App Review: Syntax Workout

I was given the opportunity to try out another app from the Virtual Speech Center.  This one is called "Syntax Workout" and features a fun bowling theme.  Syntax workout was developed by a certified speech-language pathologist to assist students of preschool and elementary age who have difficulty with English grammar.

The screen above is the main screen you will see upon opening the app.  As you can see, from this screen, you can see the reports that the app generates from your sessions:

You can also see information on the app (a description and links to Virtual Speech Center's website, Twitter, and Facebook:

From the main screen, you can also modify the settings you wish to use during your session:

Once you tap the "Start" button, you will add/select your student(s) and then choose your targets.  There are so many options to choose from in this app!

The syntactical and grammatical constructs targeted in this app include:

1. Third person singular vs. plural
2. Is vs. Are
3. Was vs. Were
4. Do vs. Does
5. Has vs. Have
6. Subjective pronouns he vs. she
7. Subjective pronouns he/she vs. it
8. Subjective pronouns he/she vs. we/they
9. Subjective pronouns mixed
10. Objective pronouns me vs. you
11. Objective pronouns him vs. her
12. Objective pronouns him/her vs. them
13. Objective pronouns mixed
14. Possessive pronouns my vs. your
15. Possessive pronouns his vs. her
16. Possessive pronouns his/her vs. its
17. Possessive pronouns his/her vs. our/their
18. Possessive pronouns mixed
19. Absolute possessive pronouns mine vs. your
20. Absolute possessive pronouns his vs. hers
21. Absolute possessive pronouns his/hers vs. its
22. Absolute possessive pronouns his/hers vs. ours/theirs
23. Absolute possessive pronouns mixed
24. Demonstrative pronouns This vs. That
25. Demonstrative pronouns These vs. Those
26. Demonstrative pronouns mixed

Phew! I told you there were lots of options with this app!  Once you are finished selecting your targets, the bowling coach will give provide an introduction on using the app.

Here's an example of an "Is vs. Are" item:

If you have audio instructions on, the stimulus sentence and foils will be read.  The foils are highlighted as they are read and the student cannot make a selection until both have been read.  This task allows you to work on receptive understanding of the grammatical construct you are targeting.  On the left side of the screen there are record and play-back functions so that you can use the app to target expressive use of the grammatical constructs as well.

Here are some more examples of Syntax Workout targets:

Subjective pronouns he vs. she

Objective pronouns - mixed

Possessive pronouns mixed

3rd person singular vs. plural

Do vs. Does

After a predetermined number of correct responses (which you can change in the settings), the student is given a reinforcement activity - bowling!  They get six balls (or three frames) and have to swipe the ball to knock down the pins.

That's Syntax Workout in a nutshell!  Here are my thoughts...

Pros:

• Who doesn't have a child on their caseload working on syntax and grammar?  This app provides a fun way to target many different grammatical constructs.
• The bowling theme is lots of fun!  Every child who has tried the app has requested using it again during the next therapy session.  They love the reinforcement activity!
• The app uses real life photographs, which is always a plus in my book!
• I love that you can't select an answer until both have been read (with the audio option on).  This is great for students with impulse control issues!
• The option to target receptive/expressive syntax in one app is a huge plus as well!

Changes I'd like to see: 

• I typically use my iPad as shown in the image below.  When it was in this position, the kids had a hard time getting the bowling ball to move.  It was easier for them when the iPad was lying flat on the table. 

(Amazon link)

And the bottom line...

Syntax Workout is a versatile app for targeting receptive/expressive syntax and grammar.  There are so many specific grammatical constructs included in this app as well and it's super motivating for students.  Syntax Workout is $16.99 in the App Store.

App Review and Giveaway: Language Builder

It's no secret that the iPad has changed the face of speech and language therapy.  What an amazing tool to capture the attention and interest of some of our most challenging kiddos!  Today I'd like to share with you one of Mobile Education Store's first apps designed with SLPs in mind.  Without further adieu, here is Language Builder ($9.99 in the App Store)!

Language Winner was voted the 3rd best educational app of 2011 by AppsForHomeschooling.com and the 9th best educational app of 2011 by SmartAppsForKids.com!  

According to the app description, Language Builder is designed to help children accomplish the following educational goals: 1) Improve sentence ideation ; 2) Improve sentence formation; and 3) Improve receptive and expressive language.  

Let's take a look, shall we?

Info:

As with all Mobile Education Store apps, there is an "info" tab along the bottom.  Tapping this tab will bring you to a brief synopsis of the purpose of the app as well as how to use the app.

