Writing Wizard

App: Writing Wizard

Company: L’Escapadou

Cost: $4.99 USD

Device: Apple or Android tablets or phones

SAMR Model: Augmentation

App Map Score: here

Participatory Literacies Score: here

Description

Writing Wizard is an app that encourages users to trace letters, numbers, shapes, and words. Students are motivated to use this app through sound effects, animation as the child traces the content, and the ability to manipulate the animations once the tracing is completed.

This app also has narrated letter names, letter sounds, and number names. Students are encouraged to use correct letter, number, or shape formation through guided practice. The app does not let the student write using incorrect formation. The student is cued with audio cues as well as visual cues showing correct writing formation. Students may use their finger or a stylus to interact with this app. Writing Wizard allows teachers or other adults to upload their own lists and include an audio recording of their list.

Differentiation

Writing Wizard is beneficial for educators because it allows for differentiation. Students can independently work on this app working on targeted skills. Students who need pre-writing skills may use the shapes and lines function. Students who need to work on letter formation may use the upper or lowercase options. If a student needs extra practice with letter names or sounds, that skill is reinforced in this app with the narration that is provided for each letter. Students who may need work on sight words or an extra challenge that extends past letter naming or sounds can interact with a teacher-uploaded list that can be targeted for these students’ needs. Teachers may also include academic or content vocabulary in a personalized list, or a list including class names for students who may need extra practice writing their name.

Comprehension

In order for a student to comprehend their reading, students should be able to fluently recognize letter sounds or words. This app helps reinforce phonics and phonemic awareness through repeated practice, differentiation, and exposure to names and sounds. Students could also receive exposure to their sight words should a teacher upload these lists. This will help students read a passage fluently and focus on the content of their reading instead of being disrupted with unfamiliar words or letter sounds.

Possible Downfalls

Students may choose to use this app and interact with a function that is not their targeted skill. Students who need extra work with lowercase letters, for example, may choose to work on the shapes and lines tracing activities. Students may also get distracted with the manipulation activities at the end of each tracing activity. While this may not help them with literacy, the activities may still help them build fine motor skills. These two possible downfalls can be addressed when introducing the app by providing rules or guidelines as the teacher sees fit.

L'Escapadou (2015). Writing wizard [Mobile Application App] (3.0.2). Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/writing-wizard-kids-learn-to-write-letters-alphabet-words/id631446426?mt=8

L'Escapadou (2017). Writing Wizard photographs. Licensed under https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/writing-wizard-kids-learn-to-write-letters-alphabet-words/id631446426?mt=8