# iReadBetter > Interactive reading and spelling education app based on Dr. Caleb Gattegno's literacy approach. (iPhone/iPad app by Next Learning LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ireadbetter/id1240473543 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Next Learning LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1000227616) - Category: Education, Games, Puzzle, Word - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 5 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 11.0 · 234 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2017-05-26 - Data updated: 2026-06-01 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ireadbetter/id1240473543/reviews.md ## What is iReadBetter? True or False: Children need someone to teach them how to read. True or False: The elements of written English are the 26 letters of the alphabet. True or False: Learning how to read means memorizing how thousands of words are spelled. True or False: Remembering a bunch of rules is essential to understanding phonics. True or False: “Reading” comprehension is essential for understanding. False is the correct answer to each of the above, and we have created an app that proves it! In fact, iReadBetter provides children with a fresh, new entry into the demands of written English. Back in the middle of the 20th century, a brilliant mathematician and educator, Dr. Caleb Gattegno, invented an approach to literacy, through which learners quickly become aware of five amazing facts: You can teach yourself how to read. The elements of written English are actually “signs,” which correspond to the forty or so spoken sounds of English, and those signs are often represented by surprising letters or combinations of letters. For example, you sound the /oo/ in flood like the /u/ in “up,” the /t/ in “action” like the /sh/ in “ship,” and the /ch/ in “chorus” like the /k/ in “kite.” By combining in various ways just a handful of “signs,” color-coded according to how you sound them (so, for example, the /t/ at the end of “past” is colored the same as the /ed/ at the end of “passed”), you can read and correctly spell almost a thousand words, with only a minimal need for memorization. By noticing consistencies and inconsistencies (e.g., “drove,” “cove” and “stove,” but not “move” or “love”), you can learn rapidly, while avoiding overly simplified and often misleading phonics rules. For instance, virtually all traditional phonics programs teach that there is a “short A” and a “long A,” when in fact there are no fewer than eleven ways in which that single letter can be sounded in written English, exemplified in the following sentence: All was dark as many warring hares raced around village swamps. Once accurate decoding is accompanied by the fluency and melody of a reader’s speech, “language” comprehension flows naturally from listening to the results. With the completed edition of iReadBetter, children everywhere have access the world’s first digital version of Gattegno’s full array of materials, techniques and activities. It gives them the opportunity to enter the world of reading and spelling with self-assurance and clarity about the true nature of the challenge. ## Key features - Color-coded sign system - Teaches English structure - Rapid learning approach - Improves reading comprehension - Interactive activities - Self-assurance in reading ## Frequently asked questions about iReadBetter ### How does iReadBetter teach reading? iReadBetter utilizes Dr. Caleb Gattegno's approach, introducing learners to 'signs' that correspond to spoken sounds. These signs are color-coded to help children understand their pronunciation and combinations, facilitating rapid word recognition and spelling. ### What is the learning methodology behind iReadBetter? The app's methodology is based on the idea that learners can teach themselves to read by understanding the underlying structure of written English. It emphasizes recognizing patterns and consistencies rather than memorizing rules or word spellings. ### Does iReadBetter offer progress tracking? While the description highlights the app's ability to build self-assurance and clarity in reading, specific details about built-in progress tracking features are not provided. The focus is on the learning methodology itself. ### Is iReadBetter suitable for young children? Yes, iReadBetter is designed for children aged 4 and up, as indicated by its age rating. The interactive nature and unique approach aim to make the learning process engaging and effective for this age group. ### What devices does iReadBetter support? Currently, iReadBetter is supported on iPads. Users can access the app on their Apple tablet devices to engage with its reading and spelling educational content. ### How often is iReadBetter updated? The app was last updated on February 18, 2024, indicating ongoing development and support. The latest version is 4.4, suggesting regular improvements and feature additions. ### Does iReadBetter have ads? No, iReadBetter does not contain advertisements. As a free application, it provides an uninterrupted learning experience for children without any ad interruptions. ### What do users like about iReadBetter? Based on its 5.0-star rating from 5 reviews, users likely appreciate the app's innovative approach to literacy and its effectiveness in teaching reading and spelling. The unique methodology appears to resonate well with its user base. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 4.4 — 2024-02-18 - Updates to credits and copyright - Fixes a bug preventing learners from leveling up ### 4.3 — 2022-06-11 - Practice and Test Fidel activities will say "show (the word)" and will give an example sentence where one exists when repeating the problem word. - In all Word Chart Practice activities, when the answer is marked as correct and there is a sentence in the answer box, pressing anywhere on the sentence will now play the entire sentence, rather than individual words. - Unselectable and disabled buttons are darker. ### 4.2 — 2022-04-27 New in 4.2 - Fixed issue with scrolling in Word Charts Practice Touch Letters - Added new words and sentences New in 4.1 - Updated word lists - Fidel activities now take 12 signs up from 10 - Added "usual" and "azure" to Chart 10 - Disabled levels now look the way they should New in 4.0: - The content of the app is complete, covering all the sounds of English and most of their associated representations in print - New levels: Stage 3 Levels 4, 5, and 6 - New voice synthesizer with more accurate pronunciation of Stage 3 words and sentences - Better support for new and smaller iPad screen sizes - Dozens of refinements to the Word Charts activities and curricula - Hundreds of new words and sentences for existing levels - Fixed a bug where users resuming the app could get stuck in a loop logging in - Dozens of other bug fixes, performance improvements, and UI refinements ### 4.1 — 2022-04-24 New in 4.1 - Updated word lists - Fidel activities now take 12 signs up from 10 - Added "usual" and "azure" to Chart 10 - Disabled levels now look the way they should New in 4.0: - The content of the app is complete, covering all the sounds of English and most of their associated representations in print - New levels: Stage 3 Levels 4, 5, and 6 - New voice synthesizer with more accurate pronunciation of Stage 3 words and sentences - Better support for new and smaller iPad screen sizes - Dozens of refinements to the Word Charts activities and curricula - Hundreds of new words and sentences for existing levels - Fixed a bug where users resuming the app could get stuck in a loop logging in - Dozens of other bug fixes, performance improvements, and UI refinements ### 4.0 — 2022-04-14 - The content of the app is complete, covering all the sounds of English and most of their associated representations in print - New levels: Stage 3 Levels 4, 5, and 6 - New voice synthesizer with more accurate pronunciation of Stage 3 words and sentences - Better support for new and smaller iPad screen sizes - Dozens of refinements to the Word Charts activities and curricula - Hundreds of new words and sentences for existing levels - Fixed a bug where users resuming the app could get stuck in a loop logging in - Dozens of other bug fixes, performance improvements, and UI refinements ## Apps similar to iReadBetter | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Buzz 'n' Read (Standard)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buzz-n-read-standard/id6469086441) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Education | | [Unique Teach Reading Program](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/unique-teach-reading-program/id1661999885) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Education | | [Wiggly Words: Phonics for kids](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wiggly-words-phonics-for-kids/id996078190) | 5.0 (9) | $2.99 | Education | | [Funetix](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/funetix/id1543124898) | 4.4 (18) | Free | Education | | [Two-Sound Flipbook](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/two-sound-flipbook/id499728444) | 4.7 (6) | Free | Education | | [Sentence Reading Magic-Schools](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentence-reading-magic-schools/id671455228) | 4.6 (7) | $4.99 | Education | ## More apps by Next Learning LLC - [iSpellBetter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ispellbetter/id325566481) - [iSpellBetter Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ispellbetter-lite/id1311539341) All apps by Next Learning LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/1000227616 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-01.*