Part of embracing back to school season involves prying away the iPods and iPads from my kids' gaming hands!  But, there are still lots of good reasons to keep the devices nearby during homework time.  There are lots of great apps that your kids will enjoy using to help them be better students and feel more confident in their learning process.  I'm sharing just a few – 5 to be exact – of my favorite one here.  I'd love to know if you have others you'd recommend, too. 

1.  iHomework ($1.99) - This is a great all-around app for students who want to keep themselves organized during the school year.  Users can keep up with schedules, grades, work assignments, to-dos, teacher information, and more.  Set reminder notifications of tests, things to do and more even without the app being open.  Keep track of course information including GPA and grade calculations.

2. Sushi Monster (free) – My kids absolutely love this app on their iPods!  And I love that they get to practice their math skills while using it.  It helps them strengthen math strategies when they place numbered sushi pieces during a timed sequence in an effort to reach the target product or sum.   They earn points with each correct answer, but focus and attention is key since there are lots of distractions in this game!  In order to make a high score, they'll have to be strategic about what numbers they select from the sushi counter.

3.  Flashcards (free) – Reinvent a tried and true way of studying.  The flashcards app is an easy to use app that makes studying easier.  Users can also make custom flash cards for any class or standardized test.

4.  Scout's ABC Garden by LeapFrog ($1.99) – Kids will love this little interactive green dog who calls them by name while he guides them through a series of letter and number activities.   Progress reports for parents make this app even better.

5.  Stack the States ($.99) – I have a 4th grader this year and one of his requirements will be to memorize the state capitals.  This app helps users do just that while they advance through several levels.

What apps do your kids use to help them flourish during the school year?