Phonics is the Key to Reading Success
Product Information
On Hip Hop Avenue we see the world through kids’ eyes.It’s colorful vibrant and full of learning potential. But it’s about morethan just understanding ABC’s - it’s about being part of a community wherelearning is rewarding and fun!
Children join familiar JumpStart characters in a placewhere reading words and sounds abound. In and around the street kids areintroduced to letters sounds words and sentences in a playful and natural waythrough captivating interactive games and the power of rhythm rhyme and music.
Kids learn to be goal oriented as they focus on learning manageable groups ofwords that open up new songs to sing along with and record in the KaraokeClubhouse. Let Val the clubhouse supervisor and neighborhood mentor nurtureyour child’s fondness for reading as she acknowledges even the smallestvictories along the way by providing instant feedback and encouragement throughVoice Activated Learning.
Educational Features
Introducing Voice Activated Learning – V.A.L.
Educational research indicates a strong link between speaking words andphrases aloud and developing early reading skills. Voice Activated Learning(VAL) is an effective way to teach language development and reading using thelearner’s voice to activate and reinforce the learn-to-read process. VALprovides feedback of words read aloud into the included microphone offeringhelpful hints and enthusiastic encouragement. In developing the VALtechnology we are most concerned with developing confident readers. For thatreason we have sharpened the technology to ensure that it recognizes when aword is said correctly by little voices with all of their developmental traits.
Progress Reports
Throughout the progress of the game the parent can access information on whatwords and skills the player has learned. The information on the page is brokenup into two display areas that show the lyrics from the current song and theskills the player will master while learning the words. A star denotes that theskill has been completed. To see words and skills that have beenpreviously taught click on the scroll arrows at the bottom of the displayframe.
- Print Lyrics – create a paper copy of the lyrics for your child and his or her friends.
- Print Words – generate flash cards featuring the song words.
- Print Skills – keep paper copies of your child’s progress reports.
Skills Learned
- Letter Sound and Word Recognition
- Word Building
- Vocabulary Building
- Spelling
- Rhyming
- Digraphs and Blends
- Beginning and Ending Consonants
- Long and Short Vowel Sounds
Fun Activities Include
Blending with Val
Want to learn how to turn sounds into words? Listen to Val sound out each letter then see if you can figure out what word the sounds make. Click the Microphone button then say the word. Val will tell you if you are right and play back your version so you can hear it! The words you learn in this activity are the ones you will be singing along with in the Karaoke clubhouse later!
- Blending sounds to make words
- Listening skills
- Read sight words
Trash Cans
The trash needs to be sorted and Pierre needs your help! Trash Can and hisgrumpy brother Trash Can’t both need trash but as with everything theydiffer on taste. Click on a piece of trash to pick it up then click over thecorrect garbage can to drop it in. When all the trash is sorted some trashmight be left on the pile. Click on the Checkmark button to see if you are alldone.
- Phonemic awareness
- Beginning sounds
- Ending sounds
- Identify beginning consonant sounds with pictures
- Identify ending consonant sounds with pictures
- Identify short vowel sounds with pictures
- Identify long vowel sounds with pictures
- Identify consonant digraphs with pictures
- Identify consonant blends with pictures
Mail Trail
The mail has dropped out of Frankie’s truck. Help Kisha ride her bike as shepicks up the letters. Use the Up and Down arrows on the keyboard to help Kishamove around the obstacles. If you collide with one your bike will start towobble and slow down. To fix the bike steer Kisha over a bike pump. Look outfor the fun colored stars – Kisha will do a special trick for you when you runover one of these. Be sure to finish the course before the time is up oryou’ll have to start over!
- Spatial awareness
- Following directions
Pack It
Frankie could use your help putting the packages in the truck. Val will checkher packing list and let you know what words Frankie needs. Click on a packageon the cart and place it in the truck building the word from start to finish.After all the words are on the truck read the words back to Val to make sureeverything is good to go!
- Blend sounds to make words
- Decode three- to five-letter words
Delivery
Help Frankie steer the truck around the streets and pick up the missingpackages. Avoid the other trucks or they will take the packages you have alreadycollected. When all the packages have been picked up make your way backover to the Clubhouse. Once you have collected all the packages it’stime to deliver them to your JumpStart pals! Val will let you know what eachfriend needs by giving you a rhyme clue or asking you to find the correct word.Click the package you want to deliver then read the word on the box back forVal to check against her list.
- Decoding
- Three- to five-letter words
- Identify rhyming words
- Identify sight words
Jump Rope
Here's your chance to practice all your new words in a fun way with Hopsalot andhis friend CJ. First join Hopsalot and read the words out loud together as theyappear in the space above. Then like a real jump-rope game take turns to readphrases. Hops will read a line then you read it the same way. Click on theSpinner on the tree to decide who goes first!
Comprehension
You’ve almost made it to the Karaoke Clubhouse but there is one problem: thesong sheet is all wet and the pieces are floating around in a puddle! Help Valsave the day by returning all the pieces to their correct places. Click on apiece in the puddle to pick it up and again to place it in a blank space. Whenall the spaces are filled click the Checkmark button to test your work. All the words that have been placed in the correct sentence will remain whilethe others will return to the puddle. Once all the words are in place help Valcheck the sentences by reading them out loud before you head over to the KaraokeClubhouse to sing them in your next song!
- Use context clues to identify unknown words
- Complete a sentence
Karaoke Clubhouse
It’s Karaoke time and you have learned another song! Each time you make yourway up to the Karaoke Clubhouse and earn the required amount of tickets youwill earn a token to get you a new song in the Clubhouse. Val will tossthe token into the lick the jukebox to activate it then click the arrows topage through your songs. To play a song click the icon in the jukebox display.
-
The Song Selector - The Song Selector indicates which version of the song is currently loaded. You can change the version by clicking anywhere on the selector. The switch will toggle from the CD (Original version) to the player icon (version with your voice recorded).
-
Playing a Song - To hear the original version of a Karaoke song select the song from the jukebox then click the Play button on the Sound Monitor. To hear your own version of the song make sure the Song Selector is set to the player icon then click the Play button on the Sound Monitor.
-
Recording a Song - To sing along with one of the many Karaoke songs select the song from the jukebox then click the Microphone button on the Sound Monitor. Only one version of each song can be kept.
-
Each set of 24 songs you record will use up around 100MB of hard drive space so frequently delete any user names no longer needed.
Product Features
- Step-by-Step Approach: Children master each new word and sound as they progress through engaging activities.
- Vocal Recognition and Feedback: Kids can record and hear their own voice played back.
- Practice Vowels and Blends: Match up the letters and the sounds they make.
- 8 Skill Building Activities: Learn over 200 words plus the 42 sounds of the English language.
- Read-along Songs: Read and sing new words as you follow along with 24 toe-tapping karaoke songs.
Windows Requirements
- Windows 2000 XP Vista
- Pentium II (or equivalent) 400 MHz processor
- 128 MB of RAM
- 300 MB available on hard drive
- DirectX9.0-compatible Video Card with 32 MB memory
- 16-bit color @ 800x600
- DirectX-compatible full duplex Sound Card
- DirectX 9.0
- 24X CD-ROM drive
- Microphone (not included)
