{Review} Virtual Speech Center: Verbal Reasoning

I recently got the opportunity to review another app from Virtual Speech Center called Verbal Reasoning! Stay tuned...you might be able to win a copy.

From the developer's website: This is an app for ages 12 and up to target reasoning and critical thinking skills, with over 1000 stimuli. Activities include the following: identifying problems/solutions, predicting what will happen next, what would you do type questions, pros/cons, similarities/differences, why questions and negative WH questions.

This is an example of the puzzle reward - this is not a typical "place the pieces" puzzle, rather it's one where you have to keep moving the pieces around until you get the correct picture.

This screen allows you to choose which activities you'd like to target:

This is an example of the "predicting what happens next" with no multiple choice. 

This is an example of the "pros and cons" activity. This was one activity that I felt was definitely meant for older students - middle school/high school.

This is an example of the "negative why questions" activity:

What I Liked:

• Although the app says it's meant for ages 12+, I was able to use this with some of my students who were as young as 1st grade (if I chose the right categories)
• I liked the ability to chose if choices were given vs. open-ended
• I really liked the problem solving pictures - this generally resulted in discussions that went beyond the actual question
• I love that this app targets some different concepts than in other apps I've seen, like pros/cons and negative WH questions
• You have the option to record the student's answer, which would be a great way to work on grammar 
• You can email reports to yourself

What I Would Change:

• The puzzle as a reinforcer was too hard for some of my kids and they quickly lost interest (it's a puzzle where you have to move the pieces around rather than simply placing the pieces)
• For the pros/cons activity, it would be nice to have some examples for students to "drag" into a pro or con section

Overall, I like how this app takes a different approach to language skills that I frequently target. While it does state that it's for ages 12+, I believe you could use it with younger students with some adaptations. It currently sells for $12.99 in the app store.

Virtual Speech Center has been kind enough to offer a code for me to giveaway, so please enter below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway