Dec 13, 2016 01:00 PM EST By Chris Brandt, UniversityHerald Reporter

Reading readiness is the stage where a child is prepared from being a non-reader to a reader. For a parent or a teacher who is tasked in this process, this might prove to be a real challenge, especially if this is a child with special need. Fortunately, there's education technology which has developed some helpful apps to help teachers and parents with this phase. Here are four of these reading readiness apps for students with special needs.

Zooper ABC Animals 

Developed by Zooper Dooper Edutainment Inc., this app presents the alphabet into an adventure where touch plays an important role in learning the ABC. Aside from the alphabet, the app contains rhymes in different levels and difficulties. The developer has play-tested and refined the app ensuring that it understands the needs of the child.

Elastic Alphabets

If Zooper Alphabet is presented as an adventure, Elastic Alphabets use the simple concept of line drawings to present the alphabet. Aside from the alphabet, words are also presented along with amazing animation that will surely engage the student. The app skillfully camouflages learning with fun that even a disinterested child will think it is play rather than study.

The Sounding of Machine - Assistive Reading Device

This app focuses on difficult words that are difficult to sound or pronounced. It distinctly specifies the differences between a /p/ sound and a /b/ sound and other confusing sounds and trick words. To help the child learn, the app models the sounds and the student follows it.

Rainbow Sentences

Rainbow sentences presents different levels of difficulties making it perfect for the various needs of students. The app has three levels of play with 55 sentences in each level. Furthermore, these sentences have six levels of complexity. The app is an ideal tool to teach children not only words but sentences as well. Plus, it has a very simple interface making it easy for the student to use the app.

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