Kidioms vs Verbal Reasoning

Kidioms – An Introduction to Idioms for Kids The Kidioms iPad app makes learning idioms fun for children, ELL students, or anyone wishing to improve their understanding of English. The app uses an interactive notebook to present an idiom, it's meaning and an example showing the idiom used in context. Each page of the notebook also has a graphic to help illustrate the idiom’s meaning. In addition to the lessons, Kidioms offers three interactive activities to help reinforce the concepts and provide practice using and understanding the idioms. Word Drop challenges the learner to complete the idiom by choosing the correct missing word. Missing Word asks the user to spell the missing word. In Match-Up the player selects the correct idiom to fill in the blank in a larger block of text. Common Core Standard that are address by Kidioms: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use Grade 3 •L.3.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings. ◦Distinguish the literal and non-literal meanings of words and phrases in context (e.g.,take steps). ◦Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., describe people who are friendly or helpful). ◦Distinguish shades of meaning among related words that describe states of mind or degrees of certainty (e.g., knew, believed, suspected, heard, wondered). Grade 4 •L.4.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. ◦Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context. ◦Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs. Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their opposites (antonyms) and to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms). Grade 5 L.5.5. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. •Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context. •Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs. Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., synonyms, antonyms, homographs) to better understand each of the words.

Verbal Reasoning is an iPad app created by a certified speech and language pathologist for adults and children ages 12 and up. Verbal Reasoning targets reasoning and critical thinking skills, challenging users with over 1000 stimuli. This colorful and engaging app allows speech and language pathologists and educators to set a reward system when working with children to make therapy more fun and motivating. The children are rewarded with puzzle pieces, and when they accumulate enough pieces they can do various puzzles. This feature can be turned off when working with adults. Verbal Reasoning includes the following activities: - Identifying problems, possible causes, and solutions - Stating problems, possible causes, and solutions - Identifying what will happen next - Predicting what will happen next - What would you do if…? - What would happen if…? - Stating pros and cons - Stating similarities and differences between items - Answering why-questions - Answering negative wh-questions The Verbal Reasoning app can be used with the following audiences and disorders: - Adults with cognitive deficits caused by TBI, stroke, or other brain injuries - Aphasia - Children with language disorders - Autism