There are tons of daily calendars out there you can find in the iTunes app store: Word of the Day, This Day in History, Astronomy Picture of the Day and now the You Da Dad Daily Calendar.

Packed with humor, advice, history, and scripture the “You Da Dad” calendar app encourages dads every day to be better husbands with inspirational quotes and funny quips.

You can favorite the tips to refer back to at a later date that are especially helpful so you don’t need to go back to the date it appeared.

It’s a simple app with easy-to-use controls that will keep dads on their toes. One thing I’d like to see is integration with the notification center so it’s “in your face” reminding you to be a legendary dad.

Check out the You Da Dad Daily Calendar today.

You Da Dad Daily Calendar
Price: FREE
Rated: 4+
Categories: Education
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.Requires iOS 4.0 or later.

It seems like the folks over at Pyxwise Software can’t stop making great apps for the iPhone and iPad.  With Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 you get the same great interface as in Sight Words.  If your child is already accustomed to the interface, using this app will be very easy.

This sequel has the same great tutorial and positive reinforcement that early spellers need only this time there are many more words (450) in 42 different lists.

The interface is still easy to use and hints help the user along the way if he or she gets stuck on a particular word.

In my previous review I mentioned that dragging the letters from the keyboard could be difficult for some children.  I’ve since learned that you can simply tap the letter to place it.  I guess I should have payed closer attention to the tutorial.

American, Canadian, or British English can be selected to suit the needs of the student using the app.  In addition, you can choose between lower- and uppercase letters on the qwerty or alphabetical keyboard.

The bottom line
There’s not much more to say that hasn’t been already said.  This is a great app for teaching your children to spell.  A great tool for car-schooling when you’re driving around town.

Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
Price: $4.99
Rated: 4+
Categories: Education, Reading, Spelling, Phonics, Sight Words, Vocabulary
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.

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Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the software that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review. DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/1

When you think about teaching spelling to your kids do you groan at the thought of finding lists of sight words, sitting down and reading the words to them, then grading papers?  I do, so when I had the opportunity to try out Simplex Spelling HD I was encouraged at the thought of eliminating such a tedious task.

Right from the start I was impressed with the app.  The tutorial is fantastic and leads kids through the use of the application while teaching them how to spell.  There’s no doubt you’ll know how to use the app by the time you’re finished with the tutorial.

Spelling lists are broken down into 6 lists with varying degrees of difficulty.  The words from the list are spoken to the user and used in a sentence.  Letters must be dragged from the keyboard to the correct slots above (think hangman) but not in the correct order.  American, Canadian, or British English can be selected to suit the needs of the student using the app.  In addition, you can choose between lower- and uppercase letters on the qwerty or alphabetical keyboard.

The positive reinforcement and hints help the user along toward their goal of spelling each word.  My kids have asked me repeatedly to play the game.  I never thought they’d be so enthusiastic about spelling.

While this is a universal app, I’d recommend that it be used on an iPad.  Some of my kids had trouble dragging the small letters on the iPhone into the appropriate locations and would get frustrated when they couldn’t place them correctly.  Overall, though, I can confidently recommend this app.

Simplex Spelling HD
Price: $4.99 ( a lite version is also available)
Rated: 4+
Categories: Education, Reading, Spelling, Phonics, Sight Words, Vocabulary
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.

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Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the software that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review. DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/1

Taking the role of a rookie photographer for The Daily Smarm, players of Vector Tracker must use an alien device to find and photograph UFOs.  Along the way they’re assisted by an alien who explains how to use the device.  The faster the player can calculate the correct vector the better the photograph and resulting score.  Your boss, Sam Serif, is looking for an award-winning photo so don’t delay in getting to the locations on the grid.

Vector Tracker comes from Twist Education, the makers of Zombeez Slasher (check out my review of Zombeez Slasher).  This time Twist Education has taken on the task of teaching vectors and comes through with an entertaining  and educational game.

