V-tech Fishing For Phonics Assembly Instructions

1
Dear Parent,Dear Parent,
Dear Parent,Dear Parent,
Dear Parent,
You know how important reading is to your child's future. If your child can
read, your child can do anything. That's because reading is the foundation
upon which all fundamental learning is built. A good beginning is absolutely
essential.
That is why VTech designed the Fundamentals of Reading product line to help
your child develop language skills, the skills crucial to learning how to read.
Our age-appropriate activities will help your child feel successful every step
of the way. In fact, we provide three levels of reading progression to help
your child move from a Beginning Reader, to a Growing Reader, and finally to
an Advancing Reader. Our curriculum begins with letters, letter sounds, and
letter formation all the way through vowels, consonants, word recognition –
even full sentences. With the Fundamentals of Reading product line, children
think they're playing, but they're actually learning. Their confidence grows,
their self-esteem grows and their appetite for learning grows, too.
How Can You Help?How Can You Help?
How Can You Help?How Can You Help?
How Can You Help?
You've already started by showing you're interested in your child's reading
development. By being a good role model, your child should see you read
books, magazines and newspapers. Of course, there are other sources including
billboards, grocery lists, recipes and street signs. What's most important is
that reading is a fun, interactive experience that should be shared with your
child daily.
We encourage you to play the activities in the Fundamentals of Reading product
line together. You'll see first hand what progress your child is making. Children
love positive reinforcement so praise your child's achievements. As your child
embarks on the road to learning, he or she will encounter challenges. This is a
natural part of the learning process. Please be patient and if your child needs
help, be sure to provide it. Have fun. Remember, learning to read isn't a race.
It doesn't matter who gets there first. It's simply “getting there” that really
counts.
We wish you the best as you help your child get off to a great start in becoming
a lifelong learner. As your child grows, count on VTech® to be there with fun,
innovative learning toys to help your child do his or her best every step of the
way.
We thank you for entrusting us with the responsibility of building your child's
future. When your child can read, your child can do anything.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at VTech®
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TO BEGIN PLAY
1. To begin play, press the ON/OFF BUTTONON/OFF BUTTON
ON/OFF BUTTONON/OFF BUTTON
ON/OFF BUTTON to turn the
unit on. You will hear “Let's go fishing.” followed by a
short tune. The welcome animation and bubble
animation will be displayed on the screen.
2. Slide the ACTIVITY SELECTORACTIVITY SELECTOR
ACTIVITY SELECTORACTIVITY SELECTOR
ACTIVITY SELECTOR left or right to select one
of the ten built-in activities. A friendly voice will guide
you through the following activities.
1. Letters and Blends
2. Find the Letters and Blends
3. Before and After
4. Missing Vowels
5. The Blender
6. Spelling
7. Word Guess
8. Object Match
9. Memory Challenge
10. Music
FISHING FOR PHONICS™
FISHERMANFISHERMAN
FISHERMANFISHERMAN
FISHERMAN
JOYSTICKJOYSTICK
JOYSTICKJOYSTICK
JOYSTICK
ON/OFF BUTTONON/OFF BUTTON
ON/OFF BUTTONON/OFF BUTTON
ON/OFF BUTTON
HELP BUTTONHELP BUTTON
HELP BUTTONHELP BUTTON
HELP BUTTON
DEMODEMO
DEMODEMO
DEMO
BUTTONBUTTON
BUTTONBUTTON
BUTTON
HANDLEHANDLE
HANDLEHANDLE
HANDLE
LCD SCREENLCD SCREEN
LCD SCREENLCD SCREEN
LCD SCREEN
LETTERLETTER
LETTERLETTER
LETTER
BUTTONBUTTON
BUTTONBUTTON
BUTTON
BLENDBLEND
BLENDBLEND
BLEND
BUTTONBUTTON
BUTTONBUTTON
BUTTON
ACTIVITYACTIVITY
ACTIVITYACTIVITY
ACTIVITY
SELECTORSELECTOR
SELECTORSELECTOR
SELECTOR
VOLUME CONTROLVOLUME CONTROL
VOLUME CONTROLVOLUME CONTROL
VOLUME CONTROL
SWITCH (UNDERNEATH)SWITCH (UNDERNEATH)
SWITCH (UNDERNEATH)SWITCH (UNDERNEATH)
SWITCH (UNDERNEATH)
REPEATREPEAT
REPEATREPEAT
REPEAT
BUTTONBUTTON
BUTTONBUTTON
BUTTON
TO BEGIN
PLAY
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3. To adjust the volume, slide the VOLUME CONTROL SWITCHVOLUME CONTROL SWITCH
VOLUME CONTROL SWITCHVOLUME CONTROL SWITCH
VOLUME CONTROL SWITCH
(located on underside of the cabinet) up for higher
volume or down for lower volume.
