Simplex Spelling HD
by Pyxwise Software, Inc.

If you happen to have a young child just learning or is in need of support with their sight words, then Simplex Spelling HD is the way to go!!! Its name says it all, it’s very simplex. Applicable2U has explored a number of spelling applications, and this is the best one yet. This educational app comes complete with 220+ sight words. It was recently updated earlier this week and is designed for a variety of Apple devices. As a parent, you might be asking yourself, “why does my child(ren) need to learn sight words?” For those just beginning to read, sight words are important to know since they are typically words that are difficult to sound out or to illustrate. Academically, there are several important reasons. First, they act as confidence builders. When reading orally with your son or daughter many of these sight words will appear on each page. According to research, “Dolch’s sight words make up 50 to 75% of the words in any children’s text and knowing these lists of high frequency words gives young readers a huge advantage when attempting to read new stories.” By recognizing these same words while reading it will free them up to approach more challenging words. In addition, sight words provide context clues to the meaning of a sentence. With a very clear and easy to follow design, parents, teachers and even students will be pleasantly surprised with the results. While experiencing this application, Applicable2U felt like we are a part of an interactive spelling bee.

By the time a student enters fourth grade they are required to know a specific number of sight words. These words are taught/mastered by children in a variety of ways through the guidance of flashcards, worksheets, and guided reading opportunities. With the age of technology, why not add a technical component to learning these words. There are a number of positive components that Applicable2U saw in Simplex Spelling:

PROS –
√ It is designed to meet the needs of all children
√ It appears that an unlimited amount of users can be added to the application
√ Setting options can be customized for each user
√ An introduction level which provides the user and also a parent/teacher an explanation of how to navigate the system
√ Letter options can be presented as a keyboard or in ABC order
√ Color coding as a way to reinforce
√ Overall amazing visual and auditory support
√ Multi-sensory with dragging and tapping options
√ Click the question mark and the user will be provided an explanation of buttons or symbols
√ Users are provided hints and are able to hear words/sentences read again
√ Maintenance of reports showing mastery and attempts a particular word
√ Lists can be chosen based on student need(s)
√ Word lists can be revisited and saved for future use
√ Users are given the word, followed by a sentence and the word repeated (Very spelling bee like)
√ Users can skip forwards and backwards within a word list
√ Provides the user(s) opportunities to listen and concentrate when the voice is speaking – incorporating headphones would be a plus!
√ At times challenging but through repeated use, young spellers will win in the end

CONS –
√ The color choice of the letter word bank may be a challenge for some students
√ In the “question mark” explanation it would be nice if the backspace button was also added

Overall, as you can see, Simplex Spelling HD has a number of positive components. Currently, it is selling in your iTunes library for $6.99. Some might say that it is a lot of money, but the academic results that you will see in your student or child will be amazing. Simplex Spelling uses a reverse phonics approach, but it is certainly not reverse in its thinking as it heads in the right direction of teaching our young population to spell towards the future of reading! If you would like to learn more about Pyxwise Software, Inc. please visit their website here. Whether you have a kindergartener or late elementary aged student(s) or child(ren), Simplex Spelling HD is applicable to you. Start your download today by clicking here.