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Review by Stacy Zeiger, Common Sense Education | Updated March 2014

Miss Spell's Class

Fast-paced game puts spelling skills to the test

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
Skills
  • Character & SEL
  • Critical Thinking
  • College & Career Prep
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
7–12
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (1 Review)
Platforms:  Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Nook HD

Take a look inside

6 images
Challenge friends to a spelling match.
The game starts with an introduction to the rules.
Review answers after each game.
Find opponents through social networks.
Get a grade for each match.
Track progress over time.

Pros: Tracks players' progress as they complete challenges and allows them to look up correct spelling and definitions of words.

Cons: Game moves very quickly, doesn't track progress in practice mode, and allows players to challenge strangers to a match.

Bottom Line: Provides a way to introduce kids to many commonly misspelled words in a fun and social way, but the fast pace and random word presentation make it hard to learn.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Teachers can use Miss Spell's Class both in whole-class instruction and with individual students. As part of whole-class instruction, the game gives teachers another tool to use as a bellringer activity to get kids warmed up and ready to learn. Teachers could have one class compete against another, or could partner with other English teachers to have students compete against classes at other schools. At the end of each round, teachers can use the review screen to point out common spelling patterns or introduce students to the definitions of new words.

Individually, teachers can have students play the game when they finish work early or to inspire them during writing time. Teachers should encourage students to keep word journals or word lists in the front of their notebooks and have them write down new and interesting words they discover as they play the game.

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Standards:

Editor's Note: Miss Spell's Class is no longer available for download.

In Miss Spell's Class, kids identify correctly and incorrectly spelled words. They choose from two modes of play: a practice round or a challenge match. In both modes, kids go through a round of words, identifying each word as spelled correctly or spelled incorrectly. At the end of the round, they receive a letter grade and see a summary of their answers. As kids play others, they see their progress over time and gain a basic understanding of the strength of their spelling skills and how they improve over time. In addition to helping kids learn to spell commonly misspelled words, the game also teaches vocabulary by giving kids the option of looking up the definitions of words.

As kids play the game, they encounter familiar and unfamiliar words. Time limits prevent kids from focusing on individual words, but if any pique their interest, they'll get a chance to review them at the end of every round. During the game, kids see words in random order, making it difficult for high-quality spelling or vocabulary learning to take place. The app does, however, serve as a way to keep kids' spelling skills sharp and to introduce them to new words.

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

Fast pace and the ability to challenge friends makes this game fun for kids.

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

Allows players to review words after each game and view definitions of words.

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

Tracks progress, but only during games with others, not during practice games.

Common Sense Reviewer
Stacy Zeiger Homeschooling parent
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Language

  • L.7.2b

    Spell correctly.

  • L.7.4

    Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

  • L.8.2c

    Spell correctly.

  • L.8.4

    Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

  • L.9-10.2c

    Spell correctly.

  • L.11-12.2.b

    Spell correctly.

  • L.11-12.4

    Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 11–12 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

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Teacher Reviews

Featured review by
Jamey B. , Other
Other
Spelling game that gets results.
The graphics are fun. The app is fast paced. When you open up the app you have to take a spelling test before you can do any challenges. The words range in difficulty, and sometimes students will just guess because of the pace. But during the semester the students really got into challenging each other and focusing on the words.
Read full review

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