4. Press the REPEAT BUTTONREPEAT BUTTON
REPEAT BUTTONREPEAT BUTTON
REPEAT BUTTON to repeat the previous
response or question.
5. Press the HELP BUTTONHELP BUTTON
HELP BUTTONHELP BUTTON
HELP BUTTON to learn the correct answer.
6. Press the DEMO BUTTONDEMO BUTTON
DEMO BUTTONDEMO BUTTON
DEMO BUTTON to see and hear a sample of
the activity you have selected.
7. The TIMER FUNCTIONTIMER FUNCTION
TIMER FUNCTIONTIMER FUNCTION
TIMER FUNCTION in activities 2 through 9 allows
one minute for the child to answer each question. The
“Tick Tock” sound effect starts after each question is
asked and speeds up when 30 seconds have elapsed.
At the end of one minute, a “Time's Up!” screen
appears and the answer is revealed.
8. In the timed activities (Activities 2-7 and Activity 9),
pressing the FISHERMAN CHARACTERFISHERMAN CHARACTER
FISHERMAN CHARACTERFISHERMAN CHARACTER
FISHERMAN CHARACTER will stop the timer.
In Object Match, it provides the means for selecting
from among the scrolling objects.
9. To turn the learning toy off, press the ON/OFF BUTTONON/OFF BUTTON
ON/OFF BUTTONON/OFF BUTTON
ON/OFF BUTTON.
You will see a closing animation on the LCD screen.
TO BEGIN
PLAY
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FISHING FOR PHONICS™ ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1 - LETTERS AND BLENDS
This activity introduces the 26 letters and 23 frequently used blends. This
activity reinforces that letters make sounds and some letters make more than
one sound! Every time your child presses a letter or blend button, the voice
will tell your child the sound(s) of the letter or blend and show a related
animation. This is a free exploration activity. Your child may randomly select
which buttons to press.
Learning Benefits for Your Child -Learning Benefits for Your Child -
Learning Benefits for Your Child -Learning Benefits for Your Child -
Learning Benefits for Your Child - The Letters and Blends activity is designed
to introduce and reinforce letter and blend recognition. Your child may explore
at his or her own pace by choosing which letter or blend button to press. Your
child will recognize that all of the letters make a certain sound. He or she will
learn that some letters even make two different sounds such as the vowels.
By pressing the blend buttons, your child will begin to understand that both
letters can still be heard in a blend.
ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Slide the activity selector to the first activity. You
will hear “Let's go fishing!”followed by a short tune,
the activity name and the instructions “Press a
button.”
2. When a letter button is pressed, you will hear the
letter identified along with its accompanying phonetic
sound or sounds. A word beginning with the chosen
letter will also be announced. Animations will
simultaneously provide visual reinforcement of the
letter and the sample word or words.
3. When a blend button is pressed, you will hear the
blend sound as animations reinforce the written blend
as well as a sample word containing the blend.
LETTERS AND
BLENDS
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FISHING FOR PHONICS™ ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1 - LETTERS AND BLENDS
How Can You Help?
• Allow your child plenty of free time to explore this activity. Ask your child to
find the letters and the blends on this game. He or she should say the name
of the letters and blends once he or she has found them. Then he or she
should press down the button to see if he or she guessed the correct answer
and also to hear the sound the letter or blend makes.
• When your child presses a key, a sample word will be given to demonstrate
how the letter or blend sounds in a word. Ask your child to think of addi-
tional words that begin with that letter or contain that blend.
• In everyday life, be sure to ask your child what sound he or she hears at the
beginning of certain words. For example: family names, store names, friends'
names, articles of clothing,etc.
ACTIVITY 2 - FIND THE LETTERS AND BLENDS
This activity reinforces knowledge of letters and blends. Your child will be asked
to find a certain letter or blend on the keyboard after hearing its phonetic
sound. He or she should then press that button to answer.
