Common Sense Media Review
By Dana Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun way to practice, but pronunciations need work.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Word Wizard for Kids
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Tap on "Movable Alphabet" or "Spelling Quiz." On the movable alphabet board, kids place letters into boxes as they hear each individual sound add to the others to build a word or sentence. Choose Spelling Quizzes, and dozens of built-in word lists pop up as well as the option to create your own, which is as easy as entering the list title and typing in the words. The options to customize include changing the voice speed and tone, American or UK pronunciation, and more. There are lots of tips built into the spelling tests, and fun rewards.
Is It Any Good?
The spelling lists and the ability to make your own lists for kids to practice for their school spelling test make WORD WIZARD worth buying. It's also fun for kids to spell their own words or sentences and hear them spoken back by a computerized voice speaking UK or American English; settings can also change the voice via speed and tone. But be aware this is not a perfect word-to-voice translator: Kids may misspell some words and still have them auto-pronounced correctly, so you may want to clue them into looking at the red glow around incorrectly spelled words and remind them to keep trying or ask for help so misspelling isn't reinforced.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Before your kid starts playing on this app, set all of the customizable options (accent, speed, word list, and more) according to their needs and preferences.
Make sure your kid understands that the red glowing boxes mean there's a spelling error, even if the word sounds correct. (It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.)
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Language & Reading : letter or word recognition , spelling
- Skills : Self-Direction : academic development , initiative
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : September 18, 2013
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : L'Escapadou
- Version : 5.4
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 9.3 or later
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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