Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 by Applicable2U

Simplex Spelling Phonics 1

By Pyxwise Software Inc.

Pyxwise Software Inc. has recently launched Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 and it could not have come at a more appropriate time for Applicable2U.  It is now the second trimester of our school year and my son, although he is 5, is beginning to dig deeper into the mechanics of spelling and reading in his kindergarten class.  We have reviewed educational apps by Pyxwise Software in the past, so we were immediately intrigued when we read in their iTunes library description, “Simplex Spelling improves English spelling and reading skills by using a powerful combination of phonics lessons, spelling/word patterns, our unique “reverse phonics” approach and contextually relevant spelling rules.”  Amazingly, within days of its launch, Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 was already on the Apple’s New and Noteworthy apps under the Education category.  Through our exploration, we now know why!  According to research, readers who use this approach will find learners succeeding at a higher rate than those using typical flashcards.   As a child embarks on the road to spelling and reading there are five key areas that a child should focus on: vocabulary, phonemic awareness, sight words, phonics and comprehension. As you explore with this educational app, teachers and parents will quickly see how these five concepts have been integrated fluidly.  Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 is accessible via most Apple devices running iOS 4.0 or later.  Your spelling lists can now go where you go!   With a year full of spelling curriculum which has over 450 high frequency words divided into 42 lessons, your child will be building their confidence as their base foundation of literacy is being established.

Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 can seamlessly be integrated into any homeschool, classroom or home environment.  With the ability to create what appears to be an unlimited amount of user accounts, parents of multiple children will be thrilled that their child’s learning needs will individually be met.  In addition, teachers will be pleased to see that a mobile device can now be a part of a learning center for their students. Whether using this application individually or with a teacher or parent, young readers will find a number of support systems in place along the way.  Within the settings tab, users can work with either upper or lower case letters.  Developmentally, this is very appropriate to focus on one or the other, however, still having experience with both.  In addition, the keyboard layout can be changed to letters appearing alphabetically or like a real world keyboard. Regardless of which keyboard type you choose, letters will appear color coded, vowels will appear bluish/white in color and consonants will be red.  Visually this is very effective for learners.  When beginning a word list, your virtual teacher will briefly explain that sound or letter combination. Proceeding this explanation, the user will be required to spell words falling under that category.  Along the way, additional supports are provided such as: a hint button, the teacher saying the desired word in a sentence and various visuals clues for right and wrong answers.  If a user is unsure what a colored button will do, simply click the question mark at the bottom of your window and the Simple Spelling teacher will verbally explain.  With a simple tap of their finger onto any user friendly tool, letters can be: viewed with a green checkmark, dragged from left to right, provided hints and deleted if necessary.  Their finger is now a virtual pencil and an eraser.

So that learning is held accountable and parents and teachers can further instruct in an appropriate way, reports can be generated indicating words mastered and the number of attempts made within each word list.  Strategically, word lists are organized very clearly as it starts with the basic sounds each vowel makes both short and long.  Some might say that the English language is a bit tricky when it comes to those letter combination words (ie. “ai” or “ay”).  As you progress from individual vowel sounds into the next lessons, users will begin to explore the complexities of these letter combinations. From there, lessons will touch on the blended sounds letter make. The overall purpose of this educational app is not to memorize, but to rather transfer this learning to become efficient readers and spellers with a solid comprehension of the phonics approach.

Applicable2U is truly excited with the updates that have been made from their other spelling application, Simplex Spelling HD. Whether you have a 4-10 year old, this application is applicable to you.  For a simple .99¢ download, your child or student will be gaining a lifetime of academic skills that will be applied throughout their early stages of life.  To learn more about Pyxwise Software Inc., please visit their website here.  It’s time that you take the anxiety that can be built up in a child when reading and spelling with a simple download of Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 to youriTunes library here.

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Sound Seeker by Applicable2U

 Sound Seeker
   by BrainBeanz, Ltd.

What sounds do you hear?  Whether you are a parent or a teacher of preschoolers or kindergarteners, this early  to learn sounds application is worth the download.  An added bonus, currently it is being offered at a discounted rate for the up and coming return of school.  BrainBeanz Ltd. is a development group made up of teachers looking to support both parents and other educators.  Having an educational background, BrainBeanz Ltd. fulfills one of the necessary requirements that Applicable2U looks for, gaming for a reason.  Through a great deal of repetition, auditory clues, easy to follow directions and eye catching graphics, Sound Seeker will put your student or child on the road to the early stages of reading.  To avoid confusion, small groups of letters are learned, in turn, leading users towards a better rate of success over time.  What child doesn’t love stickers and rewards?

