# Phonics Awareness, 1st Grade — user reviews > 29 indexed App Store user reviews of Phonics Awareness, 1st Grade by Bugbrained, LLC, rated 2.20/5 from 5 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-awareness-1st-grade/id467417553/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-awareness-1st-grade/id467417553.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 3 ## Newest reviews (9 of 29) ### 4/5 — Awesome! *2013-10-03, version 1.45* This app is great! Really helps with segmenting, blending and vowels. ### 4/5 — Learning app *2012-12-13, version 1.3* A number of apps claim to teach phonics, however, this is one of the few that actually sound out the words. I have been trying to find effective apps to help my 5 year old how to sound words out, but most apps already give you the answer. I like that this app helps her learn how to sound out her words to find the answer rather having her copy the already provided answer. ### 4/5 — a good start *2012-09-07, version 1.3* I appreciate how this app focuses on key skills from the Common Core Standards. The bugs are a cute visual--I've used caterpillar pictures with my students before and they're an effective aid. However, I have to agree with the other reviews that the voice used is a bit unclear, mostly due to dialect (a short "i" and short "e" merger that makes the sounds hard to tell apart). It would be great if there were an option to record one's own voice. I'd also love to be able to turn different reinforcements on and off. Even though the self check is supposed to be without reinforcements, they keep playing during the test. Overall, though, this is a good, free app that addresses important skills. ### 4/5 — Teaching app *2012-09-02, version 1.3* I gave this app 4 stars since it was free. It does a good job teaching beginning reading skills, but it does not seem to give practice items. I also did not like some of the items chosen for the short vowels. The n in ant changes the short vowel a. Dialectal differences in vowels makes it harder to choose target words. I think, for example, octopus would have a more consistent short o vowel than the word on. ### 3/5 — It has possibilities *2012-04-03, version 1.3* This could be a great app because it reinforces important emergent reading skills, but it always uses the same samples/prompts. Please add more practices for each section. Can the self check be unchecked? Would that allow more practice? ### 2/5 — lame *2012-03-04, version 1.1* poorly designed and boring. ### 5/5 — Exit bottom has been fixed *2011-11-09, version 1.0* Update 1.1 has an Exit button and has also added a Replay button to give more flexible navigation. ### 2/5 — Too much talking *2011-11-08, version 1.0* There was too much explanation before my kids could start the game. Additionally, the talking really slows down the pace of the game. Consequently, my kids were not interested in playing. ### 3/5 — No exit button? *2011-10-28, version 1.0* How come there is no "Exit button" in each section like 'vowels' or anything else..we have to use back button..all the way to go back to home menu..Ridiculous mistake!!! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Annoyed *2018-11-07, version 3.0* Simply can’t get the login from their website so for now I can’t use the app. I’ve reloaded the app twice but both times when I get to their site it gets stuck loading. ### 1/5 — Not ideal for teaching *2017-05-01, version 2.62* Voiced consonants /g, b/ are unvoiced when segmented from the word. Confusing for kids' auditory discrimination. Also, would be nice to be able to pause between trials to discuss errors with the child, but it just keeps pushing you along. ### 1/5 — Oh no! *2013-01-14, version 1.3* This app treats blends as one sound! Children need to be able to hear all of the sounds in the words. Also, there is minimal interaction with a large amount of listening involved. You don't have enough time to think about your answer (a small child or student with dyslexia will not in that time) and it moves on without you. On top of it all, you don't even segment the number of syllables yourself. You are given the segments and asked to move the letters. I'm glad this was free and that I did not have to pay for it. ### 1/5 — It's not pronounced "pitchers" *2012-01-28, version 1.1* You would think the narrator would know the correct pronunciation for the word 'pictures'! I strongly suggest that you correct this "bug"! ### 1/5 — Poor *2012-01-08, version 1.1* Poor design. No sound. No instructions. ### 1/5 — Froze. WORTHLESS *2011-12-08, version 1.1* game worked fine for a while, then said to update a few weeks ago & is just froze. It has shown to update for weeks, yet nothing happens. Have contacted them, but received NO REPLY. AVOID. WHATEVER YOU DO, don't waste $$ on it. ### 2/5 — Needs some fixes *2016-05-03, version 2.62* I had high hopes for this app but found some issues that need to be addressed before I can give it a higher rating. As a Reading Specialist I will not continue to use it until those are made, for instance when segmenting sounds beginning blends should not go together in one sound box, they are 2 separate sounds and each need their own box. Also, the sound for /b/ sounds like /p/ and should be adjusted. I hope you make these changes. ### 2/5 — first grade teacher *2014-07-05, version 2.01* This does review some basic skills, but the narration and graphics are SOOO boring. This does not keep the attention of 21st century kids. ### 2/5 — Not accurate *2013-03-27, version 1.3* This app treats blends as single sounds, which completely confounds what we try to teach children. Not only that, when the speaker pronounces these sounds, they are difficult to understand. Please don't use this app until the developer fixes this. It will confuse children. ### 2/5 — Okay I guess *2012-09-23, version 1.3* Full of bugs, and by bugs I mean glitches. Gives false praise at times and words will randomly disappear. Needs work. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Happy *2019-02-17, version 3.0* Help my little one learn how to segment word ### 5/5 — Phonics Awareness *2014-04-22, version 2.0* Love the updates. Lots more practice. I also like getting the scores. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2013-11-21, version 1.45* Beautiful program. Simply and straight to the point. With one lesson my daughter has already improved her decoding. ### 5/5 — Bug brained *2013-11-21, version 1.45* This is a WONDERFUL tool for first grade remediation! ### 5/5 — This app rules *2013-07-03, version 1.3* Super fun, my first graders love it. ### 5/5 — Awesome!!! App for great beginner *2013-01-23, version 1.3* I like the app because the cost is free and it is really helpful for beginners ### 5/5 — Wonderful *2012-11-01, version 1.3* Fun and great for learning ### 5/5 — Phonics Awareness *2012-08-22, version 1.3* I think this app is awesome and it teaches children that has delayed speech problems, hard of hearing, and/or has learning disability but the sound is too hard for me to hear but good job but needs improvement on the sounds & speaking clearly. :D ### 5/5 — Fantastic App for Free- Great diction by Narrator *2012-07-22, version 1.3* I rate this app based on a cost/benefit analysis. Since it is FREE and I benefited from it, it is a great value. The narrator has excellent diction so your child will be learning the proper enunciation of the various sounds used to speak English. I take one exception in the program in that the word "ant" does not begin with a short "a" sound (as in what one says for the dentist). I don't think "ant" is a good choice for an example of a word that begins with a short vowel sound. Perhaps one must either show the letter "a" as a short or long vowel sound but it has neither in the case of the word "ant". The narrator pronouns the short vowel sound of "a" correctly but when he applies it to the word "ant" of course it the sound must change and therefore it must be confusing for a child. The various navigation issues preceding my review must have been addressed because this app functioned flawlessly for me in respect to all complaints. One reviewer complained about the narrator's pronunciation of the word "pictures" but I could not find his use of the word in the app. More practice context would be helpful but as the app stands, it is of fabulous educational value. ### 5/5 — Wonderful! *2011-12-31, version 1.1* My 4 and 5 year olds love it. Plus I like the guy talking like a teacher, it helps me too, know good ways to teach my kids at home. Just wondered why I can't skip a certain question? Maybe it's me? --- *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 2026-06-10.*