Learning Benefits for Your Child -Learning Benefits for Your Child -
Learning Benefits for Your Child -Learning Benefits for Your Child -
Learning Benefits for Your Child - Find the Letters and Blends is designed to
apply the skills that were taught in the first activity. Your child will be asked to
find letters and blends based on the phonetic sounds he or she hears. Your
child will be exposed to both beginning and ending blends including CL, GL, SL,
FL, PL, BR, DR, CR, GR, FR, PR, SM, SP, ST, SN, SC, SW, SK, ND, NG, TR, BL and LP. This
activity will help children develop auditory discrimination.
ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Slide the activity selector to the second activity. You
will hear “Let's go fishing.” followed by a short tune,
the activity name and instructions such as “What letter
says 'buh'?” or “What blend says 'bl'?” The timer will
then begin as a “Tick Tock” sound effect is heard.
2. Your child must press a letter or blend button to
answer the question. The fisherman should then be
pressed to stop the timer. If your child forgets to stop
the timer, he or she will be prompted to do so soon
after a button has been pressed.
(continued)
FIND THE LETTERS
AND BLENDS
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FISHING FOR PHONICS™ ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 2 - FIND THE LETTERS AND BLENDS
3. The correct answer will elicit a positive response as
well as a reiteration of the correct answer for added
reinforcement.
4. An incorrect answer will elicit an encouraging
response. Your child will then be given another
chance as the learning toy repeats the question. After
the third incorrect attempt, the unit will reveal the
correct answer, and a new question will be asked.
How Can You Help?
• Let your child create an ABC book by using a notebook or paper folded
together to make a book. Have him or her write each letter of the alphabet
in bold letters at the top of each page. Next, ask him or her to look through
old magazines, catalogs, newapapers, etc. and find pictures that begin with
the letter sounds. Your child could then glue the pictures on the appropriate
pages. This could be an ongoing activity. Encourage your child to find pic-
tures for all of the letter sounds.
• Play a blend memory game using all of the blends taught in Fishing for
Phonics™. First, using an index card or some other type of small paper, write
the name of each blend down two times and then cut them apart to make
two cards. Mix up all of the cards and lay them face down. Next, your child
should pick up two cards and say the sounds of the blends. If they are the
same blend, he or she has made a match, may keep the pair, and take an-
other turn. If the two blends are different, he or her should lay the cards
down in their original spots, and you may take a turn following the same
procedure as outlined above. The game is over when all of the cards have
been matched. The winner is the person who has the most blend pairs!
• When reading books aloud with your child, try to point out blends in the
stories and ask him or her to tell you what sound is heard when the blend is
said. Do the same with beginning letters in words. You may also ask your
child to look for a blend on a particular page in a book and then tell you
what sound the blend makes.
• This skill takes lots and lots of practice. Remember to remain positive and
praise your child when he or she can tell you the sound of a given letter or
blend.
(continued)
FIND THE LETTERS
AND BLENDS
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FISHING FOR PHONICS™ ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 3 - BEFORE AND AFTER
This activity strengthens alphabetical order skills. Your child will recognize that
the letters of the alphabet are arranged in a certain order. He or she will have
opportunities to tell which letter comes before or after certain letters. Your
child will be asked specific questions such as, “What letter is before B?” He or
she will then need to look for the fish button with the correct letter on it. The
correct button should then be pressed, and the fisherman pressed to stop the
timer.
Learning Benefits for Your Child -Learning Benefits for Your Child -
Learning Benefits for Your Child -Learning Benefits for Your Child -
Learning Benefits for Your Child - Before and After has been designed to
familiarize your child with the sequence of the alphabet. Your child will
demonstrate his or her knowledge of the words “before” and “after”.
ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Slide the activity selector to the third activity. You
will hear “Let's go fishing!”followed by a short tune,
the activity name and a question such as “What letter
is before B?” or “What letter is after A?” The timer
will then begin as a “Tick Tock” sound effect is heard.
2. Your child may answer the question by pressing a
letter button. The press of a blend button will result
in an “invalid key” response. After inputting an answer,
press the fisherman to stop the timer.
3. A correct answer will elicit a positive response as well
as a reiteration of the correct answer for added
reinforcement.
ACTIVITY 3 - BEFORE AND AFTER
4. An incorrect answer will elicit an encouraging
response. Your child will then be given another chance
as the learning toy repeats the question. After a third
incorrect attempt, the unit will reveal the correct
answer, and a new question will be asked.
