Reading Assistant App

The Reading Assistant App, brought to you by Phonogram University, is a digital tool designed to support reading education. This application helps students, parents, and educators explore words and phonograms (specific letter patterns that represent sounds) with visual and audio guidance. This document explains how to use the application effectively.

Getting Started

Upon accessing the Reading Assistant App (https://readapp-ak48.onrender.com/), you will see:

• The Phonogram University banner at the top and a welcome message
• A word search section
• A button to create a random word
• A phonogram search section at the bottom of the page

Features

Word Search

To search for a word:

1. Locate the “Enter a word:” input field at the top of the page
2. Type the word you want to learn about
   • Words included are from the 1,000 words in the Fry Sight Words list, minus any word that uses only the first sound of single-letter phonograms, i.e. not included are words like cat, jump, etc.
   • Words from the Bob Books series
   • For words not found, you can email info@phonogramuniversity.com to request they be added
3. Click the “Get Word Info” button
4. The app will display:
   • The word title
   • An explanation of how to decode/read the word
   • An image displaying the word coded showing:
     1.  Multiple-letter phonograms underlined
     2. Non-first sounds of the phonograms coded with the sound number
     3. Syllable breaks
     4. Silent final e coded by number
   • Audio pronunciation (if available) to assist especially with words relying on proximity

If the word is not in the database:

• You’ll see an error message with an option to email Phonogram University to request the word be added

Random Word Feature

The Random Word feature helps introduce new vocabulary or practice reading skills with random words from the database. To get a random word:

1. Click the “Get Random Word” button
2. The app will display just the random word
3. Only the word is displayed so the user can attempt to code and discuss the word before exposing the full information
4. Click the “Get Info for Random Word” button to see full information about that word
5. The “Get Info for Random Word” button will disappear after use and will reappear only when you request another random word

Phonogram Search

The phonogram search feature helps users decode words by hearing the sound(s) of the selected phonogram. To search for a phonogram:

1. Scroll to the bottom of the page
2. In the “Enter a phonogram:” field, type a phonogram (like “th,” “sh,” “oa,” etc.)
3. Click “Search Phonogram”
4. The app will display:
   • The phonogram title
   • Sample words containing the phonogram
   • Audio pronunciation of the phonogram (if available)

Note: The phonogram search is always available, regardless of what actions you take in the word search area.

Using Audio Features

When audio is available for a word or phonogram:

1. Audio controls will appear below the word/phonogram information
2. Click the play button to hear the correct pronunciation
3. Use the audio controls to replay as needed for practice

Tips for Effective Use

• For Reading Practice: Use the random word feature to create spontaneous reading exercises
• For Building Vocabulary: Search for specific words to see their images and hear correct pronunciation
• For Struggling Readers: Break words down into phonograms and spelling rules to help understand sound patterns

Best Practices

• Use headphones in classroom settings to allow individual students to hear pronunciations without disrupting others
• For younger learners, start with basic phonograms before moving to complex words
• Use the random word feature for quick reading assessments
• Encourage learners to try pronouncing the phonogram sounds before playing the audio

This Reading Assistant App is designed to be intuitive and accessible for users of all ages. If you encounter any issues or have suggestions for improvement, please contact Phonogram University for assistance.