Books on multiple topics

--o   Current formats that appeal to children (e.g., graphic novels)

o   Leveled books, Read-To-Me books, audio books, decoding books, chapter books

§  Student work at own pace within personal interests

§  Test reading comprehension

§  Use of Dictionary for vocabulary development

o   Thousands of tiles (40, 000 Titles, audiobooks, learning videos)

o   Current literature

o   Outside sources (i.e., National Geographic, Scholastic)

o   Videos

Students can earn badges for reading

o   Pages for coloring

Can download books for offline work

Provides class reporting and book filtering

o   Teachers can assign books

o   Parental monitoring of completed reading

FERPA compliant

Multiple Platforms

o   Web

o   iOS

o   Android

o   Chromebook (check which Chromebooks)

Ages

12 and under

Multi-lingual

o   Spanish, French-Chinese, Gaelic

Accessible via AAC switches

o   Uses build-in operating system accessibility

o   iOS and Android

Fees:  84.99 per year

o   Educators can access free during school hours

§  To download books offline, there is a fee

§  Multiple resources for teachers & parents

Designed for children 4-6 years

Multisensory

o   Strengthen critical thinking skills

Interactive Gameplay/Gamified

Focus on teaching sounds, mouth movements and letters

o   Phonics, letter sound recognition, alphabet learning

o   Developing skills for literacy foundations

o   Facilitating connections between letters, sounds and mouth movements

o   Children hear the spoken sounds while observing mouth movements

o   Children can attempt articulation

o   Characters for sound names

Very Visual

Can support struggling learners

Parents can track progress and mastery

Varied levels

o   Rewards for mastery

iOS platform

o   Working on Google Play

Multilingual

o   Primarily English

o   May support ESL

Accessibility

o   Does not have built-in AAC switch scanning integration

§  Can access games via iOs and Android Accessibility features

Fees

o   6.99 month/49.99 year

o   Parents and Tutors can get reduced cost per student

o   .50 for students/month (teachers and schools)

o   Designed to foster reader’s confidence in reading, phonics, vocabulary+

o   Self-paced lessons, gamified

o   Based on research

o   Aligned with state education standards

o   Readers can have own profiles and lessons to match their abilities

o   5 Learning programs

§  Reading Eggs Junior

§  Reading Eggs

§  Mathseeds

§  Fast Phonic

§  Reading Eggspress

o   4000+ books

o   Toddler games and activities to build alphabet knowledge and pre-reading skills

o   One on one lessons to teach phonics, sight words, reading skills

o   Attention to phonics skills like letter sound recognition, blending and spelling

o   Activities for older reader to build key literacy skills focused on academic success

o   Lessons and activities to develop math skills

Printable worksheets support working offline

o   Printable certificates for reader achievement

o   Rewards for motivation

Ages 2-13 years

o   4 readers can be logged on at one time

Parent focused, Used in schools and at home

o   Can get progress reports to track progress

Platforms

o   Computers, Tablets, Phones

Switch Accessibility

o   Not design with built-in AAC or switch access

o   Design for direct access, mouse or keyboard controls

Fees:

o   No in-app purchases

o   30-day free trials

o   Ad free

o   Reading = 9.99/month or 69.99 yearly

o   Reading and Math = 13.99/month or 99.99 yearly

o   Homeschool Max = 41.90/month or 299.00 yearly

o   Teaching print and phonemic awareness

o   Research based

o   Systematic and direct instruction

o   Scripted lessons

o   Least-prompt strategies

o   Teaching objectives

o   Multiyear curriculum

o   Teacher scripts for instruction

o   Has a printed curriculum

Accessibility

Not addressed by developer

Ages

o   4+

o   1:1 or small group lessons

Progress Reporting

o   Formal assessments provided at end of each lesson

o   Can track results and monitor usage Platforms

o   Web

o   iOS

o   Google Play

Visuals and Rewards

o   Guided by “Moe the Frog”

