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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.