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Teacher Review For Homer -- #1 Learn to Read Program: Educational Games, Stories and Songs

Free app reads to students, teaches phonics, and encourages them to create based on what they've learned.

Amy R.
 Media specialist/librarian
Mountain Valley Middle School
Mexico, ME
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My Grades 6, 7, 8
My Subjects English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Arts
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My Rating 4
Learning Scores
Engagement 4
Pedagogy 4
Support 4
My Students Liked It Yes
My Students Learned Yes
I Would Recommend It Yes
Setup Time Less than 5 minutes
Great for Creation
Homework
Individual
Knowledge gain
Practice
Small group
Student-driven work
Great with Advanced learners
ELL
General
Low literacy
Special needs
How I Use It
My favorite part of the app, and my childrens' as well, are the creation features (drawing and sound recording). My kids love to learn about a sound pattern and then record themselves making the sound. They hear a poem and then are directed to create a drawing related to it using a digital paint palette and stamps. This requires they think beyond the basic answer and extend their learning in a fun way. All created work can be saved to the bulletin board for later access. This digital record could be useful evidence to a classroom teacher or parent. This app could be fun and helpful for students in speech and language programs or students learning English, especially because of the sound recording feature. My older child can now help my younger child navigate the app and help him with the concepts taught. It's accessible and fun for families or small group work in classrooms.
My Take
I have used Learn with Homer with my most important students: my own children, ages 2 and 6. I think it is a great app to suggest to parents of kiddos ages 2-8. Students take a photo of themselves and select a "thinking cap" for their avatar. The more levels they complete, the more thinking caps they earn. More than one student account can be made on each app. Activities include word and sound sorts, listening to poems read aloud, and creating drawings and sound recordings based on their learning. I am not sure how extensive the free content is because we haven't yet finished everything that is available. It is definitely navigable by students individually and in small groups without adult intervention and would make for great independent work for the early elementary classroom or child at home.