Super Why!

LQ: 8.9

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Brain grade: 9.1
Fun score: 8.7

Platform/Console: , , , LWK Recommended Age: 2–7 Thinking Skills Used: , Academic Skills Used:

The popular PBS Kids’ TV show Super Why! comes to life in this educational app designed to get early learners practicing basic reading and spelling skills. The app is broken down into four sections, each featuring a different character from the show. Wonder Red’s Rhyming Time asks users to match rhyming words, while Super Why’s Story Saver has them add words to sentences to alter the story. Princess Preto’s Wands Up Writing Game tasks users with identifying letter sounds, trace letters and write out words, and Alpha Pig’s Lickety Letter Hunt sees them choosing the correct letters needed to follow the “alphabet path.” The game contains no inappropriate content, and covers foundational areas of reading and writing, making it recommended for use with kids ages 2-7.


This App Is Good for Kids Who Need Help With:

Working Memory

Recalling and retaining information in our mind while working.

mzl.ygzxuyng.320x480-75Working Memory skills help early learners internalize basic reading concepts, aiding them in their ability to identify letter shapes, connect letters to sounds, build vocabulary and combine letters into larger sounds and words. Super Why!'s basic exercises offer great practice for young readers, helping them build the cognitive connections needed to become proficient in the fundamentals of reading and writing. Users will be learning how to recall letter shapes and sounds, and will be tasked with keeping that information in mind as they combine letters to form out words. The app also helps young kids learn to identify visual representations of words, understand their meaning, and be able to use those words within the context of a sentence. Developing Working Memory skills through use of the app gets little learners on their way to mastering the basic building blocks of reading.

Flexibility

Adapting and adjusting to changing conditions and expectations.

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The variation of modes available in Super Why! offer changing conditions, making the app a great way to get kids practicing a range of reading fundamentals, and applying that knowledge to various scenarios. Users will be decoding text, learning to write out words and letters, comparing sounds through rhyming and learning the range of usage each letter of the alphabet holds. By offering a dynamic range of content, the app keeps kids switching gears, incorporating knowledge from various areas of reading. Users will practice phonics and phonological awareness, build the capacity to recognize and sound-out words, and learn to understand the meaning of words and how to make sense of combinations of words within a sentence. Such a varied approach to learning engages children's Flexibility by having them learn and use information across a manageable range of reading subjects.

Reading

mzl.jqfhhuwb.320x480-75Super Why! is a great option for engaging pre-school aged children and those in early elementary school in core concepts of reading with the help of the Super Readers team. The app covers phonics and decoding through tracing letters, learning sounds, and combining letters together into words, while rhyming similarly sounding words helps develop phonological awareness. Placing words within sentences helps users build up their vocabulary and understand proper sentence structure, as well as see different ways words are used and conjugated. While it may not offer much aid to more advanced readers, the app does a great job at covering a smaller scope of early-reading fundamentals.

Super Why! is a great tool for learning basic Reading skills and practicing Flexibility and Working Memory. Try some of the ideas below, or suggest your own in the comment field at the bottom of the page.

Working Memory Activity

mzl.nwasspqy.320x480-75Keep track of troublesome letter combinations, difficult sounds or unknown words your child encounters while using the app. Problems in reading commonly occur when children simply have not learned specific spelling techniques, uncommon combinations of letters or the definitions of words. Other times, such information simply didn't stick the first time around. Mitigate such issues by looking out for areas your child struggles with, compiling a small batch of issues to review in order to increase proficiency. Going over simple steps like this with your child can help avoid further complications with reading down the road, helping build up the capacity to recall various rules of spelling and grammar and apply that knowledge while reading.

Flexibility Activity

Becoming proficient in reading requires children to practice their skills across a range of material, encountering unfamiliar phrases, words and letter combinations in order to broaden their abilities and become confident readers. Try some simple exercises to teach your child how to deal with unfamiliar elements of reading, explaining that when setbacks occur, there are methods to work through them. For example, when encountering an unknown word, many times definitions can be worked out by looking at the word within the context of a sentence. Create some simple example of this to go over with your child, explaining how surrounding words can help you deduce the meaning. Next,  touch upon the subject of synonyms, swapping out similar words that share meanings. Finally, try going over some words that have multiple meanings, creating sentences that use the same word in a range of usages. Encouraging an adaptable approach to learning will give your child the tools needed to try to work through unfamiliar reading material and gain confidence through proficiency.

Reading Activity

mzl.txnlzesj.320x480-75Introduce your young learner to some simple audiobooks to read along with. Apps like Read Me Stories and Play Tales offer a nice range of content to cover. If possible, try to give your child a paper copy to read along with while listening. Hearing the cadence and phrasing of a skilled reader can model proper fluency, so insist on your child reading along when possible. Next, try to ween off the audiobooks and get your child reading without any aid. A good spot to start is with a book already heard in its audio version. This way, familiar phrases and words will ensure setbacks are minimized. Finally, try to keep introduce some more advanced reading -- perhaps even beyond your child's current reading level -- to ensure your child continues reading texts that balance challenge with enjoyability.

 

While Super Why! covers a range of reading subjects important for early learners, there are many other options to consider when looking to teach your child reading and writing fundamentals. Look over the options below and click on the links to learn more.

iWriteWordsiWrite Words offers simple exercises that help young children practice writing letters and words. Read our iWrite Words review for details.

 

LetterSchoolLetter School introduces early learners with the basics of reading and writing, and is sure to keep their interest with its stylized presentation. See our LetterSchool review for more.

 

Endless AlphabetEndless Alphabet is another great option for young kids, with a colorful art style that matches images and words to build vocabulary. Our Endless Alphabet review explains.

 

title50563598Read Me Stories is an interactive reading app with a vast library of audio books for kids. Find out all about it in our Read Me Stories review.

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