Community reviews for Word Wonderland (Elementary)

Wonder World will offer students the opportunity to practice what they learn. Some skills are best learned through rote memorization, and I Wonder World provides a chance to practice this skill! The app does not offer verbal support, but gives directions and photo clues. It can have multiple users. I think this app would be most beneficial in a small group or working individually.

Based on my experience with this app, I am not planning to use it with students. As a technology specialist, I have to consider the value of the apps that to onto our iPad carts and I just don't think this one has enough benefits to the learner. I think many would like playing the game, but just don't see enough educational value to merit taking up space on our devices with this app. McGraw-Hill have several other apps that I encourage teachers to use, but this won't be one of them. There needs to be a stronger connection between the words presented and sorting that they are required to do. Since only a lite version is currently available, perhaps there will be improvements in a future paid version or better yet, a new release of the free version that better facilitates learning.

I really like this app. It could be used to reinforce skills that have already been taught (digraphs, blends, short vowel sounds, etc.). It is very individualized as students enter their name and pick a character. Then, they choose to go into the activities or the practice skills. They can pick different levels so they can work at their own individual level. Within the activity, it feels more like a game. It is colorful, challenging, and has sounds that go along with it. Students proceed through each level and get a score for the level they complete. They can continue on to the next level or continue practicing at the current level. It can help teaching by providing students an opportunity to practice spelling skills.

Good for practice, not intended for whole group or individual lesson. Graphics move very fast, feels more game like than anything.

I liked the different levels it provided: easy, medium, hard, and expert, as well as the different skills students could practice (short & long vowels), r-controlled vowels, blends, digraphs, prefixes, and diphthongs. The gamification of these word patterns helped our students practice the easier word patterns that they weren't necessarily learning explicitly in the classroom. Some of the different parts of the game were challenging for my students who had a higher sensitivity to sensory input (there are three or four things you need to do at one time), but this is what made the game interesting to those learners who it was harder to engage. We will continue to use this game, as I think it's a great way to practice those word patterns. The only piece I wish were added (and I may have missed it from my end), was a piece that kept up with all student's gains and growth in one place. Each individual iPad will hold the data earned on that device. But if students are bringing their own devices or if they each have their own leased device from the school, a teacher would need to check each device to learn of growth, progress, etc. Try the light version to make sure it has the word skills you are hoping for your students to try (versus the primary grades).