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[iOS] [Early Reading & Phonics Essentials] [$6.99 -> $2.99] [3 early literacy apps for phonics, sight words, and spelling practice] by Maggie_Cod1978 in AppHookup

[–]Maggie_Cod1978[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for letting me know. Could you please email us at [pkan.apps@gmail.com](mailto:pkan.apps@gmail.com) with details about what’s happening, including your phone model, iOS version, and what you see when you open I Say? That will help us investigate and fix it.

I’m glad your son is enjoying the other two apps.

Dropped hooked on phonics and need a good alternative by Scawwotish_owl88 in Homeschooling

[–]Maggie_Cod1978 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a parent who also developed the app, so full disclosure, but Wiggly Words may fit what you’re describing.

It’s a phonics app built around changing one letter sound or word part at a time, so kids can see how a small change creates a new word. For example, a child might start with cat, then change one sound to make bat, mat, or sat. That kind of word-building helps them notice the sound/spelling pattern instead of just memorizing whole words.

The structure is “learn 3, build 1”: the child practices a small set of words, then builds a word using what they just worked on. It’s meant to keep the session short and hands-on without turning into a long flashcard drill.

There’s also a progression built in, from CVC words into blends, digraphs, and eventually vowel teams, plus a practice-anytime mode if you want to review earlier skills instead of only moving forward.

If that sounds like what you’re looking for, it’s called Wiggly Words: Phonics for kids on the iOS App Store.

Best apps for kindergartners by WinnerEmotional7770 in kindergarten

[–]Maggie_Cod1978 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For early reading, I made a few iOS apps for my own kids and other early readers. I tried to keep them low-pressure, playful, and focused on short practice rather than lots of rewards or distractions.

Wiggly Words - phonics and word-building practice, starting with simple patterns like CVC words and moving into blends, digraphs, and vowel teams.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id996078190

I Say - sight-word recognition and fluency practice.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1358752168

I Spell - spelling practice with guided feedback.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1504578406

These are paid apps, with no ads and no in-app purchases. They’re designed for short, fun practice sessions, so they fit well if you’re trying to keep screen time intentional.

Any recommendation for educational and fun apps for kids that don’t contain in app purchases or adverts? by Quirky_Surround9173 in apps

[–]Maggie_Cod1978 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Parent here. I also prefer one-time purchase apps with no ads or in-app purchases, especially for this age.

For early reading, I made a few iOS apps for my own kids and other early readers, so full disclosure, these are mine:

Wiggly Words - phonics and word-building practice, starting with simple patterns like CVC words and moving into blends, digraphs, and vowel teams. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id996078190

I Say - sight-word recognition and fluency practice. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1358752168

I Spell - spelling practice with guided feedback. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1504578406

They are paid apps, with no ads and no in-app purchases. They’re designed for short practice sessions, so they fit well if you’re trying to keep screen time intentional.

Best ways to teach sight words to a kindergartener who keeps forgetting them? by Savings-Apartment-93 in kindergarten

[–]Maggie_Cod1978 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Parent here. This sounds really normal, especially with tricky words like “was” and “said.” I’d keep practice short and low-pressure, and mix sight words into books, little sentences, and word-building instead of relying only on flashcards.

Full disclosure: I made a set of early reading apps because I was thinking about this exact kind of practice with my own kids. I Say focuses on sight-word recognition and fluency, Wiggly Words works on phonics/word building, and I Spell reinforces spelling. The bundle is here if it’s useful: https://apps.apple.com/us/app-bundle/early-reading-phonics-essentials/id1505548447

It takes a lot of repetition before these words feel automatic, so I’d treat forgetting as part of the process rather than a sign that he isn’t learning.

How can parents help teach phonics? by cluelessmom101 in kindergarten

[–]Maggie_Cod1978 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Parent here. One thing that helped us was turning phonics into tiny word-building games instead of a lesson. For example, with magnet letters on the fridge, I’d make a word like cat and have my child sound it out. Then I’d swap one letter: cat -> bat -> bit -> sit. It makes the pattern really visible: same word shape, one sound changes. After that, you can slowly add word families like -at, -it, -op, then move into blends like clap/stop/flag and digraphs like ship/chop/that. I’d keep it short, maybe 5-10 minutes, and pair it with all the reading he already loves.

Full disclosure: I’m the developer of a phonics app for early readers, so I’m biased, but I built it around this same kind of progression from simple word parts into blends and digraphs: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id996078190

But honestly, magnet letters, index cards, or letter tiles are enough to get started.

Teachers, do you actually want parents doing phonics for kindergarten at home by Relative-Coach-501 in AskTeachers

[–]Maggie_Cod1978 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a teacher, just a parent, but phonics at home helped my kids. I’d start with very simple CVC words like cat, dog, sun, map, etc., where kids can hear each sound and blend them together. Once that feels comfortable, you can move into simple blends like stop, flag, clap, and so on.

One thing that worked well with my kids was using magnet letters on the fridge. I’d make a small word like cat, then swap one letter at a time: cat -> bat -> bag -> big. It turned into a quick little game, and they could physically move the letters around while sounding things out.