Freefall Spelling
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Price: $1.99
- Category: Education
Common Sense Media says
Simple, fun choice for practicing basic world building.
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Price: $1.99
- Category: Education
Freefall Spelling gallery
What parents need to know
Ease of play
Violence & scariness
Sexy stuff
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Privacy & safety
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Freefall Spelling is an enjoyable, simple app for young kids who are just learning to spell. All three modes of play on Freefall Spelling --Freefall, Scramble, and Type -- include a friendly voice speaking the words that are also shown in a drawing. Then kids match or insert letters to form words in a series of rounds, and all rounds reward kids with fish and other items to put into an animated fish tank. In Freefall Mode, kids must work fast because the letters are falling at a quick pace and once they're gone, you lose your chance to earn a new fishy reward for your tank. A fun, multi-setting first spelling practice experience.
What kids can learn
Subjects
Language & Reading
- letter or word recognition
- spelling
Skills
Thinking & Reasoning
- part-whole relationships
Self-Direction
- working efficiently
Emotional Development
- handling stress
Engagement, Approach, Support
Three modes of play, beautiful drawing-style graphics, and in-app fish tank rewards make Freefall Spelling fun and engaging.
Matching practice combines with letter recognition to support early spelling skills. As kids spell or view and match the letters to fill in the (already formed) word, they are spelling words; it does not cover letter sounds.
Many custom settings, including hints, lowercase letters, selecting pre-loaded or creating spelling lists, and choosing from three play modes. No scoring, and the fish tank reward is app-wide (not by individual user).
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
What's it about?
As kids playing Freefall Spelling swipe a finger on the screen to move dropping letters into the right spots, they spell words that match the corresponding pictures. Three modes to choose from, Freefall, Type, and Scramble. In Freefall Mode, spellers have to work fast because the letters are falling at a quick pace. Once they get a certain number right, kids win items for an in-app fish tank. Parents can build their own customized lists or choose from 150+ pre-programmed words.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
With two levels -- one with "hints" and the other with more challenging words and no letter hints -- FREEFALL SPELLING is a great choice for pre-spellers and new spellers to practice letter recognition and basic word building. Words like "Cat" and "Bee" start off the rounds, progressing to "Lego" and "Mouse." In between rounds, kids earn fish tank rewards. The voice accompanying the app is encouraging, but the music is somewhat annoying (you can turn it off in settings). Perhaps the best part of this app is the handmade drawings that are both inviting and calming -- just like the app itself.
Families can talk about...
Create a new spelling list on the app for your kid based on words he or she is learning at school or words from a favorite learn-to-read book.
Talk to kids about working under pressure. If the pace of the app seems stressful for them, reassure them that it's OK to take their time and they will get faster as they play the game.
App details
| Devices: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Price: | $1.99 |
| Pricing structure: | Paid |
| Release date: | October 31, 2012 |
| Category: | Education |
| Size: | 65.00 MB |
| Publisher: | Merge Mobile |
| Version: | 2.4 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 4.3 or later |
Great handpicked alternatives
For kids who love practicing spelling and vocabulary
Browse more apps
Top advice and articles
What parents and kids say
Share your thoughts with other parents and kids Write a user review
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines
QUALITY
Was this review useful?
Poll
What are the different ways that you access Common Sense Media ratings and information? (Check all that apply)
What are the different ways that you access Common Sense Media ratings and information? (Check all that apply)
Total votes: 761
