My Word List helps children learn to spell through a structured, hands-on practice method based on orthographic mapping — the same research-backed approach used in many reading intervention programs.
Parents choose the word list. The app handles the practice. Used by families learning English as a second language and children building foundational literacy skills.
HOW IT WORKS
Every word goes through six practice stages that build confidence gradually:
Study the word with tricky letters highlighted in a distinctive color
Hear the word spoken aloud with a single tap
Arrange letter tiles to build the word (with support fading across stages)
Type the word from memory with no visual hints
The app tracks mastery as children work through their word list, and only marks a word as mastered once they can spell it independently from memory.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT
Most spelling apps test children over and over on words they already know. My Word List focuses practice on the words each child actually struggles with. The tricky letter highlighting draws attention to the parts of a word that are hardest to remember — exactly the technique shown to build lasting spelling memory.
FEATURES
Six progressive practice stages per word
Tricky letter highlights (customizable in the full version)
Text-to-speech so children can hear any word on demand
Mastery tracking with visual progress across the word list
Works with any word list — not locked to a fixed curriculum
Starred word lists so parents can focus practice on priority words (full version)
Add custom word lists from school or therapy (full version)
BUILT BY A PARENT
This app was created by a mom, not an app developer or educator. It started as a way to help one child who needed a different kind of spelling practice — and grew from there. The word lists, tricky letter system, and mastery approach are based on orthographic mapping research, but this is a peer-created tool, not a clinically validated program. We hope you find it as useful as we have.
UNLOCK MY WORD LIST
The app is free to use with the built-in word list. A one-time $0.99 purchase unlocks custom word lists, starred word focus mode, and the ability to edit which letters are highlighted for your child.