Why Do the Tiles Not Go Down Automatically?

We intentionally programmed the tiles in the Spelling Tests to mimic physical tiles that don't move independently.

Why?

Students initially think they need to lower (all) the tiles between each word. But after a few weeks, when students can finally hold and manipulate sounds in their mind, students have a lightbulb moment—they realize they don't need to lower all the tiles, and instead, they can leave them up and create a new word with old tiles. Students then begin moving tiles horizontally (left-to-right and right-to-left) and not only vertically (up-and-down). This realization is a critical stage in becoming a reader and speller. It is also exhilarating to witness.