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Sentence Ninja

Sentence Ninja
Features

Price

$34.99

Age Range

Lower Primary & Upper Primary

App Type

Learning App

Version Reviewed

1.1

Android Available?

Is Android Available

Lite Version Available?

Is a Lite Version Available

Help Provided?

Is Help Provided
Bloom's Thinking Process
CreatingBlooms Creating
EvaluatingBlooms Evaluating
AnalysingBlooms Analysing
ApplyingBlooms Applying
UnderstandingBlooms Understanding
RememberingBlooms Remembering
Adaptability
Includes pictures
Includes recorded voice
Add own voice
Includes text
Review Comments
Sentence Ninja provides children with opportunities to visually construct sentences out of written words, then record these sentences.
 
There are 39 levels of increasing difficulty. The app is suitable for multiple children. You can also access worksheets which you can easily print or e-mail directly from the app.
 
Written sentence construction
A picture is shown with words scattered around. The instruction is spoken e.g. "Drag a word to make a phrase".
 
Expressive sentence practice
Once the child has made the sentence, a written instruction appears "Well done! Now let's hear you say what you created and we will record it for you"
 
Levels
1. Phrase level - these are agrammatical phrases such as "boy plays". The levels are:
Subject + verb e.g. "bunny hop
Verb + noun/object e.g. "drink milk"
Pronoun + object e.g. "my doll"
Possessive phrase e.g. "kitty's dish"
Adjective + noun e.g. "big truck"
Preposition + article + noun" e.g. "on the counter"
2. Sentence level - there are 14 levels which include:
Verb phrases
Past tense and present tense phrases
Adjectives
Copula verbs
"Be" verbs
3. Question format - There are six levels which include:
is/are sentences
Who/What/Where is verbing sentences
4. Negation - includes the 'not' modifier with two levels
Subject + is/are+ not+ verbing e.g. "He is not running"
Subject + copula is/are+ not+ adjective e.g. "He is not tall"
5. Advanced Sentences - these are mostly subject+verb+object sentences including
Adverbial phrases
Prepositional phrases
Passive tense
6. Complex sentences
    Subject + past tense verb+ prepositional phrase+ verb+object+and+verb phrase e.g. "Mother walked into the kitchen and cleaned the table and
cooked the supper"
 
 
You can access worksheets which you can easily print and/or e-mail from the app directly.
 
 
 
Use Rank (*)
Written Sentences and Questions Ranked 3rd of 20
Sentences Ranked 7th of 13

(*) This app has been ranked according to its' effectiveness to achieve the learning goals and strategies listed. Some apps may rank highly for achieving a specific use and lower for other uses. Some students will learn and engage with one app more than others, because of the individual nature of us all.

Learning App
Learning apps are designed for a specific purpose. The authors claim to teach a goal, skill or concept.
Bloom's Thinking Process
Bloom's Taxonomy is classification system used to explain the behaviours important in learning. Apps range from simple memory tasks such as flashcards apps through to creative apps which ask students to create an original story or video.
Bloom's Creating
The student creates new ideas, products or ways of viewing things. Activities include making, animating, designing, constructing, planning, producing and inventing.
Bloom's Evaluating
The student justifies a decision or course of action. Activities include counting to check, hypothesising, critiquing, experimenting and judging.
Bloom's Analysing
The student breaks the information into parts to explore understandings and relationships. Activities include explaining, ordering, inferring, comparing and organising.
Bloom's Applying
The student uses the information in a new situation. Activities include implementing, carrying out, using, illustrating, classifying and categorising.
Bloom's Understanding
The student comprehends the new information. Activities include describing, predicting showing understanding use a multiple choice.
Bloom's Remembering
The student recalls information they know. Activities include matching, 'fill in the blank', making a choice, answering using a multiple choice, naming a group.
Learning Connection
How well does the app teach the targeted skill or concept? This is the area where we refer to current research and pedagogy to evaluate the efficacy of the app.
Authenticity
Authenticity looks at the manner in which skills are learnt. Authentic apps use real life or genuine activities. Students learn in context rather than in a contrived or rote fashion (such as flashcards).
Feedback
Feedback needs to be specific and result in improved performance. Feedback should be supportive and encouraging rather than negative. Data should be available to support decision making.
Differentiation
Differentiation is the ability to customise the app to suit the student. The ability to record you voice, customise text, add pictures and alter settings enables individualisation of the app.
User Friendliness
User friendliness is a measure of how well a student can use the app independently. Some apps are simply intuitive to use. Others include audio or visual prompts which support the student.
Motivation
All apps are engaging the first time they are played. However, students with diverse learning needs may need to return to the app many times. Motivating apps offer rewards,games or incentives.
Written Sentences and Questions
The child builds a written sentence or questions. They may choose a sentence or select words to build a sentence or question.
Sentences
There are rules which govern how words are put together to form a sentence. The student practises saying a whole sentence with correct grammar and vocabulary.

