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A larger and more extensive vocabulary can benefit children in so many ways. It can help them to express themselves more clearly and effectively. A good vocabulary can significantly benefit their performance on all types of achievement or academic tests. In addition, a student’s writing skills can be greatly enhanced with an excellent vocabulary---throughout all of life. So you can see that there are only advantages to improving and enriching a child’s vocabulary.

In the past, vocabulary lists of new words were studied, memorized, incorporated into daily lessons at school and other such tedium. However, today, we have apps---wonderful, enjoyable apps that encourage vocabulary building with immediate feedback for the learner. Bye-bye tedium!

This week’s blog article provides you with a group of vocabulary apps that might be just the thing to get your child(ren) or students “reacquainted” with vocabulary learning just as we approach the beginning of a new school year. Hope you like our newest apps list!

What’s the Word on Vocabulary Apps for Kids? by Melanie Ruda (for iPhone, iPod touch, & iPad for Gr. K-6)
This article contains a good list of inexpensive apps that can help kids in grades K-6 develop their oral and reading vocabularies. (Criteria included apps that are age appropriate, that focus on vocabulary development and help kids learn the meanings of new words.)
http://blog.sewardinc.com/2012/02/13/whats-the-word-on-vocabulary-apps-for-kids/

Vocab-a-splat by Seward, Inc.(for iPad for Ages 4-6)
A vocabulary-building game that teaches children the meanings of high-frequency words they encounter while reading.
App explanation link: http://www.vocabasplat.com/
App download link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vocab-a-splat/id517271626?ls=1&mt=8

List of Vocabulary Apps (For Various Age Levels) (mostly iPad & iPod apps with 1 Android app)
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-lists/vocab-apps

Kids Vocabulary (FREE Android app for Ages 3-7)
Give your child a head start with this interactive vocabulary learning app. Look, listen, say, read, spell---Your child will learn new vocabulary using a 4-step method based on modern teaching methodology.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=equizonline.com.kidspicturevocab&hl=en

Montessori Approach to Vocabulary (a brief review, demo video with link to app for younger children---for iPad with a price of $1.99)
In the Montessori Classroom, several activities exist to assist children to increase their vocabulary. This application will help children to identify and learn the names of the animals. (Price at time of review--$2.99)
App review link: http://a4cwsn.com/?p=1927
App download link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/montessori-approach-to vocabulary/id400726281?mt=8

SuperKids Vocabulary Builders (Online and app options both available here---Apps for iPad/iPhone from upper elementary grades through grade 12 vocabulary levels + even PSAT & SAT prep)
Looking for an easy way to improve your students' (or your own) vocabulary? SuperKids has compiled a set of word-of-the-day lists that should help. Make this your browser's home page and get a new word every day!
http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/words/wod.shtml/

Enchanted Dictionary (for iPad---2 versions: for Gr. 4-6 & Gr. 7-12) Designed by Marg Griffin, a speech and language pathologist who works with older students, these apps help students focus on the language of definitions for core content vocabulary. Website for Golden Communications, LLC is http://goldencommunicationsllc.com/ from where one can access the apps.

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Clip art courtesy of: Lakeshore Learning Materials @ http://tiny.cc/gvd6hw

During the summer, it can be a good idea for readers of any age to brush up on reading skills. Comprehension is one of the most important of all reading skills.

This past week, we searched the internet to locate some of the best apps for improving a child’s reading comprehension, and we discovered some great ones to help make this summer VERY productive by building better reading comprehension skills.

All of the apps listed in this article have been developed in association with the Virginia Department of Education. In addition, these apps address the specific skills below here within the area of reading comprehension:

• Fact and Opinion
• Sequencing
• Antonyms & Synonyms
• Homophones

Finally, all are FREE---and like you, we love FREE! We hope you will find these apps will assist you in helping your children or students significantly improve their reading comprehension skills. Happy reading, everyone!

Aesop’s Quest: Based on Aesop's Fables, this is a learning game where the student must remember elements of a story to complete a level. At the end of each story segment or level, the student is rewarded with puzzle pieces. After solving the puzzle, the story is complete and the child can continue to the next story.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aesops-quest/id442928041?mt=8

Opposite Oceans (Antonyms): Luna and Leo must master the magic of words by correctly identify the antonym that is the opposite of the given keyword. Children earn pearls when they drag the correct bubble word to the enchanted clam.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/opposite-ocean-antonyms/id443213664?mt=8

Professor Garfield Fact or Opinion: This app is part story, part game, and part online safety lesson. When Garfield's friend receives an "F" on his report about goats for using opinions instead of facts, Professor Garfield steps in to explain the differences between a fact and an opinion (particularly with regard to the Internet), how to read with a questioning mind, and how a fact can be verified.
http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/professor-garfield-fact-or/id401257010?mt=8

Same Meaning Magic (Synonyms): Students help Luna and Leo, young magicians at magic school, toss word stones into the wishing well to earn gold coins and jewels by choosing the best synonym.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/same-meaning-magic-synonyms/id443212030?mt=8

Same Sound Spellbound (Homophones): An adventure designed to help the player understand homophones (words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings, such as "bee" and "be"). Luna and Leo, young magicians at Magic School, must use their spell book to bring animal statues to life. In the game, students must correctly identify the homophone which best completes the puzzle sentence, in a given time. If the word is correct, the animal statue comes to life. If it's incorrect, the statue crumbles.
http://itunes.apple.com/app/id442983953

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Clip art courtesy of: http://classroomclipart.com/clipart-view/Clipart/Reading/26-10-07_29_jpg.htm