Here at Focused Ed we are always interested in and looking for the latest and greatest apps that can help students learn!  Whether it is an app best utilized in a classroom setting, tutoring situation, or homework help we are interested and you better believe we will try it, use it, and let you know what we think!
The first app we are reviewing for you is One Minute Reader!  Below you will hear our thoughts on cost, usability, effectiveness, special features, and a few other tid-bits! 

Application: One Minute Reader...where do I even begin?  I cannot put into words, or rather...there is no real word great enough to describe this app, so we will go with FANTABULOUSERIFIC! 
Cost:  $-$$  You can download a free version or a low-cost version.  However, once you begin to use this app, you will discover that in order to have access to multiple stories within a given book level, you will need to purchase individual books for a small fee.  Another option is downloading an entire level of books for$19.99 which would be best for someone working with multiple children in order to get the most use for the price.
Purpose:  The focus of this application is Fluency.  Being a fluent reader is a struggle for many kids of all ages and stages of reading development.  In order to gain deeper comprehension of a text, a reader must be able to read that text fluently.  This app is 100% focused on allowing children to practice fluency in a fun and entertaining way while also providing feedback to be shared with anyone that has a vested interest in the child's progress.  Results can be emailed, messaged, downloaded, etc. 
Usability:  We have used this application during tutoring sessions with multiple children in a variety of grade levels and ages.  This application is easy to navigate and has written as well as oral directives to guide the user.  There are a few pages located at the beginning of the app that offer help, a table of contents, and placement information.  The placement information guides the instructor/educator as to how to determine the best starting place for a child using this program.  This app walks the user through every function and option in an easy-to-understand format.
Features:  The main features in this app are listed below:
Placement:  This feature allows the instructor/educator to determine how to go about finding the best starting point for a child needing fluency practice.
Levels:  This feature is where you will find a variety of reading levels to use with the student(s).  Each book within a level contains multiple short stories, however only 1-2 in each book are included with the application, but the rest are available to download for a  small fee.  
Within each book you will find the following functions, all of which the application keeps track of in order to include in the feedback/results:
    -Cold Read-This function gives the student a 1-minute time limit to read the 
    selection without any background or preview time.  This will give you a more 
    exact idea of the child's ability to read a new text fluently. 
    -Read Along-This function reads the story aloud to the student.  The student has
    the option of clicking on highlighted vocabulary words in order to gain a better
    understanding of difficult words in the text.
    -Read Alone-This function gives the child 5 chances to read the text aloud while
    a one-minute timer counts down.  When the child is done reading, they are shown
    how many wpm (words per minute) they read.  They are then given the option of
    saving that "read" as their top attempt or trying again (up to 5 times).  It saves 
    the child's score on each read.  
    -Quick Quiz-This function allows students to answer comprehension questions 
    about the text in order to gauge their level of understanding of what they've 
    read.  My favorite part is that it allows the students to go back into the text
    to review their answers and ensure they can find text evidence to support the
    answer choice they select...a teacher's dream! 
    -Word Scramble/Game/Joke:  At the end of each quiz question, hints are given to
    the child to use towards a joke, game, or word scramble associated with the 
    text.
    -Results:  The results are given to the children instantly1  A thermometer tells 
    them how "hot" they were and what their best attempt at fluent reading of the 
    text was.  These results are a great visual and can be emailed, messaged, down-
    loaded, etc.

Overall, this application is an app that is worth the cost and should be a MUST on any parent or teacher's phone or device!  Children of all ages can benefit from this application and the skill-practice it provides!
-Brenna Newman

Homework can be difficult for most kids during the school year, but it can become a major challenge when you have a child with ADHD. But here’s some good news for exhausted parents: if you take the right steps now, at the beginning of the school year, homework hassles can be kept to a minimum. The key is to be organized and plan ahead to minimize the frustration your child is bound to experience around multiple homework assignments. Begin by tackling the two most important places: school and home.

At the beginning of the school year, meet with your child's teacher (or teachers) to find out what the expectations are regarding homework. Try to work out a system where they can let you know in advance what homework will be assigned either on a week-to-week basis or for the whole semester. Many teachers are even willing to keep you informed by e-mail. You should check with your child’s teachers periodically to make sure that things are going well. And definitely remember to ask them to inform you whether assignments are being turned in on time.

Another big problem for kids with ADHD is that they often forget to bring their books home. You may be able to work out with the school, particularly if your child has a 504 plan, to get an extra set of books. This way, your child will have a set of books at school and a set of books at home.

Children with attention disorders, particularly those with a 504 plan, are entitled to accommodations to make school demands appropriate to their abilities. So for example, in math or other subjects with long lists of questions or problems, the accommodation states that the school must allow the child to do every other question or problem, rather than the entire list that's been assigned. Talk to your child’s teachers about your child’s abilities and the accommodations that can be made. It can make the difference between enduring endless hours of frustration at homework time and having your child succeed.

Moving now to the home front, it's important, if possible, to have a quiet time in the home where there's no TV and no other media to distract your child. You might even stop phone calls during homework time. And if you have a project that you’ve brought home from work, consider doing it while your child is doing his schoolwork. (But be available for help if necessary.) This helps younger children with ADHD to understand that homework is a normal part of life—just another responsibility that needs to be met, and it also sets the right mood for focusing and concentration.

It's best to have a scheduled time for homework and a quiet place to do it. For older kids, it may even be a good idea to set up their own “office”. This could be a space in their room, the living room or kitchen where they do their homework on a regular basis. You might even put up a bulletin board with all their long-term assignments and due dates. What this provides is a way to make it easy to have all the materials they need and to keep them on task.

If you know what your child’s assignments are, you should review them together. Make sure that they understand what they need to do. In particular, be certain they understand the directions completely. If they have homework for several different subjects, you can eliminate much of the hassle simply by helping them to organize their time.

It may be a good idea to break homework into sections. You can set aside time for each specific subject, with some relaxation breaks in between. High school age kids with ADHD certainly can do an hour of homework at a time without a break, while first graders may only be able to go for 10 to 15 minutes without a break. You need to determine what you feel is a reasonable amount of study time for your child, and then help him or her to manage their time appropriately. When they complete their homework successfully, use fun activities such as on TV or video games (or whatever your child enjoys) as a reward.

you Finally, a big problem for kids with ADHD is that even when they get the homework completed, they forget to turn it in to the teacher. It’s wise to have a notebook with a clipboard or a separate folder for homework for your child. Remind him or her to check the clipboard or folder at school for each class to be sure that they turned in all the work. Then, before they leave school, they should check it once again. If they find any assignments that were not turned in they should take it to the teacher or the office and hand it in before they leave the campus. Most teachers will accept an assignment later in the day from a child they know to be attempting to cope with ADHD.

The internet also has great resources to help you and your child gather information for homework projects. These include Kid Info www.kidinfo.com, Fact Monster www.factmonster.com and Searching for Stuff-Kid’s search tools www.slco.lib.ut.us/kids_search.htm.

Article from: http://www.edarticle.com/article.php?id=27313