This is an introduction to letter identification and word formation using the Montessori curriculum. It includes the popular “I Spy” game with the colorful moveable alphabet. Kids use the moveable alphabet, and beautiful stickers to tell their story. The letters are sounded out as the kids drag them along the screen. Other exercises require the kids to choose the letter or group of letters that spell the image provided on the screen.

Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id394038232

What Users Love About the App

“Great for just learning how to sound out words. I really like this app! It makes the sound of the letters when the letters are touched. It has a section to build words and breaks them down by sound for kids to start learning how to sound out and build words.”

“This is really a wonderful tool that is helping me teach my twins to read. Thank y’all for developing this awesome app!”

“As a grandma very interested in fun educational tools, I am happy that I have downloaded this app along with the other two from Montessorium. At first we had a little trouble understanding how the Story Writing worked, but once we figured it out, it was really enjoyed.”

“This app is perfect for my 6 year old who was finding it difficult to remember what sound each letter made. Great for kids who learn best by touching and feeling in addition to just seeing or hearing as kids have to move the letters into place to spell the words.”

“Art and sound are wonderful. The interface is easy. My four year old enjoys it.”

What Users Dislike About the App

“The app is not thought through – they need to break the objects down into levels, three letter phonetic words, blends, then digraphs. The blends and digraphs should have the sounds together that make the specific sound like “oo” in book, or “er” in lobster, etc.”

“When a child is asked to spell the word “boy” they can’t choose the letters B-O-Y. Instead the have to first choose B then scroll all the way past the end of the normal alphabet list and find OY from a long list of diagraphs (AI, AY, OO, OI, OY, etc.). It might make sense to a linguist, but it’s confusing for a child just learning to spell.”

“Very poor phonics. The person providing the instructions is obviously not a Montessori teacher. The first word the child is asked to build is “bug.” Bug does not begin with buh, but /b/ as in bit.”

“This app offers no more than what parents can do with a pen and paper. Truly dissatisfied. I also cannot get any sound. Would really like a refund.”

“The only criticism I have is the positive reinforcement for spelling words is easy to miss. I found my child losing interest because of this. She doesn’t know when she’s right or wrong.”