Leapster Story Explorers User manual

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Portable tec hno logy center
™
Story ExplorErS
Story ExplorErS
T E A C H E R ’ S M A N U A L
Develop essential reading and listening skills
using handheld technology that immerses English language learners
in engaging vocabulary and comprehension activities.
English
Language Learners

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Fold your word catcher like this:

T E A C H E R ’ S M A N U A L
Develop essential reading and listening skills
using handheld technology that immerses English language learners
in engaging vocabulary and comprehension activities.
Portable tec hno logy center
™
Story ExplorErS
Story ExplorErS
ELM_810_16972_P1_01_INT.jpg

© 2007 by LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or in a storage retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce the Blackline Master pages bearing a copyright line, in limited quantities,
for classroom use only.
LEAPFROG SCHOOLHOUSE, the LeapFrog SchoolHouse logo, and LEAPSTER are trademarks or registered trademarks of
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © 2007 LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. LeapFrog SchoolHouse is a
division of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
ISBN-13 978-1-59319-825-1
ISBN-10 1-59319-825-6
Printed in XXXXXXX
LeapFrog SchoolHouse
A division of LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
Emeryville, CA 94608
800.883.7430
LeapFrogSchoolHouse.com
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CONTENTS
LEAPSTER® STORY EXPLORERS TEACHER’S MANUAL
PROGRAM OVERVIEW 5
COMPONENTS 7
STORY AND SKILLS SUMMARY 9
SCOPE AND SEQUENCE 13
VOCABULARY 14
NARRATIVES 14
PHONEMIC AWARENESS 15
SYNTAX 15
STORY COMPREHENSION 16
ABOUT THE PROGRAM’S LEVELS 16
SKILLS MATRIX 17
CLASSROOM USE AND MANAGEMENT 21
INTEGRATING THE PROGRAM INTO THE CLASSROOM 23
USING THE LEAPSTER STORY EXPLORERS PROGRAM 25
USING THE TEACHER FUNCTIONS 26
PLAYING ACTIVITIES IN STUDENT MODE 32
STUDENT ASSESSMENT PROFILE 36
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LEAPSTER® STORY EXPLORERS TEACHER’S MANUAL
CONTENTS
USING THE STUDENT PRACTICE BOOK 37
ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS AND ANSWER KEY 39
HOME CONNECTION KIT 47
INTRODUCTORY FAMILY LETTERS 48
LEAPSTER STORY EXPLORERS FAMILY/SCHOOL CONTRACTS 50
MATERIALS SIGN-OUT SHEET 52
MIDPOINT FAMILY LETTERS 53
FINAL FAMILY LETTERS 55
APPENDIX: WORD LISTS 57
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LEAPSTER® STORY EXPLORERS TEACHER’S MANUAL 5
HEADER
As English language learners acquire or refine language and literacy skills,
it is crucial to engage in activities that develop listening and reading
comprehension. Leapster Story Explorers is designed for Spanish speakers
in grades K–3 to develop reading comprehension and vocabulary skills in
beginning and early intermediate English proficiency level students. e
task-directed and interactive program is particularly effective at building
competency in young students.
PROGRAM
OVERVIEW
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LEAPSTER® STORY EXPLORERS TEACHER’S MANUAL
6
Leapster Story Explorers provides a moderate degree of Spanish language
audio support as students start using the program. e program then carefully
scaffolds English content to ensure consistent and successful engagement as
the student proceeds. Engaging story lines are coupled with direct instruction
on vocabulary, followed by narratives that develop comprehension skills
through active listening tasks. Phonemic awareness activities and practice with
syntactical patterns (such as sentences with prepositional phrases) prepare
students for success with the story comprehension questions that follow. e
student practice book provides additional practice on key concepts and skills,
and connects directly to the themes and curriculum that students encounter
when using Leapster Story Explorers. rough the unique experience when
using Leapster Story Explorers, students will find that the practice necessary
for fluency is enjoyable and productive.
e program is designed for use in a linear progression to provide appropriate
scaffolding. e default course path includes periodic evaluations of student
progress, and opportunities for review and further practice at the end of each
level. You can view reports at any time to see the students’ progress. While the
default course will be best for most of your beginning-level students, you can
modify individual learning paths based on your observations of each student’s
English language proficiency and performance.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
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LEAPSTER® STORY EXPLORERS TEACHER’S MANUAL 7
