ABCYA! WHAT YOU WERE NEVER TOLD
What to know about ABCya.
ABCya is a website that offers a vast selection of educational games that are arranged according to subject and grade level. Public school teacher Alan Tortolani founded ABCya in 2004 after creating personalized exercises for his students in the past and realizing that others would find them helpful as well. Millions of kids, parents, and educators visit this website every month, and between them, they play over a billion games annually.
Children can simply explore a large selection of games with adult assistance. A few of the games are multiplayer, and kids have to make usernames (you may make sure that only your classmates or friends can join by adding a passcode). Incorporating social skills and education while making learning more enjoyable and captivating for kids is a fantastic opportunity, and it’s also a great approach to build the brain pathways that are crucial for learning. A segment of videos on the platform offers instructions for a variety of arts and crafts projects.
Most of the information may be accessed without charge, however by paying, you can get more downloadable stuff and an ad-free experience. The mobile app can be accessed with the ABCya premium version. Although it may be accessed on mobile devices, the variety of games and activities it provides is somewhat restricted. Teachers may easily locate games that satisfy specific standards because many of them align with a wide range of Common Core State Standards.
How ABCya is used
Just choose a grade level, which goes from kindergarten to sixth grade, and then a subject, such as numbers, letters, holidays, strategy, or skills. Next, pick a game that interests you and follow the directions (occasionally an AI voice reads the instructions). Please be aware that certain instructions can be complicated, requiring clarification from parents or teachers. Furthermore, games come in all degrees of difficulty, so in order for kids to finish the task, they might need to choose a different grade level.
When using the learning platform, the user can choose any grade level. As they select activities that fit their aptitude and skill level, kids have access to a variety of grade levels. Children can assess their level of competence in several categories without the need for a placement test or beginning point, which will help them become more confident learners.
You can stop an activity at any time, which is fantastic if you find it to be too boring. It helps to make the activities more enjoyable and less like school or homework because time cannot be squandered completing required tasks or levels. Unlike many other platforms, which require the child to redo the entire activity, this one allows them to try again right immediately after making a mistake by means of a sound or vibration to let them know that what they did was incorrect.
The majority of activities offer several level alternatives; for instance, an activity that involves counting can offer numerous options for counting. The youngster is free to select any choice, try it all at once, and repeat it as often as they’d like. Since the exercises are not assessed or offer chances to “level up” or get harder, this is a terrific addition to the program.
What types of activities can I find on ABCya?
The options can be a little intimidating because they often seem to go on forever. There are many interesting things to do, such making doughnuts as incentives, building skateboards, reading, counting, ordering, and painting.
The fact that the activities on this learning platform are not limited to a single subject is fantastic. Additionally, you can choose a “skill,” such as creating skateboard designs, reading, and matching terms to their definitions. This platform covers reading and mathematics as fundamental topics, and the activities offer a wide variety of skill development options. Because there are so many possibilities available, the variety of activity kinds encourages user involvement and can prolong usage time.
Options exist to take these activities outside of the child’s desktop as well. Additionally, there are activity pages, coloring pages, teacher materials, and downloadable worksheets accessible. However, because they are part of the subscription, these resources are quite restricted. Only coloring pages can be downloaded and printed from ABCya’s free edition.
Analyzing the Costs and Prices of ABCya
For testing purposes, ABCya offers a free version of the learning platform that allows you to access a large range of functions without having to pay anything. Additionally, you are not restricted to a small number of activities or a few days. The entire platform is actually available to you, with only a few features disabled. But be aware that there is advertising in the free edition, which can be obnoxious.
To improve the experience even further, there is a premium subscription available. In addition to blocking advertisements, the membership gives you access to the desktop full screen mode, which enhances and simplifies the experience. All downloaded materials (worksheets, activity pages, teacher tools, and more) are also yours to keep. Additionally, and maybe most crucially, you will get complete access to the mobile version. There are a few free activities available on the mobile app, but they are not very many.
The family plan and the teacher-only classroom plan are the two premium choices that ABCya offers. You have the option to pay on a monthly, six-monthly, or annual basis, depending on what suits your needs. The six-month option is $7.50 a month or $44.99 every six months, while the annual subscription breaks down to $5.83 per month or $69.99 for the full year. The monthly subscription costs $9.99 and can be canceled at any time.
Although this may appear expensive, the premium classroom subscription is $25.00 per month or $299.99 yearly. With this, up to thirty devices can be connected at once, enabling a classroom setup. Access to all downloaded resources is also provided, which is a fantastic addition to the classroom.
Advantages and disadvantages of ABCya
Like every learning platform, there are benefits and drawbacks to take into account.
The PC and mobile versions are both simple to use, which facilitates independent use for certain tasks. On the other hand, I thought the mobile version was easier to use, particularly in terms of screen visibility. The desktop version’s scrolling can irritate you, and the only full screen feature available to premium members.
Even though the majority of the activities require an internet connection, the premium subscription gives you access to offline activities on the mobile app and downloadable activities that you may print on the desktop version.
Setting Up Your Account
Certain exercises may seem quite monotonous because all that’s required is dragging the object till it reaches the correct portion. The child may grow weary of guessing and lose interest in these games. If a user feels that an activity isn’t engaging enough, they can always end it and select another level or activity.
As previously indicated, this learning platform does not emphasize maintaining a grade level or performing at a particular level, which may demotivate kids. In order to compensate for this, users are encouraged to participate in more activities through hidden prizes that appear at the conclusion of specific tasks. For instance, if you correctly identify the similarities and differences in an activity, you get to build and consume a virtual doughnut.
Honest Review
In order to obtain a wider viewpoint, I asked kids in a variety of grade levels for their honest comments. These are some of their observations:
“I enjoy that I get to create things.”
“It’s not my favorite because there were too many options.”
“That’s awesome! Though I am in grade 2, I am able to play games meant for grade 6. I must be incredibly intelligent.
“I can simply stop doing anything if I don’t like it. I enjoy having that learning flexibility.
“I have to carve a scary pumpkin!”
When I play, I get a spy-like feeling. I figured out the code and won everything.
Is ABCya worth it?
I would adore using the printed resources in my classroom as a teacher. It works well for activities that are directed or in small groups, and it comes naturally to those who work quickly and are constantly looking for something to do when their workday is over. If your classroom has the necessary equipment, having access to many devices is fantastic. If, like me, you don’t, you might send the access code home with kids who require more help and resources for their education.
ABCya is a flexible tool made for teachers who want to improve student learning in the classroom with an easy-to-use interface. Regardless of the subject or skill that their children are concentrating on, it is equally beneficial to parents who want to assist their kids in studying at home. It is a simple choice for kids who want to improve their own learning, even though it doesn’t offer much in the way of tracking or more logical learning methods. Furthermore, having the flexibility to follow your own path might encourage a sincere love of learning.
The crucial query in this situation is, “Is it worth it?” There is every incentive to use the platform for educational reasons, especially when a large chunk of it is free. To improve a child’s educational experience, all you need is an internet connection and no commitment. For families, the membership option is reasonably priced, but it makes the most sense if you want to use all of the materials. The premium classroom plan may be a little pricey for teachers, but it can be a useful addition to your teaching resources.