Multi-Syllable Word Party App Review

Jan 2017 Overall Rating   3.5	Review of Multi-Syllable Word Party  by Ricki Block, MS, CCC-SLP  www.preschoolspeechie.com Rating 1-5 (5 is best)
Feature	Description	Results	Suggestions
Ease of use & flexibility 3	Can use app quickly, instructions from developer, no glitches, can switch from one activity to the next, recordings	Voice recording is male. Pictures are clear.     My students were unable to read the part of the word which is printed in  yellow.	I would eliminate yellow and choose a different color. I would add a female voice and an option to record words and sentences.
Interest 4	Captures attention of user, nice graphics,     maintains interest	Search feature – very easy to switch between the 4 games by pressing the “house” icon.  Just click on the house icon and change. Tap Tap- A visual and auditory pacing board that reinforces players through color and sound. Students like tapping on the color coded dots. They can repeat the segments then repeat the word.  They can tap the word numerous times to practice.  It’s easy to move from one word to the next Outline- Find the matching shape and then use the pacing board seen in all games Remember- Match the picture and then use  the pacing board after each match has been made. Say & Slice-learn syllable segmentation- Students  swipe syllables off of a word and then adding them again.  It makes a cool swooshing sound. When student taps the word it is repeated.	For all games -  1.It doesn’t always say segment when you tap on the colors. 2. I would love to see the ability to tap the picture or word so student can repeat just the word multiple times rather than the dots for each segment. 3. Praise words should be an option , e.g. “awesome, etc” rather than be after each word.   4. Say & slice works perfectly the first time. When repeating the word the letters may swipe down but students can’t put them back on. Word only repeats one time when tapped.
Value Outcome 3	Accountability-  ability to complete task, improved student performance- records data	This app is $3.99. Very easy to manually record data for the segments.  You can choose 2 to 5 segmented words.  It can be used for all age levels in individual or group sessions.  Progress has been noted with my older students.  I expand this activity by incorporating the identification of suffixes, e.g. ing, tion, ity.	This app is a little pricey for what you get but still worth the purchase.
Mobility		iPhone and iPad
Overall impression -  Home Speech Home has the right idea with this app!  The Multi-syllabic Word Party App ties right in to the Common Core for helping children learn and/or strengthen their phonological awareness skills  for learning to  read and speak fluently, and address syllable reduction.  I continue to use my multisyllable word lists (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Multisyllable-Words-562933) and HSH’s multisyllable word lists during therapy ,( http://www.home-speech-home.com/multisyllabic-words.html) as well as Multi-syllable Word Party (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/multi-syllabic-word-party/id1029886073?mt=8). My older students enjoy playing  the games “Tap Tap” and “Say and Slice.”  I have noticed progress when used consistently.   Manual recording of data is easy with this app because you can choose from two to five segmented words for each game. It can be used for all age levels in individual or group sessions.  This app has so much potential but needs some revisions, e.g. fixing glitches, be able to tap the word/picture to hear production rather than always needing to tap the pacing dots, provide recording button for student to repeat words and produce a sentence, offer student ability to repeat a word multiple times, ability to turn off the “praise” button.  This app at $3.99 is a little pricey for what you get, but still worth the purchase.  Luke and Hollie from HSH are passionate about speech and have provided free materials above and beyond.   Check out their website today.  It is loaded with valuable lists and free activities! http://www.home-speech-home.com