Touch and Write

Overview

Touch and Write is an app for students learning to identify sight words. It uses repetition of either word pronunciation or letter sounds to reiterate the word to the student using the app. You can trace each letter, allowing for practice of letter formation, as well as choose which word group to work on.

Ideally this app would be used in a primary classroom, specifically in Kindergarten and Grade 1. It can be used as a Language Arts centre activity because it is very independent. One downside of the app is that students may chose to skip certain words they find difficult. There is no maximum number of skips per turn, making it possible for students to skip all words. The teacher can program word groups to help students struggling with certain sight words or for words associated with a theme that is incorporated into each lesson.

Touch and Write is a great app for early learners. It comes pre-programmed with several word groups (High Frequency word lists, word family groups, lowercase and uppercase groups, letters of the alphabet, and number symbols) and allows teachers to program word groups they feel students should work on. This app allows for independent, productive work, and works well as a centre activity. Users can choose to either hear the name of the letter read to them after each letter is drawn or to hear the sound the letter makes in a word, and at the end have the letters sounded out to create the word. This can be very helpful for students who struggle with blending beginning, middle and end sounds. Students can customize their writing by choosing from a variety of backgrounds and writing tools (the default is set to shaving cream, which looks and sounds like shaving cream coming from the can) and whether they would like markers along the letter to help stay on the line. All of these options can help with maintaining interest for students and can show students writing can be done with more than paper and pencil. Listening to or turning off music is also an option. The app does allow for some misprinting, but not much. If you go outside the lines it will get you to restart that letter. By combining repetition of letter name or sound, printing of letters and choice of setting, students can learn how to spell words and recognize sight words required in their lessons.

Grade Level

K - 3

Strengths:

Reads words and pronounces letter sounds
Option to sound out words
Option to skip unfamiliar words
You can add your own words
Pre-programmed popular words for Kindergarten and Grade 1
Students can customize when they write
Independent
Inexpensive ($3.99) with no in-app purchases
Easy to add words

Weaknesses:

No limit to number of words you can skip
If working with multiple iPads, you must re-enter each new word list, cannot send to all applicable iPads.
Specific need, limited users
On iPads with many teacher-inputted word lists, there is no option to search a specific word list so you have to scroll through all word lists until you find the one you are looking for.

Rating: 3.5/5

Katherine B. (Spring, 2016)