Settings:

From the settings screen, you can set up/add/change a student profile.  You can choose to have the "hint button" enabled or disabled, turn on/off audio instructions, change the level of hints, and select image themes.  You can also watch the Video Tutorial for more information.

The Available Image Themes include:

• Original Game Pack
• Inside Playtime Game Pack
• Places Game Pack
• Winter Game Pack
• Pets Game Pack
• Sports Game Pack
• School Game Pack
• Water Game Pack
• Hobbies Game Pack
• Medical Game Pack
• Playground Game Pack

You also have the option of randomly selecting from all of the themes.  

From the settings screen, you can select one of three different hint options:  Hint Level 1, Hint Level 2, and Hint Level 3.  We'll see more about these in a minute.

Play:

You will be shown a picture and prompted by a voice recording to "make a sentence about the picture."  There will be three buttons - "Record," "Hint," or "Skip Picture."  As you can probably guess, tap "Record" to record the child's response.  "Skip picture" will move you along to the next picture.  (All the levels begin the same way...the hints are the what changes.)


Hint Level 1

Tapping "Hint" on Level 1 will give you a fill-in-the-blank sentence with two blanks:

Hint Level 2

This time you are shown just the beginning of a sentence and the student must complete the rest.

Hint Level 3

On this level, when you tap "Hint," you will be given two words to use in the sentence.  For this example, you are told to "Use the words 'big' and 'sky' in your sentence."

Notice that you can record your students' responses?  Once you record, you can play it immediately and/or save the recording for future analysis.

When you save the recording, you are prompted to give it a name.

Archive:

The last tab along the bottom of the screen is "Archive."  This is where you can see the recordings that you saved.

Tap on a saved sentence and you will be able to play the saved sentence, delete the sentence, or share the sentence.  Tapping "Share Sentence" will attach the image and audio clip to an email, which you can send to yourself, teachers, and/or parents:

In case you want to see some more samples of the target images:

And that's Language Builder in a nutshell!  Here are my thoughts:

The Pros:

• Real-life photos.  The photos are great for depicting action.  Students will be able to relate to many of the images as well.
• Simple, yet effective.  This app is simple to use, but can be used to target many different objectives - sentence formulation, pronoun use, present progressive verb tense, articulation carry-over, monitoring voice and fluency strategies, etc.
• Recording feature.  What student doesn't love to hear their own voice?  This can be motivating for some of our kiddos who would not complete this type of task in a flash-card format.
• Archive feature.  This is a great feature when you want to keep pre/post test data. I also love that you can email the recordings to yourself so that you are not taking up too much space on your iPad.  
• Ability to add multiple players.
• The different hint levels allow for scaffolding with students.  From any given picture (before you record), you can change the hint levels to provide more/less support as needed.

The Cons:

• No multi-player option.  I don't know about you, but most of my sessions consist of groups of students.  You could come up with a profile of "Language Group" and save recordings with the child's name.  
• There is no audio for hint levels 1 and 2.  Not a major con, but most of the students on my caseload cannot yet read, so I need to read the hints to them.

The Bottom Line:

Language Builder is yet another quality app from Mobile Education Store!  Language Builder is great for targeting sentence formulation, but can also be used for a variety of other objectives.  You could also use this app with a variety of age ranges.  I love apps that are versatile and Language Builder is definitely one of those apps!

Could you use Language Builder in your practice?  Kyle was gracious enough to provide a copy for me to give away.  You can enter using the Rafflecopter below.

Disclaimer:  Although Kyle from Mobile Education Store was kind enough to provide me with a copy of Language Builder to review and another to give away, the opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

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App Review & Giveaway: Rainbow Sentences

I've seen a few reviews out there for Rainbow Sentences and I really didn't think it would be appropriate for the students on my caseload (mostly preschool, some kindergarten).  When Kyle from Mobile Education Store asked me if I'd like to try it, I was a little hesitant.  However, I knew it would be a great app and I was very curious to see it in action.

I was right! Rainbow Sentences is a great app!  I was also VERY pleasantly surprised with how well it worked with my little ones!

How it Works:

Once you open the app for the first time, you will be prompted to create a new student profile.  (You can enter multiple students with this app, but you can only take data for one student at a time.)

After that, you are taken to the "Settings" screen:

About the Settings:

Audio Instructions

This one is fairly self-explanatory.  On:  A narrator gives you step-by-step instructions.  Off:  You do not get the instructions

Correct Answer Reinforcement

If you have this option selected, when a student arranges the sentence correctly, a verbal reinforcement is provided ("That's right.  The correct sentence for this picture is...").  If you turn this option off, you do not get the verbal reinforcement.  Rather, you will move on to recording the correct answer if that option is selected.  

