Phonics Awareness, 1st Grade

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Simply can’t get the login from their website so for now I can’t use the app. I’ve reloaded the app twice but both times when I get to their site it gets stuck loading.

I appreciate how this app focuses on key skills from the Common Core Standards. The bugs are a cute visual--I've used caterpillar pictures with my students before and they're an effective aid. However, I have to agree with the other reviews that the voice used is a bit unclear, mostly due to dialect (a short "i" and short "e" merger that makes the sounds hard to tell apart). It would be great if there were an option to record one's own voice. I'd also love to be able to turn different reinforcements on and off. Even though the self check is supposed to be without reinforcements, they keep playing during the test. Overall, though, this is a good, free app that addresses important skills.

Help my little one learn how to segment word

I rate this app based on a cost/benefit analysis. Since it is FREE and I benefited from it, it is a great value. The narrator has excellent diction so your child will be learning the proper enunciation of the various sounds used to speak English. I take one exception in the program in that the word "ant" does not begin with a short "a" sound (as in what one says for the dentist). I don't think "ant" is a good choice for an example of a word that begins with a short vowel sound. Perhaps one must either show the letter "a" as a short or long vowel sound but it has neither in the case of the word "ant". The narrator pronouns the short vowel sound of "a" correctly but when he applies it to the word "ant" of course it the sound must change and therefore it must be confusing for a child. The various navigation issues preceding my review must have been addressed because this app functioned flawlessly for me in respect to all complaints. One reviewer complained about the narrator's pronunciation of the word "pictures" but I could not find his use of the word in the app. More practice context would be helpful but as the app stands, it is of fabulous educational value.

A number of apps claim to teach phonics, however, this is one of the few that actually sound out the words. I have been trying to find effective apps to help my 5 year old how to sound words out, but most apps already give you the answer. I like that this app helps her learn how to sound out her words to find the answer rather having her copy the already provided answer.