Phonics on Nintendo DS Gets Kids Ready to Read
My Virtual Tutor - Reading for Grades Pre-K and K
Sep 25, 2009
Parents who have bought their kids a Nintendo DS video game system will find that it is fairly common for kids to spend an exorbitant amount of time on it.
For some, the game system is a great way for families to spend time together, whether they are making their way through the eight dangerous worlds of Super Mario Bros., working their way to defeat the dastardly Bowser and save Princess Toadstool, or playing tennis against each other.
But playing video games does not have to simply be about having fun. It can be about having fun and learning.
My Virtual Tutor: Reading Brings Edutainment to Pre-Schoolers
This game connects reading to children on three levels from Pre-K to 2nd grade. Through it, children will find interactive books, phonics lessons, and rhyming all at their own level, and a little bit beyond.
The graphics of the game are unique in that the child has to hold the Nintendo DS sideways so that it gives the appearance of opening a book. On one side is the lesson, such as a story being read, questions about phonics, or virtual arts and crafts that tap into the child's creative side, and on the other is the virtual tutor encouraging him along the way.
