and are pulled from platforms like the App Store and Google Play, offering unfiltered insight into user experiences and potential issues, without being curated by the developers.

Narrative: 

 As both a football coach and the strength trainer for all sports at my school, RackCoach is a great tool that helps manage and improve our athletic programs. This program allows me to track individual athletes’ progress in detail, making it easier to set personalized goals and share updates directly with each athlete. It also allows communication with other coaches both inside and outside our building so everyone stays on the same page regarding an athlete’s development and performance stats. One of the biggest benefits has been the built-in timing features, which help keep workouts and training sessions perfectly on schedule. This is crucial because it ensures we make the most out of every minute during our limited class periods, maximizing efficiency and allowing athletes to get the full benefit of their training without wasted time. Overall, RackCoach helps me stay organized, keeps our athletes motivated, and supports a more structured environment.

APP Reviews- Petty

 ALSDE Standard: SC23.CHEM.2a Develop and use Lewis dot diagrams to model the formation of covalent and ionic bonds.

NearPod Review:https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/nearpod

NearPod is an app that allows teachers to present lessons to students in a more engaging way. Teachers can create their own lessons in the program or select an already existing lesson and modify it to their desire. Activities that can be implemented during the lesson include the likes of discussion boards, drawing, matching activities, review quizzes, and virtual field trips along with your already planned Google Slides or PowerPoint presentation. NearPod has three tiers for the individual teacher: silver (Free), gold ($159/year), and platinum ($397/year). Silver tier is the core of NearPod and it is personally what I use. Gold has more features like Google Slides integration and more activities along with an AI component. NearPod is completely adjustable to meet the needs of the students therefore making it suitable for K-12 applications, but could be used in university settings as well. NearPod is available on Apple, Google Play, Microsoft Store, and Google Chrome Webstore. It also has a web browser capability. The CommonSense review informs with great detail how to use it for teaching, what it is used for, and the quality of learning. This is a reputable website that allows teachers to see over 300 community reviews on the website as well. 

Wayground/Quizziz Review: https://www.softwareadvice.com/student-engagement/quizizz-profile/reviews/

Wayground/Quizziz is an app that allows students to review the concepts that they have learned in class. Teachers can use the AI quiz creator function to import PDF files of the work that they have done in class and it can create a diversified assessment for the students with added suggested questions. Quizziz can also be used for an online assessment with adjustable accommodations for students in your class including putting the test/quiz in a different language. There are also test accommodations where the teacher can allow for “redemption” chances for students to correct wrong answers on the quiz. There are multiple game modes that the students can play and I have personally seen great engagement in this app in my class. Wayground/Quizziz has a free option for teachers and also has multiple paid tiers which ranges from $75 per month to $125 per month. The paid versions have more features built into them as one would expect. Wayground/Quizziz is appropriate K-12 and even businesses use it for training purposes. It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play; there are also web browser capabilities. Software Advice is an appropriate review site because it sorts through how many people are in the business, how long they have used the product, lists the pros and cons, and gives honest reviews from people that have actually used the software. 

Khan Academy review:  https://www.bitdegree.org/online-learning-platforms/khan-academy-review

Khan Academy is an app that is a free online learning platform that accommodates K-12 learners that supplies videos broken down by units with topics along with practice questions and unit tests to guide them through the topics. Khan Academy is used for a variety of topics, but is praised for its math and science content. This can be used for first time instruction, supplemental instruction, or review. Khan Academy is completely free for everyone to use. Khan Academy has an intended use for K-12. Khan Academy is compatible on Apple App Store and Google Play. There is also web browser functionality. Bit Degree is an online learning community that seems to be very knowledgeable about different programs and provides fact checked reviews. The review is factual and provides the pros and cons of Khan Academy fairly. 

Winner Winner: NearPod

In order to best teach my standard, I would use the NearPod app because of the engagement that I get with my students. I would supply them with the slides and then provide them with drawing activities to practice the skills virtually. I could also allow students to have a class drawing board to compare answers and discuss which drawing is the most appropriate structure. The flexibility of NearPod allows me to assess students in multiple ways that I see fit, and I get the most student feedback from using this application. 

App Review

 Standard: CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.B.2

Fluently divide multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm

App #1: 99math

Link: https://www.educatorstechnology.com/2023/06/a-teachers-review-of-99math.html

What does it do?: Gamified fluency practice for a variety of topics in math. Typically, it is used as a bellringer, end of class exercise and fast fluency practice. This can be played independently, as a class or as a play at home game. 

Cost: The program is completely free for teachers and students. There is a premium option, but it is not required. 

Age group: This is program is usually used with grades k-8 (5-14 years old), but depending on the need, older students could use this program. 

Compatible with: Can be used on a variety of devices such as tablets, computers, and smartphones. It is available as an app in Apple's App Store and on the Google Play store, it can also be used through a browser.

