Leap Frog Scout & Friends: Phonics Farm DVD
Website: http://www.leapfrog.com/en/index.html
Description
Leap Frog's Scout & Friends: Phonics Farm DVD is an educational video with animated characters that introduce letters of the alphabet and the sounds that they make. Scout, the dog and his friends visit a farm with animals whose names use alliteration to teach viewers about letter sounds.
Appropriateness
Scout & Friends: Phonics Farm is appropriate for children 2-5 years of age who are developing early reading skills, such as phonemic awareness, letter knowledge, and print awareness. Print motivation is also fostered through this DVD, as the format is fun, colorful, and inviting.
Scout & Friends: Phonics Farm is appropriate for children 2-5 years of age who are developing early reading skills, such as phonemic awareness, letter knowledge, and print awareness. Print motivation is also fostered through this DVD, as the format is fun, colorful, and inviting.
Ease of Use
The format of this DVD is easy for young children to follow, and also includes a bonus curriculum commentary for parents, which walks through the early literacy features included in the video. Other bonus features include sing-along videos, and a special featured storybook, A Surprise for Scout.
The format of this DVD is easy for young children to follow, and also includes a bonus curriculum commentary for parents, which walks through the early literacy features included in the video. Other bonus features include sing-along videos, and a special featured storybook, A Surprise for Scout.
Overall Evaluation
Scout & Friends: Phonics Farm provides exposure to early literacy based activities for young children in a way that makes them want to watch the DVD over and over, while also providing information for parents about the importance of each part of the DVD. The best feature of this DVD is that it is fun-- children will not necessarily even realize that they are learning.
Scout & Friends: Phonics Farm provides exposure to early literacy based activities for young children in a way that makes them want to watch the DVD over and over, while also providing information for parents about the importance of each part of the DVD. The best feature of this DVD is that it is fun-- children will not necessarily even realize that they are learning.
WordWorld
Website: http://pbskids.org/wordworld/
Description
WordWorld is a television program for preschoolers which airs on PBS, and is partially funded by the United States Department of Education as part of the Ready to Learn literacy initiative. Viewers follow along with "Duck" and his friends through a world made up of words. Each of the animals' bodies are made up of the letters that spell their name (D-u-c-k, F-r-o-g, D-o-g, and others). The friends experience adventures and obstacles that are solved only through finding the right words.
Appropriateness
The WordWorld program is geared toward children ages 3-5 who are ready to learn more about letters and the sounds they make. The characters are animated, and the activities presented focus on exposing children to literacy through a text-rich environment that is embedded in characters and in various settings.
Description
WordWorld is a television program for preschoolers which airs on PBS, and is partially funded by the United States Department of Education as part of the Ready to Learn literacy initiative. Viewers follow along with "Duck" and his friends through a world made up of words. Each of the animals' bodies are made up of the letters that spell their name (D-u-c-k, F-r-o-g, D-o-g, and others). The friends experience adventures and obstacles that are solved only through finding the right words.
Appropriateness
The WordWorld program is geared toward children ages 3-5 who are ready to learn more about letters and the sounds they make. The characters are animated, and the activities presented focus on exposing children to literacy through a text-rich environment that is embedded in characters and in various settings.
Ease of Use
WordWorld is produced in 11-minute episodes by the PBS Kids Sprout network, which began airing in 2007. Since that time, WordWorld has also begun publication in DVD format. Each episode centers around a word that is built throughout the show, calling attention to how real words are formed by individual letters and their sounds. Tips for how teachers and parents can use episodes are available through the WordWorld website.
WordWorld is produced in 11-minute episodes by the PBS Kids Sprout network, which began airing in 2007. Since that time, WordWorld has also begun publication in DVD format. Each episode centers around a word that is built throughout the show, calling attention to how real words are formed by individual letters and their sounds. Tips for how teachers and parents can use episodes are available through the WordWorld website.
Overall Evaluation
WordWorld uses three-dimensional animation, colors, songs, and word-building activities to help children understand how words are formed. The incorporation of letters within the bodies of animals and features of the environment make this an innovative program built on print awareness. The short episodes hold the attention of young children through animated adventures that follow the same format each week.
WordWorld uses three-dimensional animation, colors, songs, and word-building activities to help children understand how words are formed. The incorporation of letters within the bodies of animals and features of the environment make this an innovative program built on print awareness. The short episodes hold the attention of young children through animated adventures that follow the same format each week.
Cutie Monsters App
Website: http://app.lk/CutieMonsters
Description
Cutie Monsters Preschool is an application published by Little Phoenix Interactive, for use on iPhone, iPad, Android, and Kindle. young children learn about numbers 1-10 while interacting with several adorable mini monsters through puzzles and storybooks.
Appropriateness
This downloadable application can be easily navigated with minimal assistance by children ages 2-4 years of age. The interactive content is simple, colorful and fun for small children of the same age range. The Cutie Monsters application is available across a wide variety of platforms in a regular and "lite" version (with less features).
Description
Cutie Monsters Preschool is an application published by Little Phoenix Interactive, for use on iPhone, iPad, Android, and Kindle. young children learn about numbers 1-10 while interacting with several adorable mini monsters through puzzles and storybooks.
Appropriateness
This downloadable application can be easily navigated with minimal assistance by children ages 2-4 years of age. The interactive content is simple, colorful and fun for small children of the same age range. The Cutie Monsters application is available across a wide variety of platforms in a regular and "lite" version (with less features).
Ease of Use
The Cutie Monsters app is easily downloaded onto various electronic devices through the Amazon Appstore, Google play, iTunes, and various wireless providers. Simple puzzles with 3-5 pieces are easy for children to complete with minimal or no assistance. Children can read along with the counting sections of the storybook by following along with the words as they are highlighted on each page.