Players are presented with a location on a grid.  The goal is to get to the location on the grid using x,y coordinates.  At first it’s simple enough because you’re only using one set of coordinates.  The difficulty level increases when you need to start adding and subtracting vectors to get to your final location.  The faster you get to the location the better the picture you’ll take when you get there and the happier your boss will be with your efforts.

As a new concept is added to the game (for example, adding vectors) the alien and Sam Serif explain the concept and provide players with instructions for implementing those concepts in the game.  I found this approach to be helpful.  Each level builds upon concepts used in the previous ones.

In addition to the game-play, there is also a portion of the app where kids can learn vector basics and about careers that utilize vectors.  This little addition rounds out the app nicely.  If your kids don’t know about vectors this is a great place to start with them.  you could even incorporate the information here into a lesson plan.

With 30 levels of difficulty, Vector Tracker will keep your kids busy for hours.  I’d recommend this game for kids 12 and older.  They really need to have a strong grasp on vectors and how to add and subtract them if they want  to advance past the 13th level.  It can get very challenging once they’re subtracting vectors and having to change magnitudes.  In fact, the difficulty level ramps up quickly and will present adults with a challenge.

Twist Education produced another great game that gets my stamp of approval.  Use it as an incentive when they’ve finished their math homework.  Now where’s my camera?  I think I saw a UFO!

Vector Tracker by Twist Education is available in the iTunes store for $2.99 and is  compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later.  Rated 4+

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Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the software that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review. DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/1

If you would like to have your app reviewed on this website, please email feedback [at] thewiredhomeschool [dot] com for details.

How many ohms are in a gigaohm?  Ever wonder how small a zeptometer is?  If you or your child has played Zombeez Slasherthen you’re probably in the know when it comes to standard units of measure.  BTW, a gigaohm is one billion ohms and a zeptometer is 0.000000000000000000001 meters.

Zombeez Slasher by Twist Education takes what could be a very tedious task (memorization) and makes it fun.  You goal is to slash the Zombeez by correctly identifying the appropriate prefix before your town is overrun by the giant undead insects.

The full moon is buried by clouds the color of doom.  Lightning flashes sharp shadows across the graveyard, where tombstones push from the earth like rows of broken teeth. Thunder grumbles down at you and the air reeks of ozone and spoiled earth.

From behind the graves comes a sound like fear itself.  The unearthly buzz becomes a roar,  its source a glowing hive suspended from a branch like a hangman’s noose.  Strange forms swarm from the cracked opening and head straight for you.

Your blood runs cold as you realize they are no longer alive.  Grab your chainsaw. You must save the world from ZomBeeZ!

If you’re worried about any gore associated with this game, don’t be (get it?).  The cartoon Zombeez explode in a ball of slime similar to the slime you’d see on Nickelodeon in the 80′s.  Every parent needs to decide what is best for their children but I’d venture that there is more objectionable material in Saturday morning cartoons than in this game.

 

Game play is very straight-forward and can be played by young children.  You’re given a target value, prefix, or abbreviation and must choose the correct value, prefix, or abbreviation associated with the target.  Choosing the right answer gives you points while choosing the wrong answer deducts points.  A life meter monitors your health and runs down if you answer a question incorrectly or choose not to answer.  When the life meter runs down the game is over.  Very simple but very fun.  If you choose to create a profile, your score could appear on a leader board at Twist Education’s website.
The game also features an order of magnitudes table and slideshow to help you and your student understand the scale of sizes being addressed in the game.

One complaint I have is that it takes too long for the game to actually start. There’s a small intro video that you only want to watch once but comes up every time the app is started and it take a while to load the game. Once the game is started things move along at a reasonable pace.

Overall, Zombeez Slasher gets my approval. This little game will have your children memorizing standard units of measure in no time while keeping the world safe from those scary Zombeez.

Zombeez Slasher is available in the iTunes app store for $2.99 and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.  Rated 9+ for: Frequent/Intense Cartoon or Fantasy Violence and Infrequent/Mild Horror/Fear Themes

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Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the software that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review. DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/1

If you would like to have your app reviewed on this website, please emailfeedback [at] thewiredhomeschool [dot] com for details.