Be5tSpeller

The Be5tSpeller is designed to help children have fun with learning and improving their spelling and reading skills. Any parent who owns an Android phone can enter the words to study into the database. The application is preloaded with 1220 words which I used to teach my sons to learn how to read and spell when they were 3 years old.

During a spelling exercise, the progress and score are shown on screen. Results are not stored so that the user don't feel pressurised to get things right. If you get a low score, just ignore it and try again, then eventually you will get it right. On every incorrect spelling, the application will display the correct word on screen. The list of words to spell can be viewed prior to starting a game.

There is no limit to the number of words to be entered that I am aware of. The words can be grouped together in appropriate levels. The level can be any names, for example, "Grade 5" or "Must Know Words" or "Vehicle Words" etc. The best way to encourage a child to learn reading and spelling is to target the area of interests that the child spends his / her time in. My sons love cars, hence I started teaching them to read and spell all the words relating to cars, for example, car / vehicle / wheel / boot / seat / window / door etc. When they showed confidence in their area of expertise, I then slowly moved their reading and spelling ability into other areas, for example, foods, office, school etc. The application gives the user the option to create different levels and group the words into these levels.

Individual level of words or all levels can be selected. The total number of words to be tested in any one exercise can be limited to a specified number. For example, if there are 100 words in a level selected, then only 10 (maximum words per exercise) of these words can be chosen (randomly or alphabetically in ascending order). If all the words in the list need to be tested, then the total number of words in the list can be used to set as the maximum number of words per exercise (not 10).

All preloaded words and levels can be amended. New words and levels can be added, too. More than one word can be entered into the word field, for example, “super extra fela docious”, making spelling exercises challenging. Although the aim of the game is for children, it can also be used by adults by adding in more complicated words.

There are four main views in the application: word list, level selection, spelling and reading view. Switching between these views can be done via the phone's menu button.

Reading of the words can be practised by selecting the Start Reading Exercise menu option. The words will be displayed one at a time on screen for reading. The speed of reading can be altered via the Select Level menu option. The words can be displayed randomly or in alphabetical order. The level of reading can be select per exercise (to concentrate on certain type of words, for example, food words or easy words). Alternatively, all the 1220 words can be randomly selected. For a child to practise reading effectively, an adult must listen to the sound and correct him/her as appropriate.

Teaching my children how to read and spell was not an easy task. I hope Be5tSpeller will add another level of fun into these mandatory tasks for other children. Traditional books reading and handwriting still need to be practised; Be5tSpeller will provide the convenience while travelling when the traditional methods are not available.

Most phone devices will have Text To Speech (TTS) feature. The application will work with Android 2.1 and above. Please check your phone’s menu’s Settings. If there is no TTS mentioned in the Settings menu, then Be5tSpeller will not speak the words. On some devices, the TTS feature is there, however, you may need to install a voice file. You may need to Google the specific voice file for your phone. For further inquiries please email support@be5t.co.uk.