Phonics for Beginning Readers & Kindergarten - ages 4 to 8 years - by Parrotfish

*** ideal for early readers, beginning readers, pre-schoolers, hopme-schoolers, kindergarten kids, and those having difficulty with reading. It is a companion to our Parrotfish Sight Words App ***

Understanding language, learning sight words and learning how sounds make words through a structured phonics program are proven to be the best ways for kids to learn to read.

Research is telling us that 10 to 15 minutes per day spent on a structured phonics program seems to be optimal. If your child is ready to read then have them complete one level of this app per day.

This is a structured approach to teaching beginning phonics. When it is completed children should be able to read, write and spell simple words such as cat and fan, and blends such as brush and hang. There are over 150 images and 500 words. (For teachers this translates as covering cvc, ccvc, ccvcc, cccvcc)

* An individual profile can be set up for each user.
* Letters are introduced in the order taught in many schools.
* 4 single sounds are taught then there is a revision level with 4 games where the sounds are used to read and write words
* They learn the sound, what it looks like, to recognise it in words, to read words, to blend letters into words, and how to write each letter
* Reading and writing simple words begins as soon as the first 4 sounds are learned
* Upper and lower case letters are introduced together
* Male and female voices and different fonts are used to aid generalisation
* 6 games have increasing difficulty and each cover a different reading skill and aid memory
* Revision levels consolidate the sounds from the previous levels
* The games provide lots of practice and repetition of the words
* All games build fluency and instant recognition
* Guesses are not rewarded. Progress is determined by accuracy and in some games speed.
* The games are enjoyable with real game play, immediate feedback, reward structure and progress tracking
* 17 levels commencing at single letters and progressing to blending and segmenting words like shred, cloth and bang
* Over 150 images and 500 words, a really comprehensive learning experience
* Completely add free, internet connection not required
* No in-App purchases. Once you have purchased the full version you have the complete program - no more to pay
* Support material, flash cards, tips and hints, freely available on our web site

Options allow progression through games and levels in logical order or all levels can be unlocked so younger children can play the easier games at each level. Music can be turned off and levels can be reset.

GAMES
1 - Silly Star: Matching a spoken sound to the written sound, starts easy with only one choice, then gets harder. Lower case and upper case are used
2 - Feed Green Gordie: Drag the image that starts with the written sound into the fish's mouth
3 - Trace and Write: Trace the letter using correct formation, staying on the track, with the starting and ending point and directional arrow for each stroke marked. As it gets harder only the starting, ending points and directional arrows are shown.
4 - What's Missing: An image is shown with the target letter missing. The missing letter can be at the beginning, middle or end of the word. Select the correct letter and drag it into place. At the revision level this is harder.
5 - Slide and Match: A revision game for the letters covered in the level. Drag the same sounds on to a pile to match. As the pile gets taller the colours darken
6 - Spell with Sam: Making words from the sounds they know. The game uses all of the sounds that they have been taught. If they can do this they are actually reading and writing.

If you have any suggestions on improvement, please leave us a message at [email protected].