VocabularySpellingCity
Subscription-based, student-facing app fine for independent practice
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VocabularySpellingCity
Pros: Touch-based, on-the-go access to learning activities.
Cons: Students cannot create or access their custom word lists in the app.
Bottom Line: A potentially more engaging -- although uneven -- option for your students, if you've got a Premium membership.
The app is designed for students to complete the VocabularySpellingCity learning activities. Students use it in the same way as the website. For teachers with a Premium account and students with mobile access, this app provides a good option for completing independent work in class or at home, or as a learning center activity. The touch-based interactions suit some games well and can help students, especially in the lower grades, be a bit more focused. Others, however, are finicky. Teachers may want to review the mobile versions of games before assigning them for independent play to make sure students get the best experience possible.
Editor's Note: VocabularySpellingCity is no longer available.
The VocabularySpellingCity app offers access to all word lists, learning activities, and student records from the VocabularySpellingCity website. The app no longer works for free members (if you tap the free sample activities, it links out to the website) and requires a Premium membership to the website ($69.95 per year). For subscribers, their students can complete all assignments in the app as well as the browser. The user experience is similar between the two, but the app experience can be uneven. Some of the games play smoothly, but some do not respond well on touchscreens, which students may find frustrating if a game relies on speed.
Like the website, the VocabularySpellingCity app's activities offer decent practice of vocabulary and spelling skills, but the focus is predominantly on memorization of content. The level of engagement varies, and many of the activities are screen-based multiple-choice worksheet activities. Both the app and the website have read-aloud support, and students can choose to replay words and sentences as needed. Students with learning disabilities may need support or monitoring to complete learning activities, since issues do arise. For example, the Crossword's word bank pops up over the screen and then goes away when the student types. This presents a challenge for students who need visual support to practice spelling. In this situation, a teacher might want to prepare a printed list ahead of time.
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Community Rating
DOA This app no longer works. Bought by another company FAIL
When the company was bought up by Learning A-Z they switched the entire program, website, and process overnight. Teachers now have to manually set up all lessons (which our Middle School does not have time to do). Access to games has to be allowed - it is not automatic. There was no warning at all when this was changed. We walked in one Monday and the apps on our ipads did not work. Set up on the new format is confusing (multiple names given to the same program Learning A-Z, kids A-Z, Raz A-Z and so on.
The app is NOT CALLED Spelling City any more. Spelling City is dead. If someone has a great suggestion for a progressive spelling app that will help prepare our students for high school and beyond, I'd love to know it!
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