Fees

o    In-app purchases

o   7 levels with 5 structured lessons at each level

o   Attainment provides Access code

o   Described as “co-play” experience

o   Teaching reading

o   Research based

o   Scripted lessons

o   Cannot skip levels

o   Starts with letter recognition

o   110 step-by-step phonics lessons for grownup & reader to do together

o   67 interactive, decodable, digital story books

§  Books are co-reading with visuals to help with associations

o   42 videos featuring letters, letter sounds, unique alphabet song

o   3 reading games for additional practice

o   Alphabet song starts every lesson

o   Letter recognition, letter-sound knowledge, pre-reading skills

o   Word reading associated with words in story books

§  Some sight words

o   Open-ended reading comprehension questions

§  Some stories have pictures to put in correct order of story

o   Develop phonemic awareness

o   Tracing letters on tablet—handedness may impact tracing

o   Letters, letter blends, long vowel sounds, digraphs

o   Highest level:  1^st grade reading

o   Printable activities

o   Can set up 3 different profiles

Fees

o   In-app purchases

o   One subscription fee will cover 3 profiles

o   Ad free

o   Free trial

Independence

o   Lessons designed for parent and child together

§  Supporting the literature

§  Coded so adult needs to be present to start the lesson

o   Can reread books and do some lessons independently after the lesson

Feedback

o   Can do a check at end of each lesson to see if ready to move on

Ages

o   3-8 years

Visuals

o   Story books

o   Videos

o   Digital Games

o   Sliders for reader to access

Accessibility

Not described or addressed

Rewards

o   15-20 minutes lessons

o   Build independent & confident reader

o   AI reading coach

o   Read-along companion

o   Listens, teaches, transforms

o   Provides immediate assistance if reader gets stuck

§  Will encourage reader to try if perceives hesitation

§  Goal is not to correct but to teach decoding strategies

§  Sounds out words in error sound-by-sound or syllable-by-syllable—orthographic mapping

§  Will let some errors slip by to not disrupt rhythm of reading

§  Reader can tap a word to hear it broken down—not just say the word

o   Personalized to reader’s needs

§  Adapts to reader’s reading level over time

o   Phonics-based instruction

o   Builds on skills previously learned

o   Starts with letter-sound knowledge, CVC words and then introduces concepts

o   Build on each other

o   Build independence

o   Interactive software

o   Structured instruction

o   No comprehension questions

o   Uses speech recognition technology

o   Can makes some errors

o   Voice recognition does improve over time

o   EBP

o   700 decodable books

o   Prior to using books, introduces key phonics skills and warm-up words

o   Books aligned with Science of Reading research

o   Appropriate to reader’s phonics level

o   Much repetition to achieve mastery

o   Highlights each word as child reads it

o   Age

o   Pre-k through 3^rd grade

o   Seems to appeal to younger readers

o   Motivators

o   Weekly digital prizes—stars

§  Can exchange stars for elephant to wear

o   After finishing book, a short video or song related to the story is unlocked

o   Elephant character who encourages and celebrates their progress

o   May start reading a book and then encourages child to take over

o   Builds on skills previously learned

o   Uses reading quests model

o   Multilingual

o   Supports 60+ languages

o   Monitoring      

o   Can track progress through “Words Your Child Found Tricky”

o   Will do mini assessment to determine reading level at beginning

§  Can adjust level in settings

o   High Level Thinking

o   Reader can create own story

§  Select a character, setting & adventure

§  Ello generates a story

·      Reads it aloud

·      Asks reader to read few words

o   Accessibility

o   Does not have built-in, native switch accessibility

o   Fees

o   Sign up for free for 7 or30 days

o   14.99/month

o   Can create up 4 reader profiles per account

Age

o   2-11 years

o   Preschool to 5^th grade

Learning Activities

o   Curriculum-based activities

o   2000+ reading activities

§  Learning games

§  Books

§  Worksheets

o   Aligned with school standards

o   Active, immersive learning

o   Rewards

o   Hand-on practice

o   Supports critical thinking skills

o   Adapts to reader’s level of skills

§  Adjusts to the reader

o   Offers support as needed

o   Offers challenges as reader progresses

o   Stories, puzzles, activities and flashcards

o   Reader can try out new skills

o   Also has reading portion to app

Design

o   Kid friendly layout

o   Not much screen clutter

Motivation

o   Educational games

o   Stories, puzzles, activities and flashcards

o   Rewards

o   Cartoon characters pop up and provide praise

Differentiated Learning

o   Parent or teacher can assign skills or topics

o   Will adjust on the spot based on reader’s performance

Independence

o   Designed for independent use

§  May not work for all learners and adult support may be needed

o   Simple navigation (some glitches reported for resets and login)

o   Learning pathways to guide reader from lesson to lesson facilitating independence

