Word Dynamo is a great tool for practicing Thinking and Academic skills. Try some out some of our suggestions or leave a comment on how you get the most from this app.

Focus Activity

Follow through. Your child can get the most from Word Dynamo by working through categories and challenges from beginning to end. Many categories provide a number of challenges to help your child learn terminology and definitions, followed by a final quiz which requires an application of this knowledge. Your child should make an effort to follow through an entire category such as "Fiction and Literature," and then pass the final quiz. It's okay for your child to get questions wrong on the challenges, as Word Dynamo will indicate the correct answers, helping your child learn from these mistakes and correct them in the future. The app will use some repetition of words to help your child memorize definitions, but will also provide a variety of challenges ranging from crossword puzzles to flashcards to help maintain interest.

Working Memory Activity

Your child can use Word Dynamo in preparation for a quiz or test in school. By design, the app works to help users assess their level of knowledge and expand their vocabulary in areas that need work. Word Dynamo offers challenges specifically designed to help students with preparation for standardized tests like the ACT or SAT. In addition, the app also offers flashcards and challenges in alternative languages, such as basic Spanish vocabulary. Your child can use this app to prepare for an English quiz, using the challenges and quizzes to learn and memorize the different terminology. As an additional aid, your child may benefit from writing down words or terms which Word Dynamo marked incorrect during a quiz or challenge. Many of the same words and terms will appear in different challenges, providing an opportunity for your child to learn from a mistake and correct it.

Time Management Activity

For additional challenge, repeat quizzes with the timed feature turned on. Your child will be given one minute for each answer before it is automatically marked incorrect. Using this feature can be a great way to become confident for a quiz or test in school which requires students to finish in an allotted period of time. For example, before taking a quiz on literary devices in school, use the timed challenges in Word Dynamo to practice answering questions at a particular speed. Your child can use this feature to practice reading a question, assessing options, and providing an answer, in a timely fashion.

Reading Activities

Phonics

After taking some time to familiarize yourself with the site, choose a few word sets appropriate to your child's skill level, either in the "browse" or "recommended" sections.  Start by working through the Flashcard exercise first, making sure to play the sound file for each word (done by clicking the little red audio symbol to the right of each word).  Then, once it seems like your child has a good grasp of the words' definitions and pronunciations, let him give the timed Listen exercise a try.  Oversee his practice on a few word sets before letting them choose whichever new lists interest him.

Vocabulary

Explore some of the many, many available word lists on Word Dynamo, and pick a few from diverse topics.  Once again, let your child run through the Flashcard option until he feels comfortable. Then let him complete the timed Matching exercise and the Crossword exercise, which can be a little tricky - particularly for beginners who are unused to the format - so feel free to help out if your child gets stuck. Once he has completed several of these lists, encourage your child to compile his own list of words to post on Word Dynamo. These can be a set of favorite words, or words that he has trouble with. This is a great way to take a difficult set of spelling words from school and put them into an easily practicable format.

Comprehension

This one might take a little more work for your part. Take a book that your child is reading for school (or for fun), and compile a list of that book's more difficult vocabulary. Plug your list into Word Dynamo and use the Matching, Crossword, Listen, and Flashcard exercises as additional practice for your child while he reads the book in question.  Or, if your child is reading in an area covered by Word Dynamo's pre-made lists (such as a one of Shakespear's plays or perhaps Greek mythology), simply pick a selection of these word sets and practice them with your child.

Word Dynamo for Dyslexia

Children with dyslexia struggle with many basics skills that reading requires, including recalling the ordering of letters in a word, or remembering its meaning. Identifying and decoding words is essential to proficiency and literacy, and Word Dynamo can greatly benefit children and students who struggle with these tasks. The app and website provide ample opportunity in a number of categories and tailors the difficulty to meet the needs of individual users. Your child can monitor improvement and progress through badges and an overall "Word Score," providing incentive and reward for hard work and success.

How to Use Word Dynamo for Children with Dyslexia:

• Make your own word lists in preparation for a quiz, test, or just everyday usage. Word Dynamo's "Make a Word List" feature lets users create a list of words matched with definitions generated by the app or customized by the user. This list can be generated into flashcards or word puzzles for practice and shared with friends and classmates. Before a vocabulary quiz your child can create a list of terms and use Word Dynamo to study and prepare.

• Browse categories based on grade or reading level. Word Dynamo has vocabulary matching challenges, flash cards, and crossword puzzles for words and definitions and numerous grade levels. You can find a difficulty level that best matches your child's needs to improve vocabulary or learn new terms. Beyond simply matching definitions, different grade levels offer activities that can improve the versatility of your child's writing and speech. For example, some levels offer "common English idioms," or "Words that Sound Alike." There are nearly endless activities for improving basic reading skills.

• Use the apps targeted subject challenges. Word Dynamo offers practice for specific subjects, including science, math, English, social studies, and more. Your child can learn to solve word problems, gain terminology for biology, or memorize important literary devices. Not only will using these challenges provide practice in individual subjects, but they can expand your child's knowledge, vocabulary, and help with recognizing words and becoming comfortable with learning and applying new terms.

• Try the "Easily Confused Words" challenges. Children with dyslexia may find it extremely difficult to differentiate between commonly confused words like "there," "their," and "they're." These challenges are designed to help your child learn the differences, and when and how to apply each specific word. Understanding the differences between words that sound alike, but mean have vastly different denotations, will improve your child's reading and writing proficiency. Word Dynamo offers an easy and fun way to practice this essential comprehension skill.

Word Dynamo is just one of many apps designed to improve vocabulary, increase language skills, and prepare for academic tests and quizzes. Try some of our suggestions below and let us know which one works best for you.

Reading Rockets

This website provides parents and educators alike with a wide variety of free resources dedicated to teaching children fundamental reading skills.  Featuring reading activities, book recommendations, and advice for helping children who struggle with reading, Reading Rockets addresses nearly every aspect of literacy for the developing reader. Learn more here.

Grammar Girl

This app and website provide podcasts and articles detailing common grammatical mistakes and how to correct them. Grammar Girl can be useful for students learning proper usage and punctuation and can help with proofreading and developing proficient writing skills. Learn more in our Grammar Girl review.

SAT Vocab - Mindsnacks

SAT Vocab - Mindsnacks is a vocabulary building app from the Mindsnacks educational games series. This app contains six mini games designed to help players learn new terms, expand vocabulary, and prepare for the SAT. Discover more here.

Vocabology

Vocabology is an exciting and engaging mobile app designed to help users improve their vocabulary. The app draws new words from various sources and offers users a continuously updated quiz. To learn more, check out our Vocabology review.