Build A Word Easy Spelling Long&Short Vowels,Sight
Mindprint Rating
Tags
Skills
Mindprint Expert Review
Pros
- App provides plenty of practice with sounds and words with the ability to view each child's progress by word.
- Graphics are very clear and easy to read with the option to customize the background for maximum visibility.
- Children can opt for the child or adult's voice and other valuable customizations.
Considerations
- Despite some animations, there is no game-like feel to this app and children will perceive it as work not fun, particularly when they receive negative feedback in test mode.
- Practice and test modes use "?s" at the top of the screen to represent letters which could confuse or bother some students.
- Students may have some difficulty understanding the child's voice, though they can replay the voice as often as they need.
Mindprint Expert Review
This is an effective phonics app to teach children reading and spelling of over 800 common words. Multiple children may enjoy choosing an animal avatar and watching the cute dinosaur bubbles pop, but otherwise the app is primarily learning work. Adults will be able to track each child's progress in the three modules: learn, practice and test. In the learn mode, children hear, see and copy words, in practice mode they hear and then spell the the word on their own but cannot make incorrect choices, and in test mode they hear the word and must spell the words independently. Only test mode provides negative feedback which includes an unhappy face accompanied by a "no-o-o" when a student provides an incorrect answer. In all cases, the letters are easy to read, there is no visible timer, and the recording can be played as often as needed. Adults can select from the pre-made word lists by sound, or they can create their own list of words for each child. The app has other valuable customizations, including selecting to use a child or adult voice, displaying letters and backgrounds for greatest clarity, and setting up quizzes of the right length and with incentives. This app provides effective phonics teaching in an easy-to-follow approach, but children may understandably view this app as more work than fun.
Academic Benefits
Improves academic skills
- Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
- Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
- Presents educational concepts accurately
- Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
- Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
- Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
- Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)
Fun
Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range
- Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
- Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
- Visually appealing to children in the target age range
- Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
- Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
- Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
- Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option
Easy to Use
Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range
- Has a free or trial version
- Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
- Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
- Student should be able to use independently after first use
- Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
- Multiple users can save a profile
- Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
- Can play without sound and not distract others
- Students can save work between sessions
- Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
- Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
- Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
- Overall - Easy to use
Cognitive Concerns
May not be advisable for students with the following cognitive needs
- Auditory Processing
- Audio is not clear or voice is robotic
- Listening Comprehension
- Audio is not clear or voice is robotic
Manufacturer Description
* "It is clear this app was created by those that understand learning and for those of an appropriate age it is a must-have."- AppAdvice
* "This is great for first grade spelling practice. I like the fact that you can break the words down into the different lists and I really appreciate being able to add in my own words."-The iPhone Mom
* "repetition of audio prompt helps with hearing and remembering the word and sounds" – Tech&Learning
* "This app is also great for special education students who need modified lists. This app is highly engaging and wonderful for students." – Instructional Technology Integration Partnership OHIO
* Recommended and downloaded by schools worldwide
* Contains over 1200 English words (Dolch's Sight Word List and more) +create your own list
UNIQUE FEATURES BENEFICIAL TO COMMON CORE PEDAGOGY:
► custom-made spelling-word lists (type in the new word and record your voice)!
► SHARE custom spelling lists to other iPads, iPhones... using e-mail, Google Drive, or DropBox
►1200 existing spelling words in categories (word families): phonemic, and semantic
► HISTORY keeps track of student’s progress (customization per student possible)
► audio and/or visual prompt
► PROFESSIONAL narration or child’s narration
► optional Montessori-style color coding vowels and consonants
► upper or lower case letters
► four modes: Learn, Practice, GAMES and Test (quiz)
► immediate sound feedback upon tapping correct/incorrect letter
► child proof SETTINGS button
► positive reinforcement lowers affective filters making learning a more engaging and enjoyable process
► ACCESSIBILITY options for VISUALLY impaired and those struggling with fine motor skills
► custom made features for special needs students
► for PHONICS narration download our other spelling app: Build A Word - Easy Spelling With Phonics
► watch video: http://youtu.be/-__mVxHC8L4
Advantage for Special Need Students:
* option of blank background helps students focus on letters only
* option to choose high-contrast background for visually impaired students
* answer method: drag&drop or simple tap
* big letter cards easy to spot
* no frustration: visual and audio prompts in the Learn Mode lead the student step by step through the correct spelling process
* any number of redundant letters: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
* repetition of audio prompt helps with hearing and remembering the word and letters
The underlying pedagogical methodology for this application is to teach students letters as well as to teach them how to combine letters into words. A student is offered either/both a visual prompt or/and audio prompt to "write" a word. The word is to be ‘written’ by dragging appropriate letters one at a time in the designated slot in the correct order. Success is rewarded by a short fun game.
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