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Educational: 4.5
Overall Design: 4.6
Ease of Use: 4.5
(4.0 = good, 4.5 = very
good, 5.0 = excellent)
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Program Description What The Parents Said Who Is This Program For
Why We Selected This Program Computer Requirements
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Reader Rabbit Kindergarten is the latest (2001/2002) in the Reader Rabbit learning series for the younger years.
The adventure for players in this game begins when Reader Rabbit and Sam the Lion have their Flying Dream Ship wrapped up in bubble wrap when flying over Balloon Town (where anything sharp is considered dangerous.) They must make their way into the Pointy Palace to release their ship. By performing various tasks, the player can help the two heroes earn the tools they will need to complete their task.
One challenge involves helping mail packages by creating different sized balloons and ordering them according to their size. This task requires the player to add or remove air to create a balloon greater than, less than, or equal to an existing balloon. Once three balloons have been created, they must be attached to a package in order from smallest to largest or largest to smallest.
Another task involves comparing words on basketballs to a key word to determine whether they rhyme. If they do, the player must help Sam dunk the ball in the hoop. The words are carefully selected so that they become more challenging as the game progresses.
One well-designed game involves helping the mother ostrich and her children get balloons from atop a maze of tunnels. To reach the top, the player must help Sam and Reader identify the beginning sounds of various words. The sounds begin as single consonant sounds, but progress to digraphs and other multiple letter sounds. The mother bird says the word, provides a picture, and gives a selection of letters and letter combinations to choose from to complete the word. When the player points the mouse at a letter, the mother ostrich also makes the sound of that letter to assist in the process.
These are but a few of the fun challenges of the program, which cover a variety of phonics-based early literacy skills, basic numeracy skills, and comprehension skills. The older-level Reader Rabbit programs in the new series are equally fun and increasingly challenging and in-depth. For example, Reader Rabbit 1st Grade has a similar phonics game, where the player must construct entire words given a selection of letters and letter combinations. This is facilitated with appropriately-sized boxes to put the letters in, pictures, and audio cues for the letters.
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Creating Balloons (Counting)
Find The Right Vowel Sounds
Finding Matching Letters
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My daughter really enjoyed all the activities in the program, especially where she was being asked to match the right vowel sounds. The program really does correspond to many of the things she is now doing in kindergarten."
- Arlene, mother of Tracy, age 6.
My son really liked being able to interact with the activities and discover that he could get the right answers all by himself."
- Martha, mother of James, age 5.
It was interesting when my daughter showed me the performance tracking report card which she had discovered herself. She was very keen to get the best possible score.
- Donna, mother of Catherine, age 5
Reader Rabbit Kindergarten is designed for early readers who are just beginning to learn their letters, letter sounds, and number sense. It is intended for 4 to 6 year olds, but could easily be enjoyed by slightly older children who have yet to emerge as readers.
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The Learning Company has consistently produced quality software in its Reader Rabbit series, and the series is no exception. These programs were designed with great care. They have managed to create meaningful learning objectives for their program without trying to cover too much. In particular, the phonics components are supported in a variety of ways, ranging from audio clues to picture clues.
This series has been very consistent in one important area: positive and supportive language. When incorrect answers are given by a player, the characters respond in helpful, friendly ways to encourage another attempt.
Finally, the educational content is delivered successfully because it is presented in the context of a fun and unique adventure. The story is entertaining, and the overall goal is tangible and easy for young players to understand. The characters are fun, with colourful and varied dialogue.
- Kevin Dempsey teaches Grades 3 and 4 in Fort Ware, British Columbia and is a Learning Village reviewer.
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Pricing and Online Ordering
(or call toll free -1-800-250-9229 )
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Platform: Windows® 95, 98, Me, 2000, Media: CD-ROM CPU: 166 MHz Pentium® or faster RAM: 32 MB Hard Drive: 100 MB available CD-ROM: 8x Speed Sound: Soundblaster 16 or compatible, speakers (Stereo recommended) Other: Mouse, internet access, color printer
Platform: Power Mac System 8.6-9.1, and OSX Media: CD-ROM CPU: 180 MHz or fasterRAM: 32 MB Hard Drive: 100 MB available CD-ROM: 8x Speed Sound: 16-bit Stereo Sound Other: Mouse, internet access, color printer
Platform:Windows® XP CPU: 300 MHz RAM: 128 MB RAM
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or to see other early learning programmes
Elmo's Preschool Deluxe - ages 3-5
Arthur's Preschool - ages 3-5
Winnie the Pooh Preschool - ages 3-6
Reader Rabbit Preschool - Sparkle Star Rescue - ages 3-6
Dr. Seuss Kindergarten - ages 4-6
Jump Start Kindergarten - ages 4-6
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