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Words With Friends Edu builds student vocabulary for Common Core

Stephanie CarmichaelAugust 1, 2016

Game company Zynga has released an education-friendly version of the popular mobile, Scrabble-inspired game Words With Friends, and it’s available free for web and iOS and Android tablets.

Aligned with Common Core Standards, Words With Friends Edu teaches 4th to 8th graders vocabulary words that appear in textbooks and on assessments. Both teachers and parents can track student activity and set goals, such as what vocabulary sets to master. This interactive dashboard also indicates signs that a student may need help.

Words With Friends Definitions

Students can play against their peers in their own classroom (a safe, closed community) and receive bonus points for knowing the meaning of academic “Power Words.” They can also see definition hints.

The education version also includes badges and customizable avatars to promote engagement. So far, Zynga has tested the app with over 1,500 students. It plans to release additional lesson plans for the game. Currently, lessons are available for affixes, roots, spelling, sight words, writing prompts, and definition and meaning.

Words With Friends originally launched in 2009 and was named one of the Apple App Store’s Top 10 free games of all time.

Photo credit: Zynga