This letter (and number) formation app is a student favorite.
Community Review for LetterSchool
My Take
Of the 30 or so language arts and math apps on my three classroom iPads, LetterSchool is hands down the most popular. Students practice the correct formation of upper and lower case letters (D'Nealian, Handwriting Without Tears, and Zaner-Bloser styles) as well as numbers one through ten. Visually, it is a top notch app, with engaging graphics, effects, music, and intuitive user interface that delight children again and again (especially the letters made with fuses that "explode"!). Each letter has three stars to earn, each allowing the students more independent practice. Some phonics are incorporated into each letter, but this app should be viewed primarily as an opportunity to practice forming letters not practice letter sounds.
Overall, I feel LetterSchool is a well made app and recommend it for all pre-K and K classrooms. It is of most value when students are in the process of learning the alphabet, but over time it can become more of a simple game than a learning tool. My advice is to put it "away" for awhile (i.e. move to a closed folder) to be revisited on special occasions.
How I Use It
Thus far I only use this app for my open iPad center, allowing students to self select the apps of their choice. It is a great way for students to reinforce correct letter formation in a really fun way. Once I have the ability to project my iPad I may use LetterSchool as an additional way to introduce new letters early in the school year. As mentioned above, thanks to LetterSchool's incredible appeal to students, I do limit access later in the year to encourage use of apps more suited the phonics and pre-reading skills they need after mastering letter writing.