More Fun With Directions vs Categories Learning Center

If you liked our “Fun with Directions” app, you’ll also love our More Fun with Directions too! Developed by a speech-language pathologist, Patti Hamaguchi, M.A., CCC-SLP, this app continues with the same playful, colorful and engaging format with a focus on 12 concepts: turn on/turn off; up/down, front/behind, on/under, put in/take out, above/below. This is a great speech-language therapy app for early language learners or children new to the English language! The uncluttered background is also perfect for autistic children so they can focus better and have multiple repetitions of a concept. Help the monkey go up the tree, but watch out! He likes to throw those coconuts! Pop the bubble that is above the bird. Put the elephant under the larger table. Help the squirrel go down the tree. Turn off the red radio. Want more advanced directions? You got it! More Fun with Directions is designed to provide a fun and engaging way to practice listening, following directions, colors, comparatives (larger/smaller) spatial concepts, auditory memory and auditory processing. From the simplest of directions (“Turn on the lamp”) to the more complex (“Do you see a musical instrument with black and white keys? Put it behind the couch”) your child can grow and learn with this game over time. Colorful, vivid art and animations against a white background combine to create a complete game experience without visual clutter. Sound effects and surprises keep the game engaging! This app is a great choice for a toddler/preschooler, or any young child who would like to practice listening to or reading directions! Features include settings for text on/off, (to practice reading vs. listening) selecting specific concepts, replaying missed items and selecting the desired level of play: easy, intermediate or advanced. An added bonus that is included in this app is the optional “Superstar Direction” which allows additional practice for remembering (“What did you have to do?”) but also expressive language. The child’s response is recorded and played back. Superstar Directions are surprise questions that pop up at random times, but can easily be turned off if desired. PRIVACY POLICY: We do NOT collect personal data from our users and have no ads. Personal data regarding user performance on the tasks on this app are self-contained and not transmitted in any way. There are no in-app purchases in this app. There is a link to our other apps in the iTunes store which requires an internet connection if viewing is desired, but we have a parent gate in place to restrict internet access. *Please contact our tech support if you are experiencing any technical issues with our apps. We will always help you troubleshoot it and get back to you generally within one business day. We cannot respond to reviews and there are generally easy solutions to every issue. info@hamaguchiapps.com Hamaguchi Apps is dedicated to the mission of bringing high-quality apps to the general public and professionals for affordable prices. Developed by Patti Hamaguchi, M.A., CCC-SLP, a noted speech-language pathologist and author of Childhood Speech, Language & Listening Problems: What Every Parent Should Know, as well as books on the treatment of auditory processing disorders, a co-author of the RESCA-E test, TAPS-4, ELCI and RESCA-ELD. To find out more about this app and our other upcoming projects, visit our website: www.hamaguchiapps.com

Build stronger vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking through interactive categorization practice. Developed by certified Speech-Language Pathologists, Categories Learning Center is a multi-level, multi-player app designed to strengthen language comprehension and organization skills for learners of all ages. Categorization is a foundational cognitive and linguistic skill that supports word retrieval, memory, and reading comprehension. Rooted in research on language development and processing, Categories Learning Center provides fun, structured practice in identifying, grouping, and labeling objects based on shared features. These skills are essential for forming semantic networks that aid expressive language, reading, and writing. Children and adults alike can benefit—whether developing new vocabulary or improving word-finding and comprehension skills. Why Categorization Matters Being able to identify how words and objects relate helps learners store and retrieve information more effectively. Research shows that poor categorization skills can impact comprehension, vocabulary, and communication (Partyka & Kresheck, 1983; Semel, Wiig, & Secord, 2003; Richard & Hanner, 2005). Categories Learning Center helps strengthen these essential connections through engaging, evidence-based activities. Use Categories Learning Center to: • Teach how to sort objects that belong to the same category • Expand receptive and expressive vocabulary through visual learning • Improve word-finding and semantic organization • Reinforce reading comprehension through category-based learning • Track and measure progress with session-by-session performance reports Activities Include: • Receptive (Non-Verbal) Activities • Level 1: Sorting dissimilar objects • Level 2: Sorting similar objects • Where Does It Go?: Placing an object into one of three category options • Expressive Activities • Category Naming: Provide the correct category name for a group of objects • Category Selection: Identify which of four category names fits a group of objects • Extended Practice: Name additional items within each category to strengthen recall App Features: • Multi-player mode – up to 4 users at once • Multiple levels of difficulty to support skill progression • Customizable receptive activities with 2 or 3 category choices • Automatic progress tracking and data reporting • Reports that can be emailed, printed, or stored for future reference Categories Learning Center combines clinical expertise with engaging technology to make therapy and learning both effective and enjoyable. Whether used in schools, therapy sessions, or at home, this app provides a powerful tool for improving comprehension, organization, and expressive language skills. Created by Smarty Ears, trusted by over 250,000 educators and clinicians worldwide to deliver evidence-based learning solutions that empower communication and literacy development.