Sight Words Arena – Third Grade

Sight words and drilling are an important part of developing reading fluency in grade three. This app is basic but effective for drilling and it can be a useful addition to the toolbox for sight word recognition for a tech-oriented beginning reader.

The graphics are appealing with cartoon character buttons that move the screens back and forth and let kids repeat words. The selection of words is large (325) and varied. If you're using this app as a substitute for traditional flash card drilling you'll be satisfied—it does the job. The fun factor is pretty low, however. You can't mix up words or randomize them—they're presented in alphabetical order only. You can also turn the speech feature off and on and display words in uppercase or lowercase.

There's a "show and say" button that can be tapped to repeat words that need reinforcement—this button can be turned on and off. The app also keeps track of your student's progress. All-in-all, this is a serviceable, down-to-earth option for sight word study. For a distractible child, the lack of bells and whistles might actually be an advantage.