But, there are times and Apps that combine both! Can you hear the celebration going on over at our house?
I was fortunate to be chosen to be on the App Crew as part of The TOS Crew and our very first app review is for Barchowsky Fluent Handwriting App Letters Make Words. You can find more about this cool app here. This is an app for the ipad and can be purchased right now for $2.99. Isn't that a great price?
I'll give you just a bit of info here until you head on over and check it out for yourself.
Learn and teach handwriting with phonics, an app designed by a Handwriting Specialist and an Early Childhood Specialist. The purpose of Letters Make Words is to help beginning writers develop good handwriting habits for all academic and adult needs, and to learn basic phonemes.
The first screens offer suggestions of how to use Letters Make Words. Then letters are presented. The user can select any letter. Each one comprises a complete unit of instruction for that letter, a warmup pattern, the letter and a word to trace and to sound out. When a letter has a different sound depending on its usage in words, choose from either of two words. The next screen has three words to sound out with a silly sentence for the child to write on paper.
That's just a bit about it from the app store. Now, here's what we thought about it.
Three of my children used this app and three of them loved it! The 12yo needs extra help with handwriting due to eye teaming problems, the 10yo needs to practice on letter formation more, and the 6yo just needs more practice with writing. Each one needed something different from this app and they all got what they needed.
They would sit down with my ipad and start it up-I didn't even have to ask them to do it they would ask to do it. It did take a bit to get used to how to make it work but it wasn't too big of a learning curve. It was extremely easy to download and it started right up without any hoops to jump through. The only thing we did have a problem with was the sound. We didn't realize there was supposed to be a voice guiding the student through the steps until we re-read the start up page. lol It's always a good idea to read directions! We plugged in some earphones and it was like a brand new app.
My 12yo has been doing italics for handwriting but the 10 yo has been doing classic cursive and I was surprised at how easily both of them were able to implement this app. It did not detract from their individual courses of study for handwriting. That's a bonus when you have several kids using it.
Here are some screen shots from the app:
If you are even the slightest bit curious about this app I highly suggest you head on over to check it out. This is a great way for kids to practice handwriting that they won't whine about!
If you want to see what other Crew members thought of this app, head on over to The Crew Blog and check them out.
**I was given a copy of Letters Make Words through The TOS Crew in exchange for my honest review.
1 comment:
Appreciated this review. Thanks!
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