o   Clear instructions

o   On-screen demonstrations for more complex actions

Feedback

o   Real time progress and insights for parents

o   Progress tracking

o   Data tracking

o   Immediate, contextual feedback

o   Step-by-step practice

o   Multi-sensory learning

·      Switch Accessibility

o   Can be used with AAC switches

§  Not built into app

§  Relies on system-level accessibility features in Ios

Multilingual

o   Supports English (US, UK, Australia) and Spanish

Fees

o   Ad free and safe for reader

o   $10/months

§  Some annual charges

o   Free trial

o   Built-in incentives

o   Some criticism of support team, unclear pricing, occasional glitches

o   Some trouble logging onto to reader accounts or getting password resets

o   Some reports of difficulty cancelling

o   Described as “co-play” experience

o   Teaching reading

o   Research based

o   Scripted lessons

o   Cannot skip levels

o   Starts with letter recognition

o   110 step-by-step phonics lessons for grownup & reader to do together

o   67 interactive, decodable, digital story books

§  Books are co-reading with visuals to help with associations

o   42 videos featuring letters, letter sounds, unique alphabet song

o   3 reading games for additional practice

o   Alphabet song starts every lesson

o   Letter recognition, letter-sound knowledge, pre-reading skills

o   Word reading associated with words in story books

§  Some sight words

o   Open-ended reading comprehension questions

§  Some stories have pictures to put in correct order of story

o   Develop phonemic awareness

o   Tracing letters on tablet—handedness may impact tracing

o   Letters, letter blends, long vowel sounds, digraphs

o   Highest level:  1^st grade reading

o   Printable activities

o   Can set up 3 different profiles

Fees

o   In-app purchases

o   One subscription fee will cover 3 profiles

o   Ad free

o   Free trial

Independence

o   Lessons designed for parent and child together

§  Supporting the literature

§  Coded so adult needs to be present to start the lesson

o   Can reread books and do some lessons independently after the lesson

Feedback

o   Can do a check at end of each lesson to see if ready to move on

Ages

o   3-8 years

Visuals

o   Story books

o   Videos

o   Digital Games

o   Sliders for reader to access

Rewards

o   15-20 minutes lessons

o   Content

o   5000+ learning games, books & videos

o   Standards aligned and Head Start aligned

o   Reading games, phonics lessons, interactive storybooks

§  300 fiction & nonfiction books

§  Read-To-Me or Read-By-Myself

o   Preschool learning games for foundational skills

o   Kindergarten for sight words, phonics, writing & early math

o   1^st & 2^nd grade for reading comprehension, problem-solving, & confidence

o   Created in partnership with Standford Graduate School

o   Can download books and games

o   Not a systematic phonics program

§  Does cover letter sounds and sound blending

Ages

o   2-8 years

Cost

o   No subscriptions

o   No ads

Motivation

o   Animated bear and friends

§  Ollo the Elephant – phonics and letter sounds

§  Reya the Red Panda – story time and writing

§  Peck the Hummingbird – numbers and counting

§  Sandy the Dingo – puzzles, memory and problem-solving

Collaboration

o   Teacher Tools available

Platforms

o   iOS and Android

Differentiation

o   Can work at reader’s level

o   Once in, parents can create multiple user accounts with name, avatar, and age

o   Kids can follow a learning path

§  Automatically presents variety of activities based on age and past performance

Multilingual

o   Some Spanish books

Accessible

o   Not natively switch accessible

o   Relies on touch often within activities

o   Can use iOS switch accessibility for navigation

o   Teach-directed digital library

§  Boost parent-child reading hours

§  Dialogic prompts to foster parent interaction

o   Facilitate early English literacy

o   Support school readiness

o   Read aloud features

§  Human expressive narration

§  Word highlighting

o   Evidence based strategies

o   Narrated and illustrated books

o   Interactive learning games after each book to encourage phonological awareness, academic vocabulary and STEM concepts

o   Designed for children

Feedback/Scaffolding

o   Age-appropriate texts

o   Teachers can monitor progress

o   Parents can monitor progress

ZPD

o   Age-appropriate texts

o   Audio narration & static pictures

o   Interactive learning games after each book

Differentiation of Learning/Customization

o   Age-appropriate texts

Platforms

o   iOS, Google Play

Navigation/Usability

o   Free from ads

o   Children can choose own text

Sharing/Collaboration

o   Teachers can access lesson plans

o   Assign home readings

o   Track consistency

o   Track continuity

Switch Accessible

o   Not marketed as AAC switch-accessible application

Multilingual

o   Primarily English

Cost

o   Free to download

o   Designed as companion apps for educational institutions and organizations using Smart Kidz Club content which requires an organizational or institutional subscription