Apps That Strengthen Reading Skills - Colorado Reading Center

Apps for Phonics and Word Building

Blending Board (Free on iTunes)

Create custom decks of phonemes and blends to strengthen decoding and blending. Excellent for students learning to connect sounds to letters.

Planet Lettera (Free on iTunes, ages 5+)

Students build and feed words to friendly monsters, practicing sound-letter connections in a game-based world. Perfect for early readers exploring phonemic awareness.

Pocket Phonics ($6.99, iTunes)

A systematic app that teaches letter sounds, handwriting, and decoding, closely aligned with the Science of Reading.

Sortegories (Subscription; available on iTunes, Android, and desktop)

Supports encoding, decoding, and vocabulary in context through word-sorting games that help build fluency and comprehension.

Spelling and Word Study Apps

Spelling Star ($1.99, Apple)

Upload or create custom spelling lists and track student progress. Students receive instant feedback and can review missed words for mastery.

A+ Spelling Test (Free)

Quickly build your own spelling tests with recorded word prompts. Simple and flexible for practicing high-frequency and decodable words.

SpellBoard ($4.99, Apple)

Add sentences, hints, or voice prompts to provide context for each spelling word. Ideal for grades 1–5 and students who benefit from auditory supports.

Mystery Word Town ($3.99, Apple)

Solve fun mysteries by spelling words correctly to unlock clues. You can add sight words or custom lists to personalize the challenge.

Night Zookeeper (7-Day Trial, Annual Membership)

Combines creative writing, spelling, and grammar in a colorful story world. Ideal for ages 6–12, it turns literacy practice into an adventure.

DoodleSpell (Free Trial, then Monthly Subscription)

Allows users to customize word lists, track progress, and reinforce spelling patterns. Designed for students ages 5–11.

Digital practice never replaces structured instruction — but it strengthens the foundation students build in one-on-one sessions. Used consistently, these tools can boost motivation, confidence, and reading independence.

Final Tip for Families

Pick two or three platforms to rotate each week. Pair 10–15 minutes of focused play with guided reading or structured literacy activities for the best results.

Happy Reading,

-CRC