Education is a fundamental aspect of a country's progress.
This is because it creates an avenue for the advancement of knowledge that aids
national growth and development. Recently, the education system has been in the
news globally regarding the decline in reading because of the covid-19
pandemic. This sad situation is reiterated in a report by UNICEF at its summit
held on the 14th of September 2022 in New York. UNICEF states that œonly a
third of 10-year-olds globally are able to read and understand a simply written
story, while the rest around two-thirds (64%) are unable to cover this marker
for minimum proficiency in reading comprehension
Certain factors ranging from the shortfall of teachers,
overcrowded classrooms, lack of textbooks, low wages for teachers and most
importantly lack of computers, internet connectivity and other digital learning
tools needed to enhance education are the major factors that impede reading
proficiency globally. Thus, in providing a solution to the decline, it is
important to encourage the use of EdTech apps that enhances reading efficiency
in children. With the advent in technology, certain educational apps with their
varying features provide solutions to improve the reading front. These apps are
designed to help parents get their kids right on track through the use of fun
activities like story-telling, puzzles, coloring and games. So here are five
apps that can enhance effective reading in kids:
Lingokids
If you need an app that offers an adventurous play learning
experience through the use of games, songs, audiobooks and videos for your
kids, Lingokids is your best bet. This
play-learning method help kids discover their natural superpowers otherwise
known as the 4Cs which include communication, critical thinking, creativity and
collaboration. These skills enable children to create ideas and turn their
ideas into sentences. With its carefully designed curriculum, the app is
designed with over 1000 learning activities and over 3000 vocabulary words to
learn new English words which enhance good reading habits. Parents can also be
able to keep track of words learned by their children weekly and evaluate them
accordingly.
Starfall ABC
Starfall ABC is a free app owned by starfall.com. Available
in both iPad and iPhone, Starfall is an app that arms kids with reading and
writing skills through the use of songs, animations rhymes and games. It
presents the complete alphabet to children and encourages them to select one.
When the child makes his/her choice the app goes further to teach the
pronunciation of that letter and also gives examples of words that can be
formed from the letter with pictures and animations that goes with it.
Subsequently songs, games and puzzles as learning techniques to enhance the
development of phonemic recognition and communication. So, if you need an app
that enables letter recognition and early reading skills for kids, Starfall ABC
is a must-have.
ABCmouse
By creating a formidable path for learning to thrive,
ABCmouse helps early readers improve their reading experience through the use
of entertaining activities like games, puzzles, songs, printables and
animations. Also, learners are allowed to interact with animals in the zoo and
on the farm to create lasting memories. ABCmouse also takes into consideration
ways of tracking learning with its use of a progress tracker which monitors the
progress of learners. Through this, parents can make an assessment of the
strengths and weaknesses of their children in learning. Significantly, the use
of rewards and tickets to purchase virtual items makes learning exciting and
motivational.
Edsoma
Founded by serial entrepreneur Kyle Wallgren, Edsoma is an
educational app that not only accounts for the reading deficiencies in children
but also provides an avenue for parents who are in distant locations to still
read together with their children via a video co-reading feature. While just in
Beta phase, Edsoma was already named among the top 5 brands to see at the SXSW
expo. The new app which was launched
during this year's Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany offers unique A.I. like voice
recognition and word identification technology to make sure readers deliver an
accurate reading performance. It also tracks the reader's progress, enabling
also teachers and parents to review the kids' performances.
Homer
Another great app that improves kids' reading front is
Homer. Homer is a personalized app for early learners that helps them become
critical thinkers based on their level of understanding. The curriculum is
tailored to the age, knowledge, and abilities of the child. It promotes playful
learning by using stories, games, and puzzles to teach subjects such as
reading, math, social and emotional learning, thinking skills, and creativity.
It combines a child's individual interests with their current age and learning
level to create personalized learning that aids in the development of important
educational skills.
With numerous features and carefully selected learning
techniques used in these EdTech apps, it is glaring that reading deficiency in
children will not only be brought to the barest minimum but reading will become
fun-filled and exciting as children will become fascinated to learn. So, why
not try these apps with your children today?
