SpellSprout Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What age is SpellSprout designed for?

SpellSprout is designed for children ages 6-8 (roughly 1st through 3rd grade), and works well for any child practicing weekly spelling lists — parents can adapt it for older or younger children depending on their reading and spelling level.

What curriculum does SpellSprout support?

SpellSprout supports multiple phonics curricula:

• Spalding Method (The Writing Road to Reading)
• All About Spelling
• Logic of English
• Custom (for families using other methods)

Do I need an internet connection?

No! SpellSprout works completely offline — including photo list scanning,

which runs entirely on your device. The only network activity is optional,

parent-enabled anonymous analytics.

Parent Dashboard

How do I access the parent dashboard?

From the role selection screen, tap "I'm a Parent." If you've set up PIN protection, you'll need to enter your PIN or use Face ID/Touch ID.

How do I set up a PIN?

1. Enter the parent dashboard
2. Go to Settings > Security
3. Tap "Set Up PIN"
4. Enter a 4-6 digit PIN and confirm

I forgot my PIN. What do I do?

On the PIN screen, tap "Forgot PIN?" — you can answer your security question (if you set one up) or use the emergency reset, which removes the PIN while keeping all spelling lists, progress, and settings.

How do I add spelling words?

1. Go to the Spelling tab in parent mode
2. Tap the + button
3. Either type words manually or use the camera to scan a list

Can I import a spelling list from a photo?

Yes! Tap the camera icon in the Spelling tab, take a photo of a printed or handwritten list, and SpellSprout will extract the words using OCR.

Child Mode

What does my child actually do in the app?

Your child picks their spelling list and practices through 16 different

mini-games — SpellingBee, WordScramble, Snowman, LetterPop, WordSearch,

SpellCaster, BossBattle, MemoryMatch, SpeedSpell, and more. The variety keeps

practice from feeling like the same drill twice.

How does SpellSprout keep kids motivated?

Correct words build streaks, and streaks and milestones unlock achievements.

The progress screen shows kids their own stats — words mastered, best streak,

accuracy — so improvement is visible to them, not just to you.

Can my child get to anything they shouldn't?

No. Child mode has no links, no browser, no chat, no purchases, and no way to

reach parent settings without the PIN.

My child's progress seems stuck. What's wrong?

SpellSprout uses adaptive difficulty. If your child is struggling with certain words, they'll appear more frequently. Check the Analytics tab to see which items need more practice.

Practice & Learning

How does adaptive difficulty work?

SpellSprout tracks accuracy for each word and phonogram:

• Items below 70% accuracy appear 2x more often
• Items above 90% accuracy use spaced repetition (appear less often)
• Parents can override this in Settings

What are phonogram tiers?

Phonograms are grouped by complexity:

• Tier 1: Basic phonograms (a, b, c, sh, th)
• Tier 2: Intermediate (igh, ough, ei)
• Tier 3: Advanced (ph, gn, wr)

Can I customize which phonograms my child practices?

Yes! Go to the Phonograms tab in parent mode and toggle individual phonograms on/off. You can also select/deselect entire tiers.

Data & Privacy

Is my child's data safe?

Yes. SpellSprout:

• Stores all data locally on your device (encrypted)
• Does not require accounts for children
• Does not show ads or track behavior
• Is fully COPPA compliant

See our Privacy Policy for details.

How do I back up my data?

1. Go to Settings > Data Management
2. Choose "Export Data" — you can save or share the backup file anywhere you like
3. Restore it later with "Import Data"

How do I delete all data?

1. Go to Settings > Data Management
2. Tap "Delete All Data"
3. Confirm deletion

Warning: This cannot be undone unless you have a backup.

Technical Issues

The app is crashing. What should I do?

1. Force close and restart the app
2. Restart your device
3. Check for app updates
4. If problems persist, contact support@spellsprout.app

The voice sounds robotic. Can I make it better?

Yes — and it's free. SpellSprout uses your device's built-in speech voices,

and Apple offers much clearer Enhanced/Premium voices as free downloads: in

the iPhone Settings app go to Accessibility > Read & Speak > Voices >

English (Spoken Content on older iOS), download an Enhanced or Premium

voice (e.g. Samantha), and

SpellSprout will use it automatically. Full walkthrough:

Get the Best Voice.

Audio isn't playing. How do I fix it?

1. Check that your device isn't in silent mode
2. Check the app's sound settings (Settings > Audio)
3. Try restarting the app

The camera/OCR feature isn't working.

1. Make sure you've granted camera permission
2. Ensure good lighting on the document
3. Hold the camera steady
4. For handwritten lists, write clearly in print

Account & Purchases

Is there a subscription?

No. SpellSprout is a one-time purchase with no subscriptions, in-app purchases, or ads.

Can I use SpellSprout on multiple devices?

There's no automatic sync (that's part of keeping all data on-device), but you can move your data: export a backup file from one device and import it on another.

How do I get a refund?

Refunds are processed through the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Contact them directly within 14 days of purchase.

Contact Support

Email: support@spellsprout.app

Response Time: Within 48 hours

When contacting support, please include:

• Device type (iPhone, iPad, Android)
• iOS/Android version
• SpellSprout app version
• Description of the issue
• Screenshots if applicable

Can't find your answer? Email us at support@spellsprout.app