Kindergarten Build Words app for iPhone and iPad
Developer: P.C. Stoecklin and Associates, Inc.
First release : 19 Feb 2014
App size: 79 Mb
Intended Audience
Build Words for Kindergarten is intended for youngsters who have phonetic knowledge or have used our phonics app (Bubble Phonics). It is the first exposure to word building for your youngster.
For Parents
Build Words for Kindergarten provides an exceptional experience for learning word families. The app uses onsets and rimes to help students recognize and decode words when learning to read. Onsets are the initial consonants or consonant blends and rimes include the vowel and remaining consonants of one syllable words. The game contains over 200 three-letter and four-letter words.
The Game
When the game begins, the student selects a complexity level for the learning experience. Level 1 is used to train the student how to build words. Words contained in levels 1 and 2 are the most recognizable words. Words contained in levels 2, 3, 4 and 5 increase in complexity with each level. In higher levels, some words are introduced that the student may not recognize but should be able to build using their phonetic skills and a helpful bea, Buzz.
Playing The Game
When the training game begins at level 1, the game selects an easily recognized word e.g. bat from the "at" rime family. The image for the word "bat" is accompanied by the audio for the word. The rime "at" appears on the right hand side of the screen and a group of potential onsets (b, c, r, m) appear on the left side. The student selects the onset "b". The word "bat" is then built at the bottom of the screen. The student gets help by pressing the helpful bee, Buzz. The student is rewarded for making the correct selection. For the other levels, words are selected randomly and the student must correctly choose both the onset and rime of the selected word. Again, Buzz is available for help. On level five, four letter words with consonant blends are provided to advance the students word building skills. Positive reinforcement is given after each word and also at the end of each set of words. The student has the ability to change their level during the game.