Record Correct Answer

This is one of the best features of all of Mobile Education Store's apps!  Once a student selects an appropriate answer, you have the option of recording the student saying the response.  You can turn this option off, but I can't imagine why you would want to!  Most kids love to hear their own voices.  Plus you can compare the narrator/student production.

Complexity Level

Level 1:  The student has to arrange two elements to form a sentence:  

Who/what the sentence is about + what they are doing.

Level 2:  The student has to arrange three elements to form a sentence:  

Who/what the sentence is about + what they are doing + where they are doing it.

Level 3:  The student has to arrange four elements to form a sentence:  

Who/what the sentence is about + what they are doing + where they are doing it + why they are doing it.

*In all three levels, some of the sentences have an additional element:  what the subject is doing the action to.  Here's an example:

Line Color Coding

You can choose to have the blank lines (where you drag the words) color coded or not.  If you do not choose color coding, the lines will be black:

Line color coding "off"

Word Color Coding

Just as you can choose to use color coding for the lines, you can choose color coding for the words.  Again, if this option is turned off, the words will appear in black:

Line & word color coding "off"

Color Themes

Another really neat feature!  You can use the standard "default" color theme, or create your own!  Just give your color scheme a name and select your favorite colors for each sentence element!

Word Grouping

You can choose to have the students order the sentences by individual words or by groupings of words.  Here is a scene with word grouping on and one with word grouping off:

Word grouping on

Word grouping off

Using the App

Once you have your preferred settings selected, tap "Play" from the bottom menu bar.  You will be shown an illustration and prompted to "drag the words to make a sentence."  

You can tap the words to hear them spoken.  Once you have the words in place, you can tap "Play" to hear your sentence read aloud.  When you think the sentence is correct, tap "I'm done!"  If you are not correct, you will be told "That's not quite right.  Try again."  If the student needs help, you can select "Play lesson" to hear a short tutorial.  

If you have the "Record Correct Answer" setting turned on, you can choose to record the student's response or move on to the next sentence.  You can save the recordings in the student profile.  They will save to the "Archive" screen on the bottom menu bar.

saving a recording

archive of recordings

Another fantastic feature is the data collection.  Notice the "Stats" button on the bottom toolbar?  If you tap that button, you will be shown a summary of the student's correct/incorrect responses.  You can then email the stats to a parent or to yourself.

data summary

See the "Show my puzzle" button?  Rainbow Sentences has built-in reinforcement.  For every five correct responses, the student is rewarded with a puzzle piece.  When the puzzle is completed, it becomes a short animated clip.

Puzzle reinforcement in progress

Puzzle completed

What I like about this app:

• Versatility!  Yes, there are three levels of complexity.  Beyond that, though, you have the line color coding and word color coding options.  Turning those off will increase complexity within each level.  This means that you can use this app with a wide age range!
• The color coding!  Because of this feature, you can really use this app with children who cannot read. The kids I used it with cannot read, but were able to match the colors and imitate the sentences.
• The illustrations.  They are bright and colorful.  Some are relatable...others are silly...they are all engaging!
• Data collection.  Need I say more?
• Built in reinforcement.  

What changes I would like to see:

• I really wish I could think of something to write here, but I really can't.  (I think this is a first for me!)

The Bottom Line:

I'm a fan of Mobile Education Store and their apps for language development.  With that said, I was very pleasantly surprised by Rainbow Sentences!  It really surpassed my expectations (even though my expectations were already high).  I thought for sure that this app would only be beneficial for students who are able to read.  Really, if a child can match colors, they will be able to benefit from using Rainbow Sentences.  I think this is a must-have app for expanding expressive language skills! 

Rainbow Sentences sells for $7.99 in the App Store.  Kyle was kind enough to provide another code for me to giveaway!  Enter using the rafflecopter below.

Disclaimer:  Although Kyle at Mobile Education Store was kind enough to provide me with a code for this app review, and another to give away, the opinions are 100% my own. :)

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App Review and Giveaway: Syntax City

The good folks over at Smarty Ears contacted me recently about reviewing their latest app:  Syntax City!  At first glance, this app reminded me of "The Sims" games.  There is a map that you can navigate and select locations for different objectives.  Without further delay, here is Syntax City!

