Reading Apps
Finding new apps is exhausting and expensive. We are here to help! After years of researching (and downloading), these are some of the best reading apps! They can get quite expensive, so check with your school or local library to see if they offer free access. Claire loves learning on these apps and each one is Claire approved.
Teach Your Monster To Read
Claire Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cost: Free
This is a great app is full of interactive games to help kids learn letters, sounds, and other skills to begin reading. This was one of Claire's favorites as she was first learning learning her letters, sounds, and beginning to read.
Cons: Once your child knows all the letters and sounds and is ready to read, your child will find it too easy and grow out of it quickly.
Montessori Letter Sounds
Claire Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cost: $4
This app is great for developing critical pre-reading skills such beginning sounds, middle sounds, and ending sounds in words. Addition activities include letter identification, sounds and tracing letters. As the child advances through the activities, they will begin sounding out letters to read simple words. This program is excellent for learning important pre-reading skills, but your child will not enjoy working in app for extended periods. Claire recommends 5-10 minutes at a time.
Cons: This program is specifically designed for pre-reading skills and does not contain any books or reward system. Your child will grow out of the app quickly, but this is a good thing.. it means your child is ready to read!
FarFaria
Claire Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cost: $5 per month
This is a great app is full of new and popular book organized by theme. Your child can choose to read them independently or listen as the book is read to them. Each page has animated elements and comprehension questions can be found at the end each story. This app also includes lesson videos and virtual field trips. Claire likes the different reading options at various reading levels and the sing along feataures in the app.
Cons: This app does not teach a child to read or include first level reading books. The books are written for higher reading levels.
Reading Eggs
Claire Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Cost: $10 per month
This app is a reading program that includes lessons, games, songs, videos to teach kids letters sounds, phonics skills, grammar, and reading comprehension. As the child completes games , they eran eggs to "spend" in the game arcade or avatar store. Parents can view progress reports and print paper worksheets for the lessons.
Cons: This app was designed to be completed with a parent or teacher, not for independent learning. While this program is very useful and there are many activities your child can complete on their own, it will not replace a parent/teacher.
RAZ kids
Claire Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cost: $125 annual subscription ($250 for both A-Z kids books and RAZ)
This is reading app has a large library of early reading books organized by reading level. Your child can choose to read them independently or listen as the book is read to them. Claire likes the access to a plethora of books at her exact reading level that she can read independently. This app is often used in a school setting due to the large library of early reader books. Before purchasing this expensive app, check with your school to see if they have a membership. Schools receive a discounted rate and can add your child at no cost to them! (Claire's school does!)
Cons: This app does not include games, review activities, lessons or videos.
Epic
Claire Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cost: $8 per month
Epic offers a large collection of books including comic books, sports, fantasy, mystery etc. Each title page includes the lexile score (not applicable to first readers) Your child can read the books on their own or have them read aloud to them.
Cons: This app was designed for advanced readers and will be difficult for beginners to navigate. Beginner readers will not be able to read books independently.
Homer
Claire Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cost: $10 per month
Throughout the Homer app, a friendly monkey narrates lessons, puzzles, poems, and games to learn letter sounds, sight words, rhyming, and sounding out words. There are two main options: working through the lesson plan that the app has put together, or the "practice" mode, which allows your child to revisit their favorite activities or spend a little extra time on concepts to really master them.
Cons: The app mainly focusses on alphabet and phonics will little attention to comprehension. Once your child is reading books, you may wish to switch to an app with a larger selection of books.