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App review by Erin Wilkey Oh, Common Sense Education | Updated September 2012
Chicktionary

Chicktionary

Entertaining word-building game offers baked-in spelling practice

Learning rating
See full review
Community rating
Based on 6 reviews
Privacy rating
Not yet rated Expert evaluation by Common Sense
Grades
3–12
Subjects & Skills
English Language Arts, Critical Thinking
Platforms:  Android
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Take a look inside

5 images
The adorable chicken theme will draw kids in.
Kids set their own goals by choosing a target number of words.
Kids try to find words to fill the crates.
Kids are encouraged to make longer words than they might otherwise.
Kids can choose from two unique modes of play.

Pros: Adorable cartoon cluckers challenge kids to make longer words and look up ones they don't know; kids can set their own goals.

Cons: The dictionary tool is weak, and there are no custom lists.

Bottom Line: Chicktionary is a fun, albeit limited, alternative to rote vocabulary and spelling practice.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

An occasional departure from routine vocabulary or spelling exercises can be warranted in the classroom. To boost literacy skills, teachers can have kids identify a few unfamiliar words at the end of each game and add them to their vocabulary journals or spelling lists. Playing Chicktionary in pairs could help kids learn from each other.

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Standards:

Editor's Note: Chicktionary is no longer available.

Chicktionary presents seven letters on the bellies of seven chickens. From there, kids must try to create as many words as they can in a certain amount of time. They tap a letter, and an egg with that letter drops below the chickens into the word-building window. When kids have a word ready to submit, they tap Enter. Valid words are added to an egg crate at the top of the screen. If a word is misspelled or it's not a valid word, the eggs go back up to the chickens, and a chicken (understandably) clucks, "Uh-oh!"

Chicktionary can be a fun way for kids to learn a little vocabulary and practice spelling. They can set their own goals by selecting the target number of words to find. Groups of eggs in the crate represent target words, each a specific length -- for example, four eggs for a four-letter word. As kids try to find words to fill the crate, they're encouraged to push themselves to make longer words than they might otherwise. You can't create custom word lists, but spelling practice is incorporated with gameplay, making this an entertaining alternative to routine spelling exercises.

Beak Sneak and Free Bird buttons provide hints when kids need help. If kids want to know the meaning of a word, they can tap it to pause the game and do an online search. Unfortunately, the results can provide numerous unrelated hits; a great addition would be a reliable in-app dictionary that gives examples of words in context. Kids interested in learning new words and checking their spellings can study the word list at the end of each game.

Overall Rating
Engagement

The chicken theme, with squawks, clucks, and flying feathers, makes for entertaining gameplay. Adaptive goals are achievable, and kids can time themselves.

Pedagogy

Although practice is key to learning, kids don't get feedback on words they misspell. We suggest access to accurate definitions and words in context.

Support

Beak Sneak and Free Bird buttons provide support if kids are struggling. High scores list and "Eggchievements" let kids keep track of their progress.

Common Sense reviewer
Erin Wilkey Oh Common Sense
See how we rate and review

Key Standards Supported

Language

  • L.3.1b

    Form and use regular and irregular plural nouns.

  • L.3.2e

    Use conventional spelling for high-frequency and other studied words and for adding suffixes to base words (e.g., sitting, smiled, cries, happiness).

  • L.3.2f

    Use spelling patterns and generalizations (e.g., word families, position-based spellings, syllable patterns, ending rules, meaningful word parts) in writing words.

  • L.4.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.4.2d

    Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

  • L.5.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.6.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.7.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.8.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.8.2c

    Spell correctly.

  • L.9-10.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.9-10.2c

    Spell correctly.

  • L.9-10.6

    Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

  • L.11-12.2

    Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

  • L.11-12.2.b

    Spell correctly.

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Community Rating

(See all 6 reviews) (6 reviews)
Featured review by
Jen W. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
Avonworth Elementary School
Pittsburgh, United States
Chicktionary is an addicting and fun word building game your class will love!
Chicktionary is a game-based spelling word building app with a barnyard theme that gives users seven letters from which they are to create words. Points are scored upon successful creation of a word, based on its length of three to seven letters. At the end of a game, users have the option to view all the words that could have been created with the group of letters. Chicktionary allows users to choose between timed and untimed games. Lastly, users are able to pause a game and return to it at a later ti ...
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