Introducing Rainbow Sentences
By: Mobile Education Store
Sentences range from simple, color-coded chunks to more complex sentences in smaller language chunks. For instance, a simple sentence could simply be "The dog/is sleeping." A more complex sentence would be "The/gorilla/is/looking/out/the/window/to/see/if/it's/time/to/play."
Starting the App:
The first thing you do when you begin the app is create a new student profile. You have the option to either create a new profile or choose from an existing profile. This is great because you can switch between students pretty quickly.
Once the user is selected, you will see the intro page. This page is where you can choose to have audio instructions, correct answer reinforcement, record the correct answer, a complexity level, have line color coding, word color coding, select the color theme, or select word grouping.
Game Play:
As I mentioned earlier, there are three levels of complexity. Level 1, 2, and 3. There are also options to turn on or off the line color coding and the word color coding. This would make each level a little more difficult for students. If you know the student has mastered level 1, but you're unsure about level 2, turn off the color coding for level 1 and see how he or she does.
Level 1: The level includes subject + verb = or "who" plus an "action".
Level 2: This level includes subject + verb + object - or "who", an "action", and an "object". It can also include prepositions.
Level 3: This level includes subject + verb + object, prepositional phrases or positional words, and "why" or "how" phrases.
As you can see, the levels grow in complexity. I also like that the words don't automatically "click" to the correct color-coded box above. If the student puts a word in the wrong position and clicks "I'm Done!", the app will keep the correct words and will send the incorrect words back to the word bank. See the example below:
As you can see, I put some of the words out of order. Now look below to see what the app does once I hit "I'm Done!"
You can see that the app kept the correct words in place and moved the incorrect words back to the word bank so that I could try again.
Additional Features:
- The app offers audio instructions and specific voicing of words. When this option is turned on, the instructions are provided verbally and the group of words or each word is voiced when dragged. This is nice because you can use this app with individuals who cannot read.
- Sentence recording - when each sentence is assembled, the student can record himself or herself saying the sentence. There is also an audio archive that will store the recorded sentences. This feature is great to track student progress, share individual recordings through email, or have the student critique why his or her sentence sounds "funny".
- The app has good positive reinforcement. The student is provided with verbal reinforcement once the correct sentence is submitted and there is a puzzle feature. The student can receive a puzzle piece after every 5 completed sentences. Once the puzzle is completed, an animation will come on and will engage the students even more!
Pros:
- I really like that the app keeps the data and will provide you with the option to email the results to a parent, teacher, or yourself.
- I like that you can turn on and off the color coding and word grouping.
- I love the positive reinforcement. This will keep the students engaged and motivated.
- I like the sentence recording option. I think this will be a good way to track student progress.
One of the great pros about Rainbow Sentences is the custom color coding option. For those students who were already exposed to a color coding system for sentence structure, this option allows SLPs to change the colors to colors that will best suit the student's needs.
The application is available in the iTunes store for iPad. The cost is $7.99, but it is well worth it for this app!
Disclaimer: Mobile Education Store provided Let's Talk SLP with a free copy of this application. Let's Talk SLP was also provided with two application codes to give away to two lucky followers. No other compensations was provided. The ideas and opinions presented above are solely mine.
Giveaway:
Mobile Education Store was generous enough to provide me with two codes to give away! Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below.
I have wanted this app for awhile. I would use it with my students. I am a SLP in a K-2 elementary school.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reccommeding such great app. I will use it with my middle school students that are diagnnosed with moderate to severe autism. I work at Pathfinder Academy in Jacksonville Arkansas
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting this app since it was developed! I have many students on my current caseload working on syntax and it would be great to use it with them!
ReplyDeleteI can see this app being helpful for AU, LD and language students. Thanks for the great review with pictures, explanations, pros and cons.
ReplyDeleteOh, How Pintearesting!
I would use this with my kiddos in speech who need help with grammar and sentence structure. You can never have enough tools to use as an SLP, and I have heard great things about this app!
ReplyDeleteI have heard so many wonderful things about this app! I would use this app with speech students who are working on grammar and sentence structure. I'm an SLP in a K-5 elementary school and this would be perfect!
ReplyDeleteI'd use this with my speech and language students. So many ways to use this!
ReplyDeleteWith my students at school
ReplyDeleteI would use this app with my daughter and with my voluntary work
ReplyDeleteI'd share this app with my son's SLP.
ReplyDeletelove it! would use this app for my daughter who has ASD with speech delay.
ReplyDeletethanks so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThis app looks like it would be motivating for my middle school students. I can use it for several levels of syntax work.
ReplyDeleteI would love to use this with my twin daughters who have problems sequencing sentences! :)
ReplyDelete