Credibility: Educators Technology has been referenced in research as well as news articles and is ran by a k-12 teacher. The reviews are non-biased and also provides FAQs for the reviewed material. 

App #2: Quizizz

Link: https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/quizizz

What does it do?: Another gamified approach for different math skills practice. This game can be played as a class with an on screen scoreboard and individually through a shared link. The students can see the placement of other students and it does update in real time. The program also allows students to repeat the quiz again if needed and also gives them a chance to complete redemption questions to increase their scores. 

Cost: Mainly free, there is a paid option as well. You can get everything you need through the free version aside from a few premium lessons or quizzes. 

Age group: Grades 3-12

Compatible with: Computers, tablets and smartphones. There is also offline play as an option. Generally used through a web browser. 

Credibility: Common Sense is a trusted site used by school districts to determine the effectiveness of programs and apps as well as the data safety of students. There is a site rating as well as user ratings to prevent bias. 

App #3: Khan Academy 

Link: https://www.commonsense.org/education/reviews/khan-academy

What does it do?: Provides videos, practice, assessment, checks and quizzes that show mastery of a skill. Khan Academy has a wide variety of skills to learn in a variety of subjects. It can be differentiated for various learners through their assessments that can be taken at any point and if a skill is mastered, then the video and practice requirement is not necessary for continuation. 

Cost: Free but there is an AI that can be used for $4/month. 

Age group: Grades 2-12

Compatible with: Computer, tablet and smartphones. There is app availability and it can be accessed through a web browser. 

Credibility: Common Sense is a trusted site used by school districts to determine the effectiveness of programs and apps as well as the data safety of students. There is a site rating as well as user ratings to prevent bias.

My personal favorite:

Personally, my favorite app for the standard I chose is 99math. The program is designed to help with fluency and as the standard specially calls for that, I feel it is the most natural choice. 99math helps you see how students are doing as a whole and celebrates small victories as well as a top 3 making it a potential confidence booster for students. I feel like this is a good way to keep students engaged for quite a while and can be used at any point for a surprise quick check or a planned warm up. Between the versatility of the app and the quick information that it provides, I feel like this is the best choice for supporting the desired outcome of the standard.

App Review by Pam Ancelet

ISTE Standards for Students — Standard 2: Digital Citizen 

Students recognize the responsibilities and opportunities for positively contributing to their digital communities. 

App #1: Be Internet Awesome - Interland

Be Internet Awesome Interland Review Link 

What the Be Internet Awesome app does: An interactive digital citizenship program created by Google that teaches students how to be safe, smart, and kind online. The program addresses how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave when using the internet.  
Cost: Completely free with no ads, no in-app purchases. Google offers it at no cost to schools and families. 
Intended age group: Ages 7–12  
Platform: There is no separate app download. It runs on mobile web browsers (Safari, Chrome) on iPads, iPhones, and Android devices.  
Why this review site is credible: Medium's is a platform where comments and highlighting allows readers to interact with the review.  It allows people to ask questions and share their own experiences with "Be Internet Awesome". This is great for educating and engaging users on how the program works.  

App #2: Kahoot
 
Kahoot Reviews Link  

What Kahoot does: Students can play teacher-made quizzes about digital citizenship topics. Many pre-made Kahoot covers internet safety, copyright, and online ethics. 
Mobile-friendly?  App works beautifully on phones & iPads  
Ages: All ages (K–12). 
Why this review site is credible: PC Mag has a long-standing reputation for giving reliable information that is trustworthy to help make good purchasing decisions.   

App #3: Learning.com Digital Citizenship

Learning.com Digital Citizenship App 

What Learning.com App does: This app has structured lessons on online safety, ethical use of digital resources, and cyberbullying. It covers digital footprints, privacy settings, plagiarism and copyright awareness, cyberbullying prevention, and response.  It also has interactive activities and quizzes to ensure comprehension. NC DPI+6Learning+6K-12 Dive+6 
Mobile friendly?  Yes. Available on iOS and Android devices. Students download the app and access it via a provided school-issued access code.  
Ages: Grades 6–9  
Cost:  Purchased on a per-student license by schools or districts.  No extra charge beyond that.  
Why this review site is credible: Getting Smart is an organization or platform focused on education and learning.  They publish articles and resources about learning, competency-based education, and innovations in education. 

What is my choice of the three?

Out of the three apps, I think they all have their pros and cons. Kahoot is teacher based so teachers can design their materials and then use Kahoot to back up what the students have learned and interact and be engaged in class.  Learning.com does well by providing structed lessons and things that teachers can use to implement in the classroom.  My favorite, however, is the Be Internet Awesome because it is designed by the ISTE standard.  It has several interactive games and programs that teach students multiple ways to use the internet correctly.