The Reading Game Handbook Overview
About This Handbook
What's Really Important
Preparing Yourself To Be A
Good Teacher
Getting Around the Computer
How The Lessons Are Structured
Your Child’s Progress
About this Handbook
This manual can help you while you teach and help
your child to get the most out of the lessons. The lessons are designed
to be ergonomic and intuitive, so you can just plunge in.
Much of what is in this manual is obvious. But if
you not are already a computer expert, a trained teacher, or child
psychologist, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with this
material and spend a little time on those areas where you could
use some help.
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What's Really Important
Your Child Will Learn How To Learn and Will
Acquire A Love Of Learning
Yes, this course is about learning to read. But
is even more critical that the child learns that learning is a fun
and enjoyable experience. And it is up to the teacher to teach a
love of learning as much as is to make sure the student learns the
500 words.
Your Child Will Feel the Pride of Accomplishment
This course will teach your child to be self-motivated
because it will make the child feel good to learn the words. It
is up to the teacher to make sure that reading is the reward, not
getting parental approval.
Your Child Will Learn 500 Words
Learning 500 words puts a child at a second grade
readling level.
Setting Achievable Expectations For Both You
and The Child
It is important that you have realistic expectations.
All children develop at different rates. All children will have
times when they can soak up knowledge like a sponge and other times
when nothing seems to sink in. That is natural. A good teacher will
present the child with opportunities to learn when the child is
best prepared to learn. And a good teacher will not get angry when
things don't go at the speed the teacher would like them.
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Preparing Yourself to
be a Good Teacher
Right Attitude for You
It is not easy to be a good parent in the best of
times. It takes patience. It takes understanding. To be the best
teacher, you will need to be patient and proceed at the pace that
is working best for your child.
There are times when a child wants to learn. You
will almost certainly recognize these times. It is not a good idea
to try to force a child to work on the computer when the child is
obviously being pulled away by a desire to do something else.
Right Attitude for Child
If you have the right attitude and pick the right
times, your child will not only enjoy the process but will also
soon enjoy learning to read for its own sake.
When to Stop and Try Again Later
When you both would clearly rather be someplace
else, and things are clearly not proceeding well, don't press the
issue. Stop and try again later.
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Getting Around the Computer
Basics of Reading Game Computer Interface
To begin the lessons, the only use for the keyboard
is the log on. Lessons require that your child be able to use the
mouse to select and click on the icons and letters.
Basic Computer Setups
Internet Connections and Browsers
The Reading Game can operate on Netscape,
Explorer, or on AOL. Netscape or Explorer will run more efficiently
than AOL. Modems with web connections of 56K are adequate. Cable
modem or DSL is much faster. Computers running 28.8K modems with
less than 100 mhrtz clock speed will probably be too slow to make
the lessons enjoyable.
Minimum Screen Size
The minimum screen size for viewing the
lessons is 800x600 pixels. While most computer screens sold today
are at least this or higher, you may not have to think about this
at all. However, if you are working on an older computer with a
640x400 pixel screen, you will have to scroll while viewing each
screen.
Computer Speed
The kind of computer you have shouldn't matter
in doing these lessons, but it might. Older models may be a problem.
Lessons should run fine on computers with more than 100 mhtz clock
speed.
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How the Lessons Are Structured
The Reading Game is divided into 7 Levels that make
it easy for your child to learn and to feel proud of the acheivement.
Each Level contains a series of 4 Reading Adventures, each Adventure
taking about a week for the child to complete. At the end of each
Adventure is a Checkpoint that will show you how much your child
is learning.
Reading Challenge
A Reading Challenge is "the question or problem"
on one screen. So 5 challenges requires 5 screens on which the child
makes 5 answers.
Session
A Session is one sit-down at the computer for however
long or however many questions the student answers.
Reading Adventure
A Reading Adventure is a series of approximately
25 questions that teach particular words or concepts. Each adventure
should take approximately a week to complete.
A Reading Level is comprised of 4 Reading Adventures.
It will take a student approximately 4 to 6 weeks to complete a
reading Level.
Winning The Reading Game
The Reading Game is complete when the student completes
all 7 Levels. It should take about a school year for an average
child to complete. At the end of that time the student has learned
500+ words and will be reading at better than a second grade level.
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Your Child’s
Progress
Checkpoint Test
At the end of an Adventure consisting of about 25
challenge questions, there is a Checkpoint Test. This is a short
number of questions on words and concepts the child has already
learned.
What the Results Mean to Your and Your Child
These "questions" should be understood
as review items, not test items. Any new material is repeated many
times before it is tested, that is, before children are held responsible
for it. The responses to these review items can indicate an understanding
of the new material, but a shaky understanding should not stop progress.
Your child's answers to these questions provide
a report to you so that you can get a feeling of how the child is
coming along.
How To Access Checkpoint Reports
At the end of each session, you will be asked if
you would like to see the Progress Reports. At the end of the Checkpoint
Test, simply make the choice to look at the report by clicking on
the report icon.
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About Lessons
