Recently, I was asked if I would review an app of a different type. This app is not designed for solely for speech-language therapy, and frankly, I’m feeling a bit out of my comfort zone with it. Although literacy is in our scope of practice, I am definitely not a reading specialist.
Category Archives: App Review
In, Out, Around…Adventures with Prep Positions
I work on understanding and using prepositions for many of my students. For some, using prepositions in sentences is extremely challenging. Once again, Smarty Ears Apps has created a great app to help with that skill.
Share this:
Let’s GO Sequencing…an App Review
Smarty Ears Apps recently released a new sequencing app. They have another app with sequencing in it (language empires) which is a great app; but I really like this new one since it has pictures and is geared for younger people who can’t read. The language is good, the pictures are fun, and the sequences are relevant…There’s also a flashcard version of it that’s available on amazon.
So, without further ado… Continue reading
Share this:
RRRRRRacing toward good speech – part 2
Back in May, I posted an app review on a “Lite” app called Speech Racer Lite created by Complete Speech (who also created Vowel Viz).
A while ago, I was provided with an app code so that I could review the full version of the app. I will admit, I have lagged behind in my review for a couple of reasons. First, I wasn’t at all sure how well it would be received by my students…it’s not a “game” and I personally didn’t find it that interesting. Second, I was hesitant (and still am) to promote the exaggerated /r/. However…I finally hauled it out and used it with a student (not just myself)…so here are my thoughts.
Share this:
RRRRRacing toward good speech?
Okay…that’s a little cliche and I admit it…
Okay…that’s a LOT cliche…but there’s a reason.
I had the privilege of reviewing a new up-and-coming app prior to it being released and I’m here to share my thoughts with you regarding it.
The people at Complete Speech have created a new app called Speech Racer Lite. (For those who have read my reviews before, I reviewed another app of theirs called Vowel Viz a while ago.) Speech Racer provides biofeedback for each R word said.
Speech Racer Lite is designed to give students a “fun, interactive way to practice ‘RRR’ sounds.”
This is the Lite version – the full version will be released in August. The full version will have self-scoring, over 300 flashcards with visual cues, and the ability to customize R targets in different positions, including blends.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
It looks as though the app is well thought out and full of detail. I wasn’t able to access some of the elements as they are reserved for the full version (which isn’t available yet). However, they seem to have thought about everything important.
Word lists include Initial, Medial, and Final R words (over 300 flashcards!) I REALLY like that they have the R Blends and post-vocalic /r/ separated into their own words (to me this is critical for a good /r/ app).
. 
There will be four activities av available in the full version.
The Lite version has two activities available. These are both meters that show how accurate the R production was. The student is directed to prolong the R to make it a bit more noticeable (more on this later). The meter will then flash up to the “rating.”
In the first one, a poor /r/ sound will result in a red light…an approximate /r/ sound will result in a yellow light, and a good /r/ will result in the green light and running lights being illuminated. The lights stay illuminated until the record button is pushed again.
In the second meter, the meter goes from Red (empty) to Green (full) based on the quality of the R.
I can see the benefit of the biofeedback for R as it can be very tricky for kids to master self-monitoring. Having the immediate feedback helps with correct placement and recognizing what it is that the student had to do to get that /r/.
My only concern is that it doesn’t necessarily facilitate a “true” /r/ in that it does need to be slightly exaggerated to be picked up by the device. However, that is a minimal concern and similar to producing an exaggerated /s/ and then shaping it into a true /s/…an exaggerated /r/ is fairly easy to shape into a true /r/ once they get the feel for the position and develop the self-awareness.
Overall, I think this app has some potential. I’ve been a fan of Vowel Viz for a while now, but I can see many of the students on my caseload responding better to this than Vowel Viz. I know I’m excited to try it with them and I’m definitely looking forward to the full version.
Be sure to check out Speech Racer here and check out Complete Speech here.
So…let me know. Do you think you can see a need for Speech Racer Lite in your future?
Until then….Adventure on!
Mary
Disclaimer: I was provided with a code for Speech Racer Lite; however, the review and thoughts are entirely my own.
Share this:
Smarty Spell Adventures!
Smarty Ears Apps has been at it again. This time, they have answered teachers and parent pleas for an app designed to help in the general ed classroom as well as in the speech-therapy room. It’s a great app at a great price and SLPs will find it helpful as well… Continue reading
Share this:
Have you Yapp Guru’d?
Also known as Yapp Guru and the March Madness!
Back in September 2014, I wrote a blog post regarding Yapp Guru. You can view it here.
Since then…Yapp Guru has been emerging even more on the horizon of all things speech-language pathology and special needs related. Still not convinced?
Yapp Guru Expert Reviewer
Let me see if I can help. Continue reading
Share this:
An Intense App to work on R
It’s no secret that I love most of the Smarty Ears apps. After all, the majority of their apps meet my “good app” criteria. There are a few that are my all-time tried and true favorites though.
It’s also no secret that many (most that I’ve talked to) SLPs absolutely dread working on /r/. They often wait until they can’t wait any longer (even though research shows that most kids develop /r/ WELL before 6)…
One of those “favorite” apps that I use all the time is R Intensive.
(here’s a link to the Yappguru.com review)
Share this:
Articulate It! an App review
I haven’t done an app review in a while and it’s time. Now one of my all-time-favorite apps has been recently updated, and I think it’s time to share the love.
Articulate it! is easily the first app that I think of when I consider articulation drill (and that’s saying something since I authored the phono learning center app for phono therapy!).
Here is WHY I love it… Continue reading
Share this:
Cracking the books…but in a good way!
Have you ever had one of those epiphanies where you realize you didn’t do something you thought you did? Yeah… you know… one of THOSE moments.
I am sad to say, I have…and in fact, I had one just this morning. I honestly thought I had created a blog post about a very cool product, and realized I hadn’t. *sigh* But, I’m going to rectify that situation right now…and trust me! You WANT to keep reading. These apps are unlike any other you’ve seen…and you have the opportunity to help them get even better (meaning expanding product not bettering product, because frankly it’s pretty darn good…but don’t take my word for it…look for yourself)! Continue reading
Speech Adventures 