The Cutie Monsters app is easily downloaded onto various electronic devices through the Amazon Appstore, Google play, iTunes, and various wireless providers. Simple puzzles with 3-5 pieces are easy for children to complete with minimal or no assistance. Children can read along with the counting sections of the storybook by following along with the words as they are highlighted on each page.
Overall Evaluation
This application provides a fun, interactive tool for children 2-4 years of age. The format is simple and easy to use. The characters are cute, and the narration of the storybook feature is warm and inviting. Exposure to text and numbers is presented in this application in such a way that young children will not realize that they are actually learning, but will want to play it because it is fun.
This application provides a fun, interactive tool for children 2-4 years of age. The format is simple and easy to use. The characters are cute, and the narration of the storybook feature is warm and inviting. Exposure to text and numbers is presented in this application in such a way that young children will not realize that they are actually learning, but will want to play it because it is fun.
Hooked on Baby: Read, Rhyme & Play DVD
Website: http://learntoread.hookedonphonics.com/in_the_home/reading-tips/baby
Description
The Hooked on Baby: Read, Rhyme & Play DVD is intended to help "introduce infants and toddlers to the joy of reading" through animated nursery rhymes, fingerplays, and songs. Featured songs and fingerplays include "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "This Little Piggy".
Appropriateness
This DVD is designed for use by infants and toddlers from 3-24 months of age. The combination of animated nursery rhymes, music, and fingerplays are fun and engaging for very young children. A parent guide is included with activities to extend on the content of the DVD. Modeling is also provided for parents in the songs and fingerplays section.
Description
The Hooked on Baby: Read, Rhyme & Play DVD is intended to help "introduce infants and toddlers to the joy of reading" through animated nursery rhymes, fingerplays, and songs. Featured songs and fingerplays include "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "This Little Piggy".
Appropriateness
This DVD is designed for use by infants and toddlers from 3-24 months of age. The combination of animated nursery rhymes, music, and fingerplays are fun and engaging for very young children. A parent guide is included with activities to extend on the content of the DVD. Modeling is also provided for parents in the songs and fingerplays section.
Ease of Use
This DVD provides content for young children and parents to share together. A menu is provided at the beginning of the DVD for easy navigation between each section. The parent guide is easy to follow, and ways that parents can use this DVD to interact with their children are modeled through video footage and provided suggestions.
This DVD provides content for young children and parents to share together. A menu is provided at the beginning of the DVD for easy navigation between each section. The parent guide is easy to follow, and ways that parents can use this DVD to interact with their children are modeled through video footage and provided suggestions.
Overall Evaluation
This DVD provides interactive activities and entertaining animation of popular nursery rhymes which are appropriate for very young children. Music used to support the nursery rhymes and songs is lively and interesting for young children, as well. Motor development is addressed through the use of easy to follow hand and finger movements. Important parent information is included through the modeling of different components, and reading is presented in a fun way to encourage learning from the early months of life.
This DVD provides interactive activities and entertaining animation of popular nursery rhymes which are appropriate for very young children. Music used to support the nursery rhymes and songs is lively and interesting for young children, as well. Motor development is addressed through the use of easy to follow hand and finger movements. Important parent information is included through the modeling of different components, and reading is presented in a fun way to encourage learning from the early months of life.
WePlaySmart Activity Table
Website: http://hatchearlylearning.com/technology/weplaysmart/
Description
275 interactive Smart technology games are loaded on this touchscreen computer-based activity table by Hatch Education Experts. Games included encourage peer collaboration to foster social-emotional skills.
Appropriateness
Games include opportunities for developing math, literacy, social studies, and science skills for ages 3-6 years-old. The game can be viewed from all sides of the table for up to four children at once. Games are successfully mastered through cooperative play between players, which fosters collaborative play over parallel play. Tables are appropriate for use in library settings and classrooms where children are encouraged to interact with each other.
Games include opportunities for developing math, literacy, social studies, and science skills for ages 3-6 years-old. The game can be viewed from all sides of the table for up to four children at once. Games are successfully mastered through cooperative play between players, which fosters collaborative play over parallel play. Tables are appropriate for use in library settings and classrooms where children are encouraged to interact with each other.
Ease of Use
The WePlaySmart activity table has a touchscreen, which makes interaction easy. Cognitive games are appropriate for children beginning at three years of age. Navigation to each game is simple with a home screen for choosing between games. Interaction between players enables children to help each other through the process of each game.
Overall Evaluation
The WePlaySmart table offers group activities that encourage cooperation between players. Smart technology paired with a touch screen make games easy for small hands to navigate. Through collaborative play, children learn to take turns, work together as a team, and solve problems together.
The WePlaySmart activity table has a touchscreen, which makes interaction easy. Cognitive games are appropriate for children beginning at three years of age. Navigation to each game is simple with a home screen for choosing between games. Interaction between players enables children to help each other through the process of each game.
Overall Evaluation
The WePlaySmart table offers group activities that encourage cooperation between players. Smart technology paired with a touch screen make games easy for small hands to navigate. Through collaborative play, children learn to take turns, work together as a team, and solve problems together.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cutie Monsters Application (2013). Retrieved from http://app.lk/CutieMonsters.
Hooked on Baby: Read, Rhyme & Play (2006). Baltimore, MD: Educate Products.
Leap Frog: Scout & Friends: Phonics Farm (2011). Santa Monica, CA: Lions Gate Films, Inc.
WordWorld (2007). Retrieved from http://pbskids.org/wordworld/.
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