One of my roles is to be a leader in the realm of technology and digital tools. Finding, vetting and modeling the appropriate use of apps is a daily task. As such, using some of these tools to increase my student's reading fluency is a logical step.
A fantastic app that I have been using recently is Montessori Crosswords. This app uses the linking of phonetic sounds to teach students how to decode word sounds and read with confidence. The app fits well into a Universally Designed library program because it can be used by a variety of ages and abilities. Within the app, users will drag and drop letters to spell the assigned word. It can be modified to present simple 3-letter words to more complex words. One tap allows the student to hear the letter sound and hints are available to help the student see the whole word spelled.
The app can be customized to upper and lower case letters and can be especially useful for those with dyslexia, dysgraphia and other learning disabilities. The wide screen and large letters accommodates a range of fine and gross motor ability levels. While the app is engaging, it is streamlined and does not contain characters or items that would be over-stimulating.
The app is appropriate for ages 4-12 and is available for iOS or Android. Montessori Crosswords can be used as a station or center or, during independent practice time. Alternatively, teachers can access it through Promethean Boards, making whole-class activities possible.
Click HERE to read more about it and/or download the app. This app is currently $2.99 but many districts have purchased it for their elementary-age students.
Katherine, you certainly have zeroed in on your tasks as an elementary school librarian - while other grade levels continue to promote literacy, for sure, your role in an elementary school such as yours definitely has to be one of promoter AND facilitator of reading. The app you highlighted looks to be engaging and highly interactive, which would help students to stay involved, and surely help them to develop their reading skills. I love the idea of having it as a station in your library!
ReplyDeleteHi Katherine- I think this app would be perfect for my students. However, when I went to Self Service to download, it is not available for my school. Perhaps I could call the Help Desk to request it? This would be a great activity for students as they wait to check out books. Also, CD kids would really benefit from being able to hear the pronunciation of the words. I will be looking into getting this app for my school!
ReplyDeleteKatherine,
ReplyDeleteI love this app. I haven't used it yet, actually because I did not know it was one that we could download in Self Service. I have 6 students who are on a kindergarten to first grade reading level, in the 3rd grade. The main reason is because they lack the phonemic awareness, either because they didn't get the phonics instruction they needed or they have a limited understanding of letter sounds or how to decode words. I think this tool will be invaluable to me and my students. I'm going to look it up in self service and download it if available. Thanks for the great resource.
OMG! I would have loved to known about this when I taught first grade! This is so neat and I am totally going to be sharing this with my staff! Love, love, love. Thank you so much for introducing me to this!
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