Getting Started:
When you open up Syntax City for the first time, you are brought to this screen with an introductory letter from the "Mayor" of the city.  From here, you are able to go directly to the game, or watch a video tutorial (approximately 7 and 1/2 minutes long).  I recommend watching the video as it will give you a visual "how to" set up and use the app.

initial start-up screen

In the main menu, you can select "Visit the City" or "Quick Play."  When you "Visit the City," you can add up to five students and collect data.  In "Quick Play" mode, you can still collect data for the session, but it will not save.  Once you select "Visit the City," you will be taken to this screen to add players.  Again, you can add up to five players.

adding new players

Simply tap on "New Player" to add players.  You can add a name and a picture.  For the picture, you can select a photo from your camera roll, add an avatar, or leave it blank.  Here's a sample player badge I created with my son's picture:

player badge

Next, you select the player(s) you want to track during your session.  You can change the settings as well:  

• Play Audio:  On/Off.  This will change whether or not the question prompt and selected answer will be read aloud to the student.
• When Wrong:  Remove Item/Buzz.  If a student selects an incorrect answer in the app, you can choose to have the incorrect response removed (so that the correct response is reinforced).  Alternately, you can have a noise play when the student taps an incorrect response.  It doesn't really sound like a buzz, more like a beep or a chime.  It's definitely more pleasant sounding than most audio effects for incorrect answers.
• Prompt for Voice Recording: On/Off.  This app allows you to record the child saying the completed sentence after they select their response.  Great for expressive language reinforcement.  I have to be honest.  I tried really hard, but I couldn't find a difference when turning this option on or off.  It gave me the option of recording a response in either mode.

settings

Playing the Game:
Once you have selected your players and your settings, you are taken to the map.  The player(s) you selected will appear in the tray at the bottom.  Here, you can drag the players to the places on the map that correspond to the goal(s) you wish to target.  You can also drag a player to multiple locations!

Map of the city

Places on the Map:

• Plurals Zoo 
• Was-Were Bakery
• 3rd Person Singular Beach
• He-She Ski Resort
• Do-Does Gym
• Irregular Past Tense Farm
• Is-Are Park
• Have-Has Grocery

I started with the Plurals Zoo.  Many places on the map have multiple levels per target.  You can see here at the Plural Zoo there are three levels:  1.  Regular Plurals, 2.  Irregular Plurals, 3.  Regular & Irregular Plurals. I selected the first option.

Levels of Play in Plurals zoo

The games are essentially the same at each location on the map.  There is a stimulus picture along with a fill-in-the-blank (cloze) sentence.  Below the sentence are options from which to select for the response.  The number of foils may change based on the level.

Plurals Zoo

I forgot to mention that, before you enter a location, you are shown a picture with a rhyming paragraph introduction to that location.  Here's the one for the Irregular Past Tense Farm:

Intro to Irregular Past Tense Farm

In this screenshot you can see that in the Irregular Past Tense Farm the background is different, but the activity is essentially the same:

Irregular Past Tense Farm

Here's a sample from the He-She Ski Resort:

He-She Ski Resort

One nice thing about Syntax City is that the student is given intermittent reinforcements (Treasures) in each location (e.g., Animal Crackers were awarded at the Plural Zoo).

Achieving a Treasure

When you are finished with the session, you can see the treasures collected.  They are displayed on shelves in the student's profile:

Treasure Shelf

Data Collection:
I love apps that have data collection features!  You can see below that this app gives me detailed information on a child's performance during a given session.  You can "Share" the data by emailing it to yourself or to a parent, you can print it (if you have AirPrint), or you can open in iBooks.

Data Report

 Pros:

• Data collection!  I can't say it enough, I love apps that have built-in data collection!
• Multiple targets - Syntax City has so many targets that you can work on separately or together.
• Receptive/Expressive component - The main game play targets receptive knowledge of targets, but recording the responses allows you to target expressive responses as well.
• Bright and colorful illustrations.  (I can't help but put this as a pro.  I judge books by their covers too!)
• Use of real photographs in stimulus pictures.  
• Built-in reinforcement for students.  

Changes I would like to see in an update:

• When you are using the "Play Audio" function, if you select your response before the audio is finished, it stops.  You can tap the words BEFORE you hit your response to have it repeated, but not after.  I would like to have the option of tapping the completed sentence (after selecting the answer) and having it repeated back as a complete sentence.
• The data collection is only for receptive responses.  I would like to see a way to track expressive responses as well (e.g., + and - signs that pop up after you stop recording

The Bottom Line:

• Syntax City is a fantastic app with lots of versatility. You can use it to work on many different objectives and target both receptive and expressive aspects.  The price tag is on the high side ($39.99).  However, most of us wouldn't blink at spending that on a board game targeting syntax.  Smarty Ears offers frequent sales though, follow their Facebook page for sale information!

Think you can use this app in therapy?  Enter for a chance to win a code for your own copy of Syntax City using the Rafflecopter below.

Disclaimer:  Although Smarty Ears provided me with a code for this app review, and another to give away, the opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

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