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Word Abacus FREE

Mindprint Rating

Tags

ELA: Reading ELA: Writing All Ages iOS App

Skills

Flexible Thinking Working Memory Visual Discrimination

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • There is no timer which encourages students to think flexibly to create longer words.
  • The on-screen letters are easy to read.

Considerations

  • The app does not function properly so students will get easily frustrated.
  • Parents will need to pay for hints and to avoid ads.

Mindprint Expert Review

Word Abacus is a broken app based on a reasonable idea. Students connect letters to build words, with longer words earning more points. The letters are on an abacus design, so they can slide to connect to different letters. Students must tap letters to build words and the tapping functionality does not work properly which makes the app unusable in its current form.

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

  • Anxiety
    • A player's success depends on speed
    • Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
  • Attention
    • Shows advertisements
    • Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
  • Fine Motor Skills
    • Requires challenging finger movements, motor precision or physical manipulation
  • Flexible Thinking
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
  • Organization
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
    • Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
  • Processing Speed
    • A player's success depends on speed
    • Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
  • Reading Basics
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
  • Reading Fluency
    • A player's success depends on speed
    • Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
  • Self-regulation
    • Shows advertisements
    • Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
    • A player's success depends on speed
    • Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out
  • Spelling
  • Verbal Reasoning
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
    • Turn or quiz abruptly ends when timer runs out

Manufacturer Description

Test your word pool in this addictive word puzzle game! Find English words by linking adjacent letter beads left, right, up, or down. Shift the letter beads like an abacus to increase word possibilities.

There's no time pressure. Relax and focus. It's only about your skill.

You think your vocabulary is outstanding? Compare your high score with players all over the English-speaking world.

This game recognizes both American and British spelling.

*** NEW: In-Game Word Hints ***
Only available in the premium version. You enable word hints in the menu "Help/Settings" -> "Word Hints". Once enabled, word hints are requested by tapping the question-mark button in the bottom right corner of the game board.


*** FREE vs. Premium version ***
This game is brought to you free of charge without any "light-version" limitations. However, adverts are displayed during game play. Give our sponsors a chance and visit their sites!
At your option, you may upgrade to the Premium version as an In-App Purchase. The Premium version features
- An ad-free game experience
- In-game word hints (see above).