Product: SpellingCity Evaluation
URL: www.spellingcity.com
Review wrote by Mrs.Q at USA Schools
Strengths: Excellent
review and study tool for Spelling and content vocabulary words, entertaining,
engaging, and provides immediate feedback for students. Multiple lists can be
created and stored - teacher can open or close lists for students use as needed.
Many features are offered, even without a subscription. Can be used anywhere
there is internet access, and this is an educational alternative that can be
used at home. Parents are excited about the app, because now their children can
study on a mobile device on the go. Simple tutorial videos for teachers to
explain how to use features.
Premium subscription allows teacher to track
individual progress, keep a grade book, and create assignments. There are no
pop-ups, because these can be very confusing for young learners. Students have
access to more games and other features like writing and vocabulary. Overall,
quite user friendly. First graders were able to access and use the programs
without much training or pre-teaching.
Weakness: Free Non-subscription:
POP-UPS are very confusing and often redirect young students to other sites.
Students need to search for teacher's lists, and this takes a few steps.
Premium: I wish there was a calendar feature to set to post and close
assignments automatically. Sometimes, I forget to open new lists. I would like
to be able to have students practice dictation sentences and not just single
words. I would LOVE it if the site blocked other activities until assignments
were completed, and make the waiting assignment indicator larger and more
obvious.
Challenges: I would like to explore the other features more -
vocabulary and writing. I would like to create content vocabulary lists.
Teachers should incorporate time for students to use the program during school,
because some students do not have access at home.
Opportunities: Writing
is a new feature. I would like to explore this more. It would be wonderful to
have a way to electronically correct writing and give timely
feedback.
Recommendation:
A. What grade levels: K - 4th, but lists
can be customized for older students. However, Spelling practice games may be a
bit immature/less challenging for older students.
B. To Purchase or not
to Purchase it
If a teacher is committed to creating and posting lists, it is
a useful tool. Subscription is highly recommended for younger students, because
of ease of navigation and no pop-ups that look like games. Also, a subscription
is needed if a teacher wants to track student progress or use for grading.
Lists can be saved without a subscriptions. Personally, I would ask that
teachers create lists prior to purchase to increase the likelihood the site will
be utilized.
No comments:
Post a Comment