Top 11 Phonics Apps

Phonics instruction helps children learn the relationships between the letters of written language and the sounds of spoken language. Children are taught, for example, that the letter n represents the sound /n/, and that it is the first letter in words such as nose, nice and new. We've found 11 great apps that give kids practice with basic phonics skills, including recognizing the letters of the alphabet, learning upper case and lower case letters, alphabet matching, and word building. These apps help kids work on listening skills while also practicing spelling and building their vocabulary.

Interactive AlphabetInteractive Alphabet offers alphabet matching for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Your child can hear words, letters and phonics sounds. This app also includes a "Baby Mode." It auto advances every 15 seconds. This interactive game also teaches upper and lower case letters. Price: $2.99 Grade Level: Pre-K-2nd Device: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Match phonic sounds with letters, through colorful illustrations, pictures and accurate pronunciation, while playing the age old game of I Spy. It provides a fun and highly interactive way to help children learn to recognize letters and their phonic sounds. iSpy Phonics allows children to match phonic sounds with letters, through illustrations, pictures, and accurate pronunciation while playing the game of I Spy. iSpy Phonics Price: $1.99 Device: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch iSpy Phonics

ABC ExpeditionABC Expedition is an app designed to help children with their alphabet. However, this app not only helps kids with their alphabet; it also helps children learn various animals too. This is promised to be a fun app for both parents and kids Price: $2.99 Device: iPad only

ABC Song PianoABC Song Piano uses music to teach the alphabetic principle. This app can also tap into children's musical creativity; it is colorful and has piano keys that light up. Furthermore, this app introduces letters A-Z, objects, animal and instrument sounds. Songs are played on a variety of instruments such as the banjo, xylophone, harp, flute, bells and much more. Price: $1.99 Device: iPhone

AlphabytesAlphabytes is an educational app that helps kids learn their letters, the sounds letters make, how to write both upper and lower case letters, and how to spell a few words. The game has four sections: Alphabet, Trace, Spell, and Play. Trace teaches kids how to print both upper and lower case letters. The play section of the app has a memory game where kids match letters with the picture of an item that begins with that letter. Device: iPad only

Simplex Spelling LiteSimplex Spelling Lite is designed to improve spelling and reading skills in a fun and interactive way by using "reverse phonics." Simplex Spelling Lite contains over 50 high frequency English words; it also enables students to build on each word, which goes above and beyond the sheer memorization of words. Simplex Spelling Lite enhances understanding in a variety of students as it appeals to audio, visual and tactile learners. It is a great tool to have for kids learning to spell, remedial students, or those learning English as a second language. Price: Free Grade Level: Pre-K-and Up Device: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Simplex Spelling with Reverse Phonics: Lite

Word WizardWord Wizard is the first educational app that utilizes natural sounding text-to-speech voices to help kids learn word building and spelling. Movable Alphabet help kids hear the text they wrote, as well as verify spelling using the built-in spell checker. This app has the ability to turn whatever words kids create — even words that do not exist — into spoken words. This app also consists of the most frequently used words, body parts, and family members — just to name a few. Price: $2.99 Device: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

The Electric Company Wordball The Electric Company Wordball incorporates video from the popular television show with a game to teach reading and spelling. The videos are appropriate for any age child learning to read. Kids can listen to some of their favorite music artist as they maneuver through the game. Also, some of their favorite characters from the Electric Company appear in the game. Price: Free Grade Level: Kindergarten and Up Device: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Bob Books #1-Reading MagicBob Books #1-Reading Magic is an educational experience that will teach your young children early phonics. This app teaches the sounds that letters make and how to combine them to make short words. Drag the letters for the given word to the proper place below the picture, while the app sounds out the letters and reads the word aloud. Children's efforts will be rewarded when the black and white screen transforms to color and the drawings become animated. Price: $1.99 Grade Level: Pre-K and Up Device: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Word WagonWord Wagon helps kids learn about letters, phonics, and spelling with Word Wagon. Parents and kids can set it to one of four progressively harder levels: letters, phonics, and spelling of short and long words and also to display either upper- or lowercase letters. In the first two levels, kids can match the letters to form the words; in the latter two levels, there is no visual cue, and kids have to arrange the spelling of the word on their own. There is also a nice variety of word topics such as animals and food to choose from. The level of customization makes Word Wagon a good fit for kids at different skill levels. Price: $1.99 Grade Level: Pre-K and Up Device: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

FirstWords DeluxeFirstWords Deluxe helps kids learn to spell words in five categories with FirstWords Deluxe: Animals, At Home, Colors, Shapes, and Vehicles. Parents can add more categories with in-app purchases. Touching the picture reveals the name of the object. As kids drag and drop letters into boxes to spell the object featured, they can practice sounding out letters with the phonics feature or hear the actual letter names as they're placed — or go all out and turn off the sound. Kids get good spelling practice while working on listening skills and building their vocabulary. Price: $4.99 Grade Level: Pre-K and Up Device: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch