App review by Amanda Bindel, Common Sense Education | Updated November 2012
Interactive Alphabet
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  • Download from App Store

Interactive Alphabet

Learning letters, writing words, and touch typing from A to Z

Get it now
  • Download from App Store
Learning rating
Editorial review by Common Sense Education
Community rating
Based on 1 review
Privacy rating
Not yet rated Expert evaluation by Common Sense
Grades
Pre-K–1 This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.
Subjects & Skills
English Language Arts, Health & Wellness, Critical Thinking
Price:  $3.99
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
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Take a look inside

5 images
Choose the letter to to explore.
Elements are interactive, like zipping a zipper or moving a train.
Practice spelling words by typing.
Practice writing lowercase letters by tracing letters and then words.
Customize your own flash cards with audio and images.

Pros: Adorable interactive illustrations and customization make learning letters and words fun.

Cons: No way to track letters covered or mastered.

Bottom Line: Rich, versatile tool can be used for a wide range of kindergarten literacy.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Interactive Alphabet is billed as a "cradle to kindergarten" app, so it certainly fits the bill for a kindergarten teacher with a range of literacy levels. Teachers can use the same app for kids just learning the alphabet, those learning to write individual letters, and those writing words. For kids ready for more of a challenge, teachers (or students themselves) can create custom flashcards using their own voice and images.

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Standards:

Interactive Alphabet is quite versatile. Baby mode advances through the entire alphabet, one letter at a time, introducing the letter, its phonetic sound, and showing an interactive image of an object that begins with the letter. Explore mode lets kids choose which letter to explore and when to advance. They'll interact with an object from each letter, like eating an apple for A or feeding olives to an ogre for O. There's also a tracing mode, customizable for righties or lefties, for kids to learn how to write each letter and some words, as well as a typing mode to teach a bit of touch typing. It's incredibly customizable. Teachers or students can add their own photos, words, and voices to create custom flashcards that are then added to the letter mix. They can also choose uppercase, lowercase, or mixed case.

The customization alone makes Interactive Alphabet is a great tool. As kids learn the words and letters, they can work with their own frequently used words (like names or cities) to really make learning relevant and meaningful. Creating the custom flash cards is easy enough that the kids can do it themselves. The range of skills covered makes it perfect for a kindergarten classroom where kids are coming in with a wide range of abilities -- some not knowing any letters and some reading independently. Kids will be engaged by the fun, interactive animations. It'd be nice if there was a way to track kids' progress through the letters or for teachers to set up student accounts with the custom cards, but even without that, this app provides excellent practice.

Overall Rating
Engagement Would it motivate students and hold their interest? Is it visually appealing? Would it inspire teachers to try something new or change their instruction?

Kids will have fun playing with the interactive features for each letter, such as zipping a zipper for z or popping lighted bubbles as they trace letters.

Pedagogy Does the tool help teachers promote a more student-centered experience? Will students gain conceptual understanding or think critically? Does it deepen teachers’ pedagogical thinking?

The four options of exploring letters adapt as kids learn -- from learning the ABCs to learning phonetic sounds to writing letters and then reading words. Kids develop a deep understanding of letters and sounds and word-building.

Support Can students and teachers get assistance when they need it? Is it created with people of different abilities and backgrounds in mind? Is learning reinforced and extended beyond the digital experience?

The app is very intuitive and a help screen gives clues about interacting with the animated features. A finger guides kids who mistrace letters. No data is collected about which letters kids have mastered or are struggling with.

Common Sense reviewer
Amanda Bindel Classroom teacher
See how we rate and review

Key Standards Supported

Reading Foundational Skills

  • RF.K.3

    Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

  • RF.K.1

    Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.

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Community Rating

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Featured review by
Summer M. , Other
Other
Colorful interactive alphabet game that ranges from simply singing the song to tracing letters and words.
I really like this app for low literacy and special needs students. Starting at the "baby" level the app goes through the entire alphabet in sequential order time stating the letter, the sound and a picture. At the "explore" level the user can skip through the letters in any particular order. Letter case can be chosen from within the settings. At the "trace" level both letters and words can be traced and your own pictures can be uploaded. Depending upon the students level, I change the settings to me ...
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