Friendly Phonics app for iPhone and iPad

Friendly Phonics is the first release in a series of wonderful educational apps, teaching basic alphabet sounds.

Whatever your age, ability or circumstances, learning to be literate in English is very important. Friendly Phonics makes this normally arduous task, simple, engaging and addictive!

The app was designed and created by internationally acclaimed educationalist and artist, Dawn Matthews.

Friendly Phonics is a unique concept based on the simple premise of engaging users in a way that makes learning letter sounds and formations enjoyable - getting them to watch how to draw a letter, repeat what they just watched and get rewarded for their great work by viewing beautiful art pieces.

How to play:

• Select a letter - Start by picking any letter you like, and this will take you to the letter page.
• View the animations - Enjoy the stunning hand-drawn animations on each letter page.
• Listen to sounds - Tap on the feature letter or on the sentences, to hear them read out loud.
• Draw the letter - Tap on the sketched letter and watch the fingerprint demonstrate how to draw over it.
• Reveal stunning artwork - As you draw, youll reveal randomised artwork underneath, exclusive to Friendly Phonics.
• Unlock more artwork - Head to the settings page to unlock more artwork to reveal behind your letters.

The creator, Dawn Matthews has a special connection with Friendly Phonics as she herself struggled to read and spell at school:

“Being dyslexic, epileptic, and dysrpraxic, ADHD and CDPD I get bored easily so have several concurrent careers, including being a qualified teacher; lecturer; writer; designer of educational programs and games; and an educational consultant. I get the most satisfaction from turning sad, anxious faces into happy confident ones, but I enjoy most being an artist, printmaker and designer.

I have dedicated my life to helping kids and adults, especially those, who, like me learn and think differently because every one of the thousand upon thousands of students and families I have helped, have been special and gifted. Bringing out a gift in a kid or adult who believes s/he is stupid, as I did, throughout school, is the most rewarding thing you can do. Teachers predicted I would become a shop assistant.

In the words of Albert Einstein, “Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.”

I feel as though, despite being very ill for most of my life, I have experienced one of the most fulfilling lives ever. And I love, love, LOVE my work. I discovered that what works for dyslexics, works equally for every one.

I did not find out that I was dyslexic until I was 22 and half-way through art college. I became a qualified teacher and lecturer purely to help other people with learning differences. I discovered apps and was able to combine everything I enjoy into Friendly Phonics while helping both adults, students and people learning English as a second language (I also work in Thailand and Malaysia).

The key to learning is wanting to repeat because you are having so much fun, and in making each repetition unique and exciting.

Friendly phonics is designed, like my other educational courses, to be ageless and suitable for any culture; anyone can learn literacy very quickly and enjoyably. Friendly phonics has no punishment, no one saying “no” and certainly no one who makes you feel stupid. Everyone can learn at their own pace.

It can be used alongside any other program and follows recommended educational guidelines.

Each new page and action not only utilises everything I have learned in 60 years but I have personally painted over a thousand images that appear randomly and 26 specially hand drawn animations. Every action, ever letter, brings about a new and unexpected reward.”

Friendly Phonics is endorsed by Dyslexic Centre Australia Incorporated.

App and website by http://www.dapperapps.com.au