Prior to beginning, parents might find it helpful to check out the “p” shaped cog in the lower right hand corner.  Here parents and/or educators will find the “parental controls” of the game.  Various letter selections can be made.  At any point in the game, parents can change which mode to encourage or reinforce.  The SATPIN mode is for those just getting started.  This is the default mode and is the only option that generates rewards. Such rewards are stickers representing each letter of the alphabet.  The RANDOM mode will select letters arbitrarily for those using so as to practice both sounds and letter recognition.  If vowels are an area of concern or need of introduction, then set the mode to AEIOU.  The final letter selection is a users choice option.  Here players can choose any six letters that they would like.  To extend the learning opportunities, both upper and lower case letters are reinforced.  In addition, at the completion of each mode, parents have the option to reset the game so the learning continues for another go around. Once these options have been set, let the learning and fun begin!

So how does one play Sound Seeker?  In the four corners of the playing window are letters and in the middle are bean shaped graphics.  The object of the game is to drag the graphics on top of the matching sound that it makes.  It is important to note that users should be familiar with the letters of the alphabet prior to playing.  If players should struggle though, BrainBeanz has come up with a solution by providing users auditory support. With a few simple taps, a narrator will very clearly state each letters sound.  As an added support, when graphics are tapped  that same narrator will indicate what those images are in case of confusion.  With the help of good listening ears, users should start to hear similarities as the sound attaches itself to a word/image.  Through both positive and negative reinforcement users will know if their matches are done correctly.  If a user is unsuccessful they are not penalized for their mistakes, it just means more practice is required.

Applicable2U explored each letter mode, but was pleasantly surprised at our findings when we were rewarded with a sticker in the SATPIN mode.  We were under the impression that the sticker was the only reward and boy were we wrong.  In order to earn a reward, users must progress through with a certain success rate. Once that rate has been met, a twinkling star will appear stating that we earned a sticker!  At this point, users should click the star button in the bottom right corner.  It is here that players will be able to view those stickers collected.  Without giving too much away, be sure to have your little one click on those stickers as it will bring them to additional games, interactivity and enjoyment.  As 10 and 20 stickers are collected, it appears a certificate is earned.  We do wonder, is this certificate printable? In looking at those follow up games, Applicable2U does wonder if it might be possible to set the challenge a bit higher as more stickers are collected, thus indicating a user that is building their letter sound confidence.  It might be interesting to see a match of a graphic and its letter, or two graphics that have the same letter sound.  Applicable2U feels that this would be an even better indicator of awareness for both parents and educators.

Overall, Applicable2U gives Sound Seeker a thumbs up!  Certainly worth the download for our soon to be kindergartener!  As a user completes the sounds of the alphabet or is looking to move on in the development of reading, parents might be interested in also looking at the next reading series, Blend Seeker.  If you would like to learn more about BrainBeanz, Ltd. please visit their website here.  Don’t forget these educational apps are still on sale as of today, August 23, just click here to begin downloading Sound Seeker and Blend Seeker to your iTunes library today!

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Review of Bob Books Reading Magic Lite by Kathy Burdick

Name of App: Bob Books Reading Magic Lite

Free or Fee: Free!

Rating: 4/5

Developer: Learning Touch

Why I like it: Bob Books Reading Magic is an excellent app for students beginning to develop their reading skills. Each scene has a short corresponding sentence and begins in black and white moving to color once all the necessary words are spelled correctly. When you touch the character and/or item in the scene they move onto a new page with the letters from their name. When you touch a letter it gives the phonetic sound of that letter. The letters are moveable so students have the opportunity to spell the word. This app helps with letter/sound recognition and the sounding out of words making it a fantastic support for young students. The graphics are simple, but wonderfully executed. The free version offers 3 scenes (which is the only reason it got 4/5 stars), but the paid version has more scenes and options, including increasing levels of difficulty. The interactivity, graphics and learning opportunity make the Bob Books Reading Magic app perfect for new readers, as well as a great teaching tool for teachers and parents!

Visit Kathy's website for more review!

Mr. Thorne Does Phonics by Applicable2U

Mr. Thorne Does Phonics
  by Mr. Thorne Productions

YouTube sensation Mr. Thorne from London, is at it again. This time he is taking over the iPad world with his amazingly entertaining and educational videos on the building blocks of reading and spelling through the phonics model. What is Phonics?  Why is it so critical for our children to learn in this manner?  Phonics is teaching children how to connect the sounds of spoken English with letters or groups of letters and to then teach them to blend the sounds of letters together to produce approximate pronunciations of unknown words. By teaching the strategies behind the model of phonics, a child’s frustration level will decrease as they read and spell words.  As a teacher or parent one of the many goals we have is to encourage our child to learn and to love reading.

