We can teach phonemic awareness to our kids all day long but if they don’t get the chance to practice it, they will never get it. That’s why I have these phonemic awareness apps available for them to use.
Bonus: [As of July 2019] They are free!
If your kids are anything like mine, they love the chance to use technology. I want any screen time in my classroom to be as purposeful as possible. I like to have my students practice skills that match what we are working on in class.
Let’s face it, when kids have a screen, they are engaged with the screen. You might as well use apps that are giving them the opportunity to work with what they really need to learn. It makes it a win-win! 🙌
Free Phonemic Awareness Apps
We have two iPads in our classroom that they can use during a dedicated technology center. One of the folders on them is called “Phonemic Awareness.” It has three apps they can use during that center time.
Note: I use free apps in my classroom because we do not have a budget to download several paid ones to all of the iPads. There are many other options that cost anywhere from one to ten dollars that are also great options!
Phonological Awareness VS Phonemic Awareness
Before we get started, do you know the difference between phonological awareness and phonemic awareness?
I used these terms interchangeably for years, but they’re actually quite different.
I’ve explained it all (and even created a little cheat sheet for you) which you can read about here: The Difference Between Phonological Awareness and Phonemic Awareness.
Rhyming App
The Partners in Rhyme app is my favorite for rhyming for two reasons.
First, it only uses pictures, no words. 🙌 That is exactly what we want when practicing this phonological skill.
Second, there are four games for kids to play!
Syllable App
The syllable game in Syllable Count is super engaging for our kids! The bright colors and cute clip art are eye catching and the fun sounds make them want to keep playing.
While this app does show text, I still think it is valuable practice for our kids. It will read the words aloud to them as well so they can practice all of those syllable claps we have been doing in class!
Sounds Discrimination App
This Phonemic Awareness Bubbles app focuses on sound discrimination. It has two games. One asks them to match the same sounds. The other asks them to eliminate the sound that does not match.
Just like Partners in Rhyme, this app uses only pictures! That allows the kids to really focus on the sounds they hear when they listen to and say the words.
Phonemic awareness apps can be a really useful tool to give our kids more opportunities to practice these pre-reading skills. In fact, I try to give my kids time to practice these skills as often as I can.
When I have a few extra minutes of downtime, I love using these phonemic awareness teacher task cards! They have hundreds of skill building activities, and it’s all scripted for you! All you have to do is read them aloud.
I keep them on a ring next to the back door. After we get all lined up, we practice a few skills. I love that the skills build on each other. I just use a sticky note so that we never lose our place.
Do you have any favorites apps you use in your classroom? Please share them below so I can add them to this list (and to our iPads)! 👇
