Review by Mieke VanderBorght, Common Sense Education | Updated January 2015
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Learn the Alphabet (ABCs)

Get it now
  • Download on Google Play

Super simple letter intro; nice videos, but dull activities lack depth

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
Skills
N/A
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
Pre-K–K
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (1 Review)
Price:  Free
Platforms:  Android

Take a look inside

5 images
Choose from several games or videos; watch out for the ad icons.
In a simple hunt and tap game, kids must tap the correct letter.
Swipe through each letter of the alphabet and hear its name.
Listen to the alphabet song as you watch each letter appear when its name is called.
Watch fun video clips that introduce each letter.

Pros: Engaging videos showcase letters one by one.

Cons: Activities are overly simple, pretty superficial, and not very fun.

Bottom Line: The video channel is the most useful feature; the activities are not likely to excite or engage kids for long.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Show the letter videos to the whole class to start introducing letters. After each video, open up discussion and exploration in the classroom. For example, what other things can kids find that start with the letter L? How many different ways can we make the letter L? Can we find things around us that look like an L? Recite alliterative poems, nursery rhymes, or tongue twisters that feature and emphasize each letter. Create the letter with different art materials or play games that get kids using all their senses (e.g., write the letter with your finger in shaving cream, cut out the letter from sandpaper). Let kids play the Learn the Alphabet (ABCs) games as a learning station to test their memory of each letter. Consider turning off the Wi-Fi connection, though, when kids are playing (e.g., put the device in airplane mode), so that kids don’t get lost in tapping out of the app.

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Standards:

Learn the Alphabet (ABCs) presents uppercase and lowercase letters in several ways. In one activity, kids scroll through letters one by one and hear the letter name. In a second, kids find and tap: For example, they hear the name of the letter "C" and have to select it among several options. If they choose the wrong letter, they hear, "No, that's the letter M. Find the letter C." Finally, kids can listen to the classic alphabet song and watch each letter appear as its name is called. Tapping on 123 Videos takes kids to a letter-themed YouTube channel where kids can watch fun videos exploring each letter, including the sound(s) it makes, words that start with it, and how to write it. There are also icons to tap that take kids to download more apps from the developer, and there are occasional third-party ads that pop up during play.

Learn the Alphabet is a super-simple approach to basic letter introductions. The nature-themed graphics are pretty and will appeal to kids, even in their simplicity. Otherwise, there's not a whole lot going on in this app. With just a few very bare-bones, straightforward activities, kids are not likely to be distracted by irrelevant gameplay, but they probably won't be all that engaged in the activities, either. With the limited material, superficial coverage, and no fun factor, kids may quickly lose interest. Kids mostly learn through trial and error, though one game does offer feedback that could help kids learn more from their mistakes. The letter videos are Learn the Alphabet's best feature: They're fun, whimsical, and engaging, and they present a variety of ways to think about letters. Unfortunately, watching the videos does not take advantage of the interactive properties of a tablet. Watch out for ads within gameplay and even on the home screen. 

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Graphics are simple but visually appealing and kid-friendly. Young kids will enjoy the letter videos featuring an engaging speaker and fun effects, but the activities are quite bland and have limited opportunities for interaction.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Kids learn the alphabet and practice identifying letters by letter name. They can also watch videos that demonstrate the sounds letters make, words that start with the target letter, and how to write the letter.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

There's almost no way for kids to track their progress or understanding. One game gives no helpful feedback, whereas another names the letter kids pick, even if it's the wrong one.

Common Sense Reviewer
Mieke VanderBorght Researcher
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Reading Foundational Skills

  • RF.1.3

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

  • RF.1.1

    Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.

  • RF.K.3

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

  • RF.K.3a

    Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary or many of the most frequent sound for each consonant.

  • RF.K.1d

    Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.

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Teacher Reviews

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Featured review by
Eva H. , Technology coordinator
Technology coordinator
Just the letters, ma'am. App has potential, but is overshadowed by ads & Youtube.
Overall, I was not completely impressed with this app. I think if the ads were removed and the videos were accessible without the opening of YouTube, I would be more willing to suggest this app for student use. The concept of learning the alphabet is there and presented in different ways, but the ads and YouTube overshadow the learning concept.
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