Many might say that in order to teach children to read and spell phonically is dry and boring.  A colleague of mine said at times she feels as though she  needs to find ways to shake it up a bit.  Well, with the help of Mr. Thorne’s video apps for the iPad- Letters and Sounds and Blends and Spelling, phonics will be shaken up.  In conjunction with books, worksheets and discussions, children will begin to understand how to segment and blend words all in the palm of their hands.  So how does Mr. Thorne jazz this boring subject matter up?  With a great deal of modeling through body and facial visuals, repetition, opportunities to pause and discuss and examples, users will become more confident readers and spellers. Throughout, Mr. Thorne is constantly asking for your participation and providing opportunities to challenge as he changes locations, his crazy glasses, and hair style.  In addition his free spirit, calming teacher voice and movement will certainly add a sense of ownership and comprehension for all types of learning styles.

In our exploration of Mr. Thorne we did find other ways of accessing his educational videos via YouTube.  So why would educators or parents want to download his applications for the iPad.  For MANY reasons!!!  With two simple simple downloads from your iTunes Library, Mr. Thorne’s phonics videos will be at your disposal no matter where you are.  Videos are a part of the application, so there is no need to have internet access.  Technology is wonderful, however, every educator has had some negative technology fluke occur when they were not prepared.  Whether you are being observed by an administrator, working with a small group or even your entire class, Mr. Thorne’s videos will not break up while watching or require any streaming from the internet.  With a very clean and manageable menu, Letters and Sounds and Blends and Spelling can be accessible for all parties: educators, parents and children.  Applicable2U also loves how videos are tailored to a users current academic needs.

As you begin your phonics journey with Mr. Thorne, you will want to start with the Letter and Sounds application.  Here users will be provided an understanding of phonics and the importance of phonemes.  Along the way he will share through only video coverage, Alphabet Sounds, Digraphs and Trigraphs, Tricky Words and a Challenge.   Once letters and sounds have been mastered, download and move on to his Blends and Spelling videos app, where he will break up blends and spellings into two videos and share those Tricky words and apply it all together into a Challenge.

Applicable2U is very impressed with the effort that Mr. Thorne has put into modeling phonics in a fun way.  BothLetters and Sounds and Blends and Spelling can be incorporated at home and in school for individual or group implementation.  To learn more about Mr. Thorne, please visit Mr. Thorne Does Phonics website here.  As an both a parent and an educator, you will not regret the money that you will spend on these two iPad applications.  To download either from your iTunes library, please click Letters and Sounds or Blends and Spelling.

Reviewers website: www.applicable2u.wordpress.com

Word Wagon by Applicable2U

Word Wagon
by Duck Duck Moose

Applicable2U is excited to share with those that follow my educational app review blog, Word Wagon, which works on letter recognition, phonics and spelling.  Duck Duck Moose has produced a number of award winner educational apps.Bonjour! Ça va?  Hop on board the "word wagon" as we travel to France.   While there make sure to knock on the door of the Eiffel Tower.  There you will find our friend Mozzarella the mouse and Coco the bird, your little sponge of knowledge will play a variety of games while building crucial academic skills.

With the sounds of authentic french music, animated characters, engaging graphics and sounds, users will enjoy what Duck Duck Moose has to offer with their latest application.  Word Wagon was designed to guide users in pre-school through first grade.  Before heading to the Eiffel Tower (blinking button in the bottom right corner), a parent or teacher will want to select one of the four levels of play. Regardless of the level chosen, Mozzarella and Coco will guide you as they leap and run over objects on a conveyor belt.  While exploring and learning, be sure to click Mozzarella and Coco to see what magical things they will do.  What are Mozzarella and Coco hoping to teach your school aged student or child?  With the help of seven different categories: home, numbers & colors, automobiles, animals, food, Mozzarella & Coco, and All, users will certainly be building their vocabulary.

How will this occur?  Level 1 - works on upper and lower case letter recognition. With the support of lettered grid boxes, users will be instructed to drag and drop letters into place.  Level 2 - works on the sounds that letters make as they build words.  Level 3 - works on spelling those words chosen from the various categories with no more than 4 letters.  This level might be a challenge for some as the grid box no longer has a letter hint. However, it is hoped that through the support received from Levels 1 and 2, users will be able to spell words based on individual sounds.  Level 4 - works on spelling of those words with no more than 6 letters.  Regardless of which level is chosen, Coco will verbally and visually reinforce each letter thus spelling a word.  Your new word is dropped into the "word wagon."  Those words selected from the conveyor belt and added to your wagon will be collected in a "heart" notebook.  Your notebook becomes like a brag book of stickers.  In addition, users will begin collecting stars that they will be able to interact with later in the game of learning.

Developmentally, Applicable2U thinks Word Wagon is a definitely thumbs up!!  As a teacher, I really liked that Duck Duck Moose thought to not only repeat the letters that make up the word but to also animate and highlight those letters of the object being spelled.  Visually it shows students those "funny" rules that the english language has when spelling.  In addition, it is encouraging the development of  such sounds patterns as: "ea", "ou", "ee" , "ow."   If you would like to learn more about Duck Duck Moose, please visit their website here. If you can't wait, then begin downloading Word Wagon from your iTunes library here.

Reviewers website:  www.applicable2u.wordpress.com