ABC Numbers
Friday, November 12, 2010 at 6:00AM 
App Title: ABC Numbers (for the iPad)
Grade Level: Pre-Schoolers
Purpose: A ABC Numbers provides an early introduction to alphabet and number literacy - beautifully packaged like a toy.
Program Functionality: A Within that toy-like package (which will be conveniently tucked in your iPad!) comes a very intuitive and simply designed game. Your child has the choice to play with ABCs or Numbers — the buttons are big and clearly marked. I would have loved this app in the waiting room at the doctor's office — alas, my children are 19 and 20 and had to be content with board books!
The color wheel on the number game changes the button colors, the music button has three tunes and can be turned off. With different patterns to choose and two ways to create the number of objects on the screen, there is much to explore.
The ABC game has a wheel to dial the alphabet, an introductory writing area, a bit of interaction with the picture, and a cute little star to sing the ABC song — if you pull the string.
Overall Educational Value: A- For the very youngest pre-schoolers, this makes a fun lap game to explore with your child. It has stunning color, simple pictures that are not too busily distracting, and encourages calm interaction with an educational purpose.
Cost: $2.99 - worth it!
Recommendations: As an educator, I found myself wanting a few features tweaked... my first impulse was to have an eraser to fix my writing on the ABC section. The writing outline is quite small. I'm wondering if there could be way to fix it to automatically have it write within the lines.
Three teachers that looked at this also tried to turn the ABC song off right after pulling the string! I'm wondering if a click on the star could turn that off instantly.
The biggest suggestion was about the letter G. The hard 'g' sound is made, then the word gingerbread is spoken. Confusing and incorrect! Preschool teachers that are teaching alphabet letters and sounds will prefer a hard 'g' word, like guitar or goose.
Classroom Use Examples / Ideas: I envision this being used with parents and toddlers rather than in a classroom situation. It could be used in a preschool to enhance ABC and number learning.
Developer Website: Emantras @ http://www.punflay.com/
iTunes Link: Click here.
Reviewer Name: Carolyn Wojtera
Reviewer Blog: Teach with Tech
