Sunday, April 17, 2011

Teaching Tools: Rhyming

The ability to rhyme has been identified by researchers as strongly related to a child's success in reading.

I encourage you to check out these two apps that meet my definition of a Teaching Tool* to use with 3-6 year olds as a way to learn and identify words that rhyme.

One is free for the month of April: What Rhymes by ABA.

I like the real pictures. If the child chooses incorrectly, the name of the item is announced and the child can try again. When chosen correctly both items (flag, bag) are named and the next rhyme comes up automatically.


Dora's Rhyming Adventure costs $1.99 and is a pretty good app for the price, especially if your child, or students, likes Dora.

A picture is displayed in the middle of the page and named (CAT) while six words rotate around it. If you touch the pictures they are named (nice scaffolding support) or you can drag the ryhme to the middle. The word needing to be rhymed and instructions are repeated after a little pause too. The child's goal is to collect 9 tokens for correctly completing each rhyme. Then the child can play a fun little game at the Grumpy Old Troll's tollbooth (using a slingshot and aiming coins into the coin machine.)


Although it's called a rhyming adventure, it does also have beginning, middle and ending sound matching too. So really it's 4 apps for the price of... $1.99.

Lastly, one of the best ways for children to develop rhyming is to read nursery rhymes and books with strong rhyming and picture support like those by Dr. Seuss.

So, be sure to check out Goosed Up Rhymes and the Dr. Seuss books like Green Eggs and Ham available in the app store too. There are lite versions available for you to try before you buy.

*Teaching tools should improve traditional learning activities by:
1.) saving time.
2.) allow for differentiation to meet each child's learning needs.
3.) motivating reluctant learners.
4.) make learning fun.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for your insight! I received a grant at the end of this past school year and purchased 5 iPads for my grade level! Kindergarten woo hoo! Each class's already has one iPad and rumor has that we are each getting an additional one. Needless to say I'm looking for good apps! ThAnKs!! I'm really enjoying your blog! Keep up the good work!

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