BEFORE AND
AFTER
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FISHING FOR PHONICS™ ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 3 - BEFORE AND AFTER
How Can You Help?
• In order to be successful while playing this activity, your child must know
what the words “before” and “after” really mean. Practice this skill with
your child. You may wish to use objects that your child is familiar with (i.e.
colored blocks, small toys, etc.) Next, lay three or four objects out in a line
and talk about “before” and “after” in regards to those particular objects.
This should help your child grasp the concept of “before” and “after”.
• Try the above activity using magnetic letters to make the transfer of this
concept to the alphabet. Ask your child, “What letter comes before the letter
C?” Repeat alternating your questions with the words “before” and “after”.
• Remind your child that “before” and “after”are words that also apply to
other activities besides alphabetical order. Together brainstorm with your
child times when “before” and “after” are very important (i.e. daily routine,
following a recipe, driving a car, etc.) and then discuss them. You may even
ask your child to divide a paper into three sections. Label the first section
“Before.” Leave the middle section blank and label the final section “After.”
Next, ask your child to draw a picture of something he or she likes doing in
the blank section. Then on the side labeled “Before”draw something that he
or she may do just before that particular activity. Then in the section la-
beled “After,” ask him or her to draw a picture showing what he or she
would do after the activity was over.
ACTIVITY 4 - MISSING VOWELS
This activity strengthens spelling skills by challenging your child to find the
missing vowel(s) in a word. Your child will be shown a word with one or more
blank spaces somewhere within the word. Your child must look at the yellow
vowel buttons and decide which vowel(s) is missing. Once he or she has found
the answer, press the vowel button followed by the fisherman character to
enter and receive a response.
Learning Benefits for Your Child -Learning Benefits for Your Child -
Learning Benefits for Your Child -Learning Benefits for Your Child -
Learning Benefits for Your Child - The Missing Vowels activity provides a good
review of letter and sound recognition. Your child must rely on his or her
knowledge of both long and short vowel sounds to find the missing vowel(s) in
the words. This activity also reinforces the distinction between vowels and
consonants.
ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Slide the activity selector to the fourth activity. You
will hear “Let's go fishing!” followed by a short tune
and the instruction “Find the missing vowel(s)”. A word
containing one or more blanks representing the
missing vowel(s) will appear on the screen. The timer
will then begin as a “Tick Tock” sound effect is heard.
(continued)
MISSING
VOWELS
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FISHING FOR PHONICS™ ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 4 - MISSING VOWELS
2. Your child must press letter buttons to fill in the
missing letters in the word. The letters must be
entered in order from left to right. His or her choices
are limited to the vowel buttons, which are
differentiated as yellow fish buttons in contrast to the
pink consonant buttons. Pressing a consonant or blend
button will elicit an invalid key sound effect.
3. Each correct letter will replace a blank in the word.
When all the vowels are correctly filled in, the
fisherman should be pressed to stop the timer.
4. A correct answer will elicit a positive response as well
as a reiteration of the correct answer for added
reinforcement.
5. An incorrect answer will elicit an encouraging
response. Your child will be given another chance as
the learning toy repeats the question. After a third
incorrect attempt, the unit will reveal the correct
answer, and a new question will be asked.
How Can You Help?
• Remind your child that the vowels in the game Fishing for Phonics™ are all
printed on yellow fish. Review the names of the vowels: A,E,I,O, and U. Prac-
tice saying the long and short vowel sounds with your child. Remind your
child that long vowels say their own names.
• While reading books, magazines, signs, etc. to your child, draw attention to
the vowels in the words. Have your child tell you what the vowel is in differ-
ent words. Ask if the vowel says its long or short sound.
• Make a vowel booklet using two pages for each vowel: one for the long
sound and one for the short. When your child is introduced to new words
with vowel sounds, he or she can write the word on the appropriate page.
He or she may even wish to draw a picture to go with each word entry.
••
••
•PLEASE NOTE:PLEASE NOTE:
PLEASE NOTE:PLEASE NOTE:
PLEASE NOTE: Y is also considered a vowel in some cases. However, in intro-
ducing the topic of vowels to a Growing Reader, we have simplified the les-
son to A, E, I, O, and U, the letters which are always recognized as vowels.
(continued)
MISSING
VOWELS
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