We have been using more advanced apps as well for academics, but these are great for basic memorization and cause/effect touch screen saavy.
Fish School
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fish-school-by-duck-duck-moose/id367567459?mt=8
This app is colorful, creative FUN and clear. And fish are the BEST idea to engage our Fishies. When you touch the letter, it changes by having fish swim in and make the formation of the letter. Next to the fishy letter are the upper and lower case typed letters to clarify shape and help with generalization. I like that the app speaks the letter, shape or color as it enters the screen because this is very muli-modal. Verbal directions are few, but very concise. There are a few games like match or find the fish that doesn't belong. This verbage was the only drawback. Perhaps 'that is a different color' could have been more precise, because ALL fish belong in the sea. And we Autism Adventurers are especially sensitive to the language of inclusion. Aside from that, the app is amazing. The alphabet, colors, shapes, words and all sorts of hidden fun fishy interactions on each page if you touch everything on each page...even the little fish eggs at the beginning.
Benes - It is a Gold Mine of engagement with purpose.
Price - 1.99
Interactive Alphabet
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/remote/id383967580?mt=8
This one won best iPod kid's app of the year!! We love it. Each bright letter is accompanied by an interactive game associated with the letter and word that begins with the letter. For instance, O is for Olive then lets the child touch the screen over and over and over and with each touch a new olive (3 diff, kinds) layers itself over the other wherever the child touches. Great cause/effect and very fun visual. Also great for directional engagement. The teacher could say, "Oh, I am going to put an olive on the right side of the screen. Watch. My turn." Then after taking their turn, engage the student by saying, "I want you to try putting an olive on the left side like this...watch me...my turn (go)...then 'your turn." There are many ways to engage and play with this app. Remember to engage in 'interactive human play' as well in order to reinforce the communication aspect of the app. Verbalize clearly and allow for some amount of repetition and nonregulated time as well.
Benes - INTERACTION, ENGAGEMENT, CREATIVITY AND PRICE
Price - .99 cents!!
HAVE FUN PLAYING AND COMMUNICATING. HOPE THIS HELPS.
best,
jen