COMPONENTS
e Story Explorers for Leapster Portable Technology Center (PTC) provides
screen-based, leveled skill practice. e interactive curriculum adapts to match
the pace of individual users, allowing students to progress at their own rate.
Skills in listening comprehension are enhanced as students move through
engaging screen-based themes.
Your Leapster PTC includes:
■ Leapster handhelds: These screen-based personal learning tools teach the
way students love to learn.
■ Story Explorers cartridges (each Leapster cartridge can track up to
three students): Vocabulary, phonemic awareness, syntax, and story
comprehension activities are presented in engaging themes with tutorials
and structured hints to facilitate mastery.
■ Name stickers: Write student names on these and place them on the backs
of the cartridges to allow students to easily identify their own cartridges.
■ Student practice books: These specialized books connect directly to
the themes and curriculum students encounter when using the Leapster
handhelds and Story Explorers cartridges.
■ Teacher’s manual: This book provides instructions for using the program
and its components.
■ Headphones: These allow for quiet study.
■ AC adapters: Use these as an alternative to batteries.
■ Power strip: Use with the Leapster AC adapters.
■ Parent guides for the Leapster handhelds: This hardware reference guide
includes instructions and safety guidelines. Keep these guides for reference
in class or keep them with your home connection kits.
Leapster Handheld
Current research shows that interactive screen-based products such as the
Leapster handheld can be very effective learning tools. Because students are
challenged by the engaging activities, they eagerly tackle increasingly difficult
levels of learning activities. Furthermore, the game-like activities promote
repeated use, aiding students in internalizing the vocabulary and concepts.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Note: Find additional
components, including student
practice books, cartridges,
Leapster handhelds, carrying
cases, and expansion kits, at
LeapFrogSchoolHouse.com/
Leapster.
Note: Learn about the
latest ecacy research
on Leapster PTCs at
LeapFrogSchoolHouse.com/
Research.
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LEAPSTER® STORY EXPLORERS TEACHER’S MANUAL
8
Leapster Story Explorers Cartridges
Instructions for moving through the program are provided in Spanish.
Tutorials and Spanish audio support are provided to guide students through
activities and provide assistance when needed.
e program guides students through three story lines that span four levels.
Each story has a narrative section intended to encourage active listening
comprehension skills and four distinct activities, each with a different language
focus. e stories provide context to vocabulary from the themes home,
food, nature, animals, neighborhood, and transportation. While Spanish audio
support is available to ensure students can understand the directions, the
narratives are exclusively in English.
Students sign in using their own names, and the program allows them to pick
up where they left off. Students can choose to replay previously completed
portions of the program as many times as they wish, but they can’t advance to
the next level until they have completed each activity.
is linear approach ensures that students have the proper scaffolding to
succeed at the later, more difficult activities.
Student Practice Books
In addition to the interactive Leapster component, the program includes
colorful student practice books with activities for each skill set, corresponding
to the interactive elements of the program. ese activities are designed for
additional practice to reinforce the lessons and expand learning into literacy,
and they can serve as informal benchmark assessments.
Teacher’s Manual
is teacher’s manual provides a scope and sequence, instructions on using
the program, an extensive word list, and an answer key to the student practice
book. In addition, the home connection kit includes a sample introductory
letter to the family, sample update letters, a sample contract, and a sample
sign-out sheet for materials. e home connection kit extends the learning
experience for students and enables family members to become active partners
in learning English with their children.
Note: To reorder student
practice books, visit
LeapFrogSchoolHouse.com/
Leapster. You can also download
a printable PDF version of
the student practice book by
registering the product online
with LeapFrog SchoolHouse.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Students move through the program
sequentially, completing each activity
in order.
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