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Learn English Speaking course 2017-16

Mindprint Rating

Tags

ELA: Reading ELA: Writing Elementary School iOS App

Skills

Expressive Language Listening Comprehension

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • App can be a reasonable alternative to grammar worksheets, particularly for students who struggle with writing.
  • Parents can trial three levels before deciding to purchase.

Considerations

  • The app does not provide explanations of incorrect answers nor enable parents to track incorrect answers.
  • The graphics are odd and can be glitchy.
  • There are some questions that could have more than one correct answer, and other problems that could embed incorrect concepts such as using a capital letter for a word choice in the middle of a sentence.

Mindprint Expert Review

Sentences is an interactive grammar app that will be best for students who simply do not have the attention for regular worksheets or who will do better with digital than writing, but it is probably less efficient and even less effective. Each level has a bug-eyed cartoon girl doing an activity such as riding a train or popping a balloon. The graphics are bright and age appropriate, but also are a bit odd. Students can progress through the three free levels or choose the level they want before deciding to purchase. Each round has five to ten multiple choice questions where students start by dragging and dropping the noun to create simple sentences to harder sentences with prepositions. Students could easily feel that some questions have multiple correct answers and get frustrated; they also may notice some questionable grammar and capitalization. Students are prompted when they make a wrong choice with the correct answer so they can complete the sentence correctly before moving on to the next question. The sentence is read aloud when it's completed but students might not hear it well because of the background noise and the British accent. The app offers students points at the end of the round, but with no tracking capabilities and no clear incentive. Overall, this app could create more frustration and misconception than the learning value and parents are better off with other apps. In addition, there are pop-up ads after each round in the free version.

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 cannot be repeated
    • Audio is not clear or voice is robotic
  • Organization
    • Problems or examples are not interesting for the target age range
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
    • Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
  • Reading Basics
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
    • Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
  • Verbal Memory
    • Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options
    • Audio cannot be repeated
    • Audio is not clear or voice is robotic

Manufacturer Description

A fun new sentence builder app is designed to learn about words, sentences, pronunciation, grammar, and punctuation.
We worked closely with teachers, parents and kids to design and test this app.

Features:
•Sentences
•Sight Words
•Vocabulary
•Grammars
•Punctuation
•Pronunciation
•Teacher approved content
•Two different levels
•Kindergarten
•First Grade
•Second Grade

Students can move the words around to build the sentence themselves. Each word can be clicked for the sound of the word, and words can be rearranged to make a proper sentence.
The app starts with simple sentences and progresses to more complex sentences. The sentences focus on daily life situations, with many references to numbers, colors, and dialogue.
This app is ideal for self-paced learning or home schooling. It teaches kids grammar, sentence structure, and develops their listening skills.
This game is is like having a private tutor to teach your child one on one.
•Sentence Builder helps kids to learn how to construct short sentences
•The app includes two built-in levels and self created sentences
•Level one is designed for kindergarten and first grade students
•Level two is designed for first grade and second grade students

PLEASE CONTACT US
If you have questions, problems, suggestions or complaints, please contact us: makesentence@gmail.com.
We have family-friendly developers seeking to promote quality apps for kids and families.
Recommended Ages:4-7
Categories: Reading, Sight Words, Vocabulary