Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew
For the past few weeks I”ve been looking at a comprehensive literacy programme by EdAlive. This Australian-based company creates online programs to help students increase their literacy, math, and reading success. Words Rock Online allows for two methods of play, thereby encompassing a wide range of student needs. Let’s learn more eh?
The Basic Details
Today I am reviewing EdAlive’s programme Words Rock Online. They also produce two other games called Baggin’ the Dragon Maths Online and Volcanic Panic Reading Success Online.
Words Rock Online is a programme designed with homeschoolers in mind. You can play in game mode, which lets you play one round of a game, then asks a question, rinse repeat. We did not really use this mode in our home. Then you have the questions only mode. This mode gives you 10 questions to answer in each block.
This homeschool languages art program focuses on reviewing all the different aspects of language arts. You’ll cover advanced grammar, spelling, vocabulary, grammar along with punctuation. The set-up allows you to zero in on a particular area, or cover all areas at the same time.
Pricing is tiered. The more children you have, the less you pay per subscription. Their pricing page has details. Pricing starts at $90/year. Each subscription is suitable for one child due to the interactive elements.
As you work through the interactive elements you can say if a question is too difficult. Answers are provided if you get the question incorrect, but no explanations are given. It’s a “test your knowledge” program, which allows you to research what you don’t understand.
Words Rock Online is geared for students age 5-15+. Some of the questions include easy grammar, fun spelling activities, word smart vocabulary, alliteration excises, as well as a variety of fun games for middle school and beyond.
How Does Words Rock Online Work?
Words Rock Online has two modes.
I made a short video to show you what the game mode is like. In the video mode you can play against other people, or against the computer. It breaks up the answering questions with needing to hunt for slugs. How well you perform your the questions affects your gameplay overall.
In this household, we didn’t use this format very often.
And also one to show you what the lessons only mode is like. Lesson mode gives you a series of 10 questions in a row. If you have chosen the all content you will get questions of all different sorts. You can also choose to focus on specific areas to strengthen skills. This was our predominant method of use.
You get two chances to get the work right. If you are incorrect it will show you what you should have done. You do need to make sure you read the question correctly and not miss any steps. Sometimes you will need to capitalize your words or even though you are technically correct you will be graded as incorrect.
Occasionally you will be asked a question that you don’t the answer to. In that case you can say “too hard” or you can take a wild guess! Most of the time you will be asked questions you can easily answer if you just think the problem through and take your time. There are no time limits, so no pressure is applied that way.
Some troubles
In this question below the symbol was never defined so I thought the question was unfair. Unless this is just something people are taught in grammar classes! Note: I’m not a grammar geek. 🙂 I do wish that for some of the corrections that an explanation could be provided.
Feedback
I love immediate feedback! Not only for each question, but also for your overall session. I also like that you can look back and see improvement if you go to tools and reports.
If you finish your session you can stop or immediately start a new session. How long you use the program is completely up to you. You can finish a game or finish in the middle of a lessons-only series and it does not affect the program’s overall usefulness. It will start up again when you next log in.
As you can see it’s really easy to see how you are doing with EdAlive. Areas that need additional work are easy to spot, as are the areas that your student excels in. Feedback for student and teacher is very clear.
Should you Get Words Rock Online?
I love the variety of quizzing opportunities available in Words Rock Online. The fact that you can complete the quizzes in two different formats is absolutely fantastic. Children learn in so many different ways so providing options is essential. My son would be unimpressed with the game, and would appreciate that he can focus in on a particular type of lesson. Other children would prefer the games, and/or like to mix up the lessons they get.
Promoting attention to detail in answering questions was so important, and something I see a real need for in the papers I mark for a high school science class. It’s something I often remind my son to do. Read the question all the way through. Write your answer then reread the question to make sure you answered the entire question. It’s annoying to lose points for not paying attention so I’m glad that EdAlive reinforces that important principle.
Find EdAlive on Social Media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdAlive
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edalive
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edalive_onlinelearning/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/edalive/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/EdAliveTube
Read the Reviews!
36 Members of the Homeschool Review Crew have examined EdAlive. I urge you to check out their reviews by clicking the image below.  We have looked at Baggin’ the Dragon Maths Online, Volcanic Panic Reading Success Online and Words Rock Online.
It looks like you had a very different experience with this “app” than we did! But I’m glad you found some usefulness from it as well 🙂
Isn’t it good how everyone has a different take on it? Pros and cons to every program isn’t there?
That symbol thing was interesting. In Spanish, that is called an tilde but we were just taught it as an “enyay”. (probably not really how to spell that 🙂 My Spanish teacher was quite informal. ) It does seem interesting how there are some very specific things and then some really general ones but I guess that is to help catch all levels of a student’s ability.
yes, but sometimes I wish there was a bit more teaching to be done! 🙂
We’re so happy to hear that your family enjoyed Words Rock Online!
Thank you for your feedback and suggestions for Words Rock Online in the future too. I do know that there are questions that do teach you new concepts in there, but thank you for pointing out your want for more lessons included in the content.
Apart from your suggestions, we’re glad to hear the rest of it went so well for you!
I hope you enjoy the rest of your subscription! Thank you for your review 😀
I am so glad you liked my review! You’ve done a good job.
Wordler.net has hints and clues to help you solve the problems
okay… not sure how, but okay.