Bluster!: Teaching Word Skills in the Elementary Classroom

In my quest to find another useful iPad app for elementary students, I first decided what content area I wanted the app to apply to. After choosing English, I began searching for an app that would teach students at a first grade level but also challenge them. I wanted an app that students could even continue using after they leave first grade. After looking at free apps on iTunes, researching, checking reviews, and playing a lot of games, I finally found Bluster.

What is Bluster?

Bluster is a free educational app available in the iTunes Store and distributed by McGraw-Hill School Education Group that tests students' knowledge of words. More specifically, it tests vocabulary, word skills, and word understanding through categories like synonyms, prefixes, and rhyming. It is only compatible with Apple iPads but with multiple settings, students can easily play alone, with a partner, or even in groups. The myriad of settings, the animation, and interaction make this app very engaging for kids. Additionally, I believe it can be suitable for any elementary age student from Kindergarten on up because of the many available levels.


Getting Started
Bluster is extremely easy use. As soon as you open the app, you are given the option of pressing play, viewing the scoreboard (the button that says honors) or learning how to play. The directions are broken down step by step and are very easy to understand. They even include pictures so you can see what is being described.

How Do You Play Bluster?
Once you press play, can choose the number of players, level, and match type. When it comes to the number of players, you can choose single (individual), versus (competition), or team play (two players work together to finish the game). Next, you can choose one of three difficulty levels and pick the match type (rhyming words, synonyms, etc.). Once you have done that, you are ready to play.

In the game, you will be given a list of vocabulary words to scroll through and three containers to place the words into. If you chose rhyming, the list of words will contain sets of words that rhyme. It is your job to scroll through and find three words that rhyme to drag into the containers. If you are correct, words of praise will appear on the screen but if you are incorrect, nothing will happen. It is up to you to determine how to fix your error. You will continue doing this until you run out of words and the first round is over. One game consists of three rounds. In each round, you will be given a different set of words of the same difficulty as before and at the end, you will be told your time and whether or not you earned a place on the leaderboard.

Features of Bluster

• Single, versus, and team mode 
• 3 levels of difficulty 
• Varying topics 
• In-app purchases for additional material 
• Multiple background scenes 
• Can be used as a table top game 
• Leaderboard 
• Supports Common Core phonics and word recognition standards 

Bluster has so many cool, useful features. The most surprising (and my favorite) is the use of team mode. In team mode, you place the iPad on a table and the two players sit on opposite ends of the iPad. The screen divides in two but instead of competing, you are both working together. When one player places a word into a container, it also appears on the other player's side of the iPad. If the players communicate, they will be able to complete the game more quickly than they would individually and they can learn from each other without even realizing it.

In versus mode, players can compete against each other. In this mode alone, some type of storm could blow across your screen to inhibit you or your opponent at any time. Although it only lasts a few seconds, that is all the time it takes for your opponent to make another word match and leave you

Team Mode

scrambling to catch up. This only adds to the intensity of the game and consequently, the engagement!

I also like that the app includes a leaderboard. I can easily imagine a group of first graders considering this leaderboard a badge of honor. Their desire to make it onto the leaderboard and thus enhance their learning can serve as great motivation to play more often and listen when we are discussing these topics in class. Additionally, they will likely increase their vocabulary. They will recognize more words when reading and begin to implement new words in their writing.

How Can I Use This in My Classroom?
Bluster can serve many purposes in a busy, energetic first grade classroom. Socially, it can be used to promote collaboration and healthy competition. Academically, it could benefit almost any student and better yet, it is a great way to differentiate your material. Specifically, I believe this would benefit English Language Learning students by giving them extra individualized practice at their level (Bindel, 2016).

This app could be played during center time or used to assess comprehension of Common Core State Standards you have discussed in class. Better yet, in the versus or team mode you could even assess two students at once which would cut your work in half. Additionally, it would work as an AGD (Attention-Getting Device) to begin class or as a quick activity to finish your lesson.

One education professor (and former teacher) at Georgia State University even suggests using Bluster as a supplemental activity for your lesson. You can find it here. If you wanted to eradicate the instructions to email the assignment to the teacher, you could always instruct the students to simply jot their answers on the back of the sheet and turn it in. Even if you do not have many iPads available in your classroom, you could allow each student to participate by putting them in groups and providing them with multiple centers to rotate through.

My Take on Bluster
This app is engaging and fun. I may be an adult, but I still enjoyed playing and learning about it. It can benefit almost any student and gives students a chance to actively learn. Through my research, I found that many teachers and reviewers agree. My only complaint is very minor: I wish there weren't so many in-app purchases to get extra content. Although each one is only $0.99, the sheer number of in-app purchases can make that small number become large very quickly. If your students actually master all of the material and would like more games, there is a Bluster Deluxe Version available in the iTunes Store for only $4.99. Regardless, I would recommend this game not just to first grade teachers or parents, but anyone teaching or caring for an elementary child of any age. The versatility of this app simply provides students with so much room for growth and gives educators endless possibilities.

References
Bindel, A. (2016). Bluster! Retrieved January 23, 2016 from Common Sense Media, Inc. website: https://www.graphite.org/app/bluster

Bluster app logo [online image]. Retrieved January 23, 2016 from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ bluster!/id416160693?mt=8

Bluster solo [online image]. Retrieved January 23, 2016 from https://www.graphite.org/app/bluster

De Sa, K. (Photographer/Creator). (2012). Bluster collage [online image]. Retrieved January 23, 2016 from http://blogs.ksbe.edu/shdesa/2012/09/27/using-the-ipad-in-the-library/