How we keep SpellingJoy honest.
SpellingJoy is an editorial directory of K–12 learning apps, websites, and platforms. We accept money. We also review honestly. This page explains exactly how both can be true.
Last updated April 29, 2026. Maintained by the editorial team.
Who we are
SpellingJoy is run by a small editorial team of working educators with classroom experience.
- Maria Chen, Editor-in-Chief — 12 years K–6 classroom, M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction.
- Jamal Patel, Senior Reviewer — Former Reading Specialist, 8 years instructional design.
- Rivka Klein, Privacy & Compliance Editor — Background in COPPA & FERPA legal review.
Every review is signed. Have a question or correction? Email editor@spellingjoy.com.
How we test
Every tool we cover is tested hands-on with real K–6 students for at least three hours, on the platforms families and schools actually use.
We score each tool on seven criteria, each from 0–10, weighted equally:
- Pedagogy — research-backed, age-appropriate, scaffolded.
- Engagement — would real kids use it twice?
- Learner outcomes — measurable progress, parent/teacher reporting.
- Value for price — free tier, paid tier, family/classroom plans.
- Parent/teacher controls — settings, time limits, content filters.
- COPPA / FERPA compliance — privacy policy, data minimization, ad-free for kids.
- Accessibility — read-aloud, dyslexia fonts, color contrast, screen-reader support.
Aggregate score → 5-tier grade: Excellent / Strong / Solid / Mixed / Skip.
How we rank
Editorial rankings are decided by humans, not algorithms.
- Algorithms surface candidates; editors decide ordering based on the seven-criteria score.
- The #1 spot is never for sale. Period.
- Sponsored placements are visually separate from editorial rankings and clearly labeled.
How we disclose
We label every paid relationship.
- Pages with a sponsored element show a banner at the top.
- Affiliate links are marked with a
*. - Reviews of Verified Partners say so at the top of the article.
- Reviews of apps that compete with SpellingJoy carry an extra disclosure line.
How we accept money
We have three revenue categories and they are kept distinct.
1. Paid submissions
Vendors can pay $299 (Standard), $799 (Premium), or $4,999/yr (Verified Partner) for editorial attention and a permanent profile page. Payment buys speed of review and a stable URL — it does not buy a positive verdict or a ranking position.
2. Sponsored placements
Featured Spots ($499–$2,499) appear in clearly-labeled positions, never replacing an editorial pick. They never move list rankings.
3. Affiliate links
On some pages we use affiliate links so we earn a small fee if a reader purchases through them. Affiliate participation never influences whether a tool is reviewed positively, included in a Top 10, or recommended to a particular reader profile.
Vendors do not see drafts before publication. Vendors cannot edit a published review.
We track this number publicly as the strongest signal of an honest firewall.
What we won't do
- Sell the #1 spot in any list.
- Edit a published review at a sponsor's request.
- Accept submissions from apps that violate COPPA.
- Run sponsorships in any content directly aimed at children.
- Disclose private vendor information except as required by law.
Right to refuse
We can decline any review or sponsorship for any reason. If we decline within 7 days of payment, we issue a full refund. If we begin work and find serious quality, safety, or compliance issues, we publish what we found.
Corrections policy
If you spot a factual error, email editor@spellingjoy.com with the URL and the correction. We respond within 2 business days. Confirmed errors are corrected within 5 business days and the change is noted at the bottom of the article.
Contact
Editorial: editor@spellingjoy.com
Vendors: spellingjoy.com/advertise