Bring on the iPad!

I am waiting for Christmas Day to open my new iPAD (that I have already purchased for myself on behalf of my husband).  Most people I mention this too ask me what do you do with an iPad?   For me, it is not only a technology toy but an educational tool. I sat with my sister in law last week who is a speech pathologist in a different school system.  Her administration gave her an iPad to use with her students who have difficultly communicating.  Most of the Apps she showed me were free or relatively inexpensive.  One particular App was called Puppet Pal where students create a story by choosing a background and pulling puppets in and out of the scene.  They are able to record their voice as they tell their story.  One student she works with speaks with a stutter and amazingly, when he was telling his story, he was so engaged in the application that there was no evidence of stuttering at all!   So my intent is to use the iPad to engage students.  My first trial will be to find Apps to help two ELL eighth grade students that I tutor.  That's what I'll be doing on my December vacation and hopefully will go back to school well equipped with some new ways to learn English!