I enjoyed interviewing Mike Jones and Tiffany James about the Nessy app and the Science of Reading (SOR). Both Mike and Tiffany bring personal experience and deep understanding to the table, having navigated the challenges of dyslexia themselves. This 2-part series includes the interview and a review of their app.
What is Nessy?
Nessy is an online program that uses games and interactive activities to teach essential literacy skills like phonics, spelling, and reading comprehension. The program is designed to align with educational standards, providing teachers and therapists with a structured approach to support students in the classroom.
The Science of Reading in Action
My review focuses on how Nessy follows the scope and sequence of literacy instruction. Using the Reading League’s Curriculum Workbook as a guide to curriculum mapping, Nessy’s app helps students recognize letter sounds to master tricky words. The app breaks down these essential skills into fun, bite-sized lessons. While the games are not directly geared toward occupational therapy, they can still be used creatively to support writing development.
Games for All Learning Styles
With different levels and islands for students to explore, Nessy’s game-based approach keeps learners engaged. This is an excellent way for teachers to reinforce phonics lessons in a fun and interactive manner. Here are the games it features.
How Nessy Can Be Used in Classrooms
Teachers and therapists can collaborate by having small groups of students work on different activities—some with the teacher, others with the OT, and another group using Nessy. This multifaceted approach allows for targeted support while keeping all students engaged in the classroom, which is the focus of the Tier 1 Interventions podcast.
Is Nessy Right for Your Classroom?
One key takeaway from this episode is that Nessy can be an excellent supplemental tool. For teachers, it offers independent learning activities that align with the SOR. For occupational therapists, it can provide a basis for practicing fine motor skills, like writing, by incorporating the visual and auditory aspects of learning.
Try Nessy Today!
If you’re interested in exploring Nessy for your students, Cheri encourages listeners to take advantage of their free trial. Whether you’re in a school setting or providing one-on-one therapy, Nessy’s structured but playful approach can change how students approach reading and writing. For more insights, subscribe to The Writing Glitch and leave a review! Let us know if product reviews like this one are helpful to you.