Domain Score Details
Learning Connection 4
Sentence Ninja certainly provides ample opportunities to build and practice saying sentences. There is a lot of content in this app and it is well organised.
Authenticity 2
Children build a sentence out of scrambled words then they record their sentences.
Feedback 3
When correct, a positive chime is heard. Then there is a written feedback "Well done!". When incorrect a negative chime is heard and the words are scattered for a second attempt. There is an option for a hint to be available. The hint provides part of the sentence. Progress reports are available.
Differentiation 4
There is a huge range of setting options. I like that you can choose upper or lower case for the words. There are options to display hints, colour coded cues, recording answers, spoken instruction, accuracy information, sound, random presentation of sentences, reward audio automatically turn pages and automatically increase the level. You can also turn off the Japanese music.
User Friendliness 3
The instructions are written and spoken for the sentence construction, but are only written for the expressive part.
Motivation 3
Children enjoy the ninja theme. There are rewards to be earned which can help children stay with this app. However, I found that once a child had used this app many times, the tasks are repetitive and the children required some additional rewards.
From the App Store
iTunes logo

Developer

Smarty Ears, LLC

App Store Rating

(from 0 reviews)

Current Version Rating

(from 0 reviews)

Current Version

4.0
App 1st Screenshot
App 2nd Screenshot
App 3rd Screenshot
App 4th Screenshot
App 5th Screenshot

Developer's Description
*Featured on iTunes under the Educational Games category in 2013*
***"My students and I really enjoy working on sentence and grammar skills with Sentence Ninja. The app quickly captures their attention with the colorful Ninjas, and the tasks are presented in a hierarchical fashion to build upon skills mastered. There are plenty of customization options to meet individual learner needs. I appreciate the color coded cues given during tasks. My students love recording their sentences and tracking their progress." The Appy Ladies***

Sentence Ninja is a multi-player multi-level app designed to improve sentence structure skills in children and adults. Designed by a certified speech-language pathologist, Sentence Ninja uses a fun Ninja theme to engage clients in their learning while teaching word order. Easily customizable to fit nearly every need, Sentence Ninja is a great addition to the therapy toolbox.

Created to facilitate an understanding of how correct word order impacts sentence structure, Sentence Ninja has 39 levels ranging from simple phrases to complex sentences. Each phrase or sentence has a corresponding picture. Sentence Ninja is designed to teach and reinforce the grammar rules of the English language for children, English language learners, and adults requiring rehabilitation.

When playing Sentence Ninja, the active player is depicted by a ninja figure walking across stepping stones. Players waiting to take their turn are depicted on the side of the page. With each turn, a new picture is displayed with the phrase or sentence words shown on various pieces of paper. The player will drag the words, in order, to the sentence strip at the bottom of the page. If the sentence is not correct, the words will return to their position on the picture. When done with the session, a simple tap on the done button brings the user to the reports center.

From the report center, a tap on the avatar of the client brings up the choice of report cards or awards and points. The awards and points center is a great way to help clients see the scores and any awards they have won throughout the game. Report cards are kept for each session and available to track progress monitoring over time. Sentence Ninja also includes several worksheets of various skill levels that are easily printed or emailed.

Sentence Ninja has many customization choices from the “select a player” screen and from within each target page. The facilitator can choose to record the students saying the sentences, display hints, automatically increase in complexity, or turn on color coding cues. In addition, the facilitator can select the “customize word list” to select/deselect item choices.

Sentence Ninja has the following features:
•39 levels of increasing difficulty and skill levels
•Customizable
•Up to 5 players
•Homework
•Receptive and expressive Language skills
•Data Collection over time for each student
•Compatibility with Therapy Report Center for easy report writing and progress monitoring
Author: Susan Rose Simms, MA, CCC-SLP
Designer: Barbara Fernandes, MS, CCC-SLP

Disclaimer: The evaluations and rankings information provided here are based solely on the opinion of the author and are for informational purposes only. Families should seek professional advice before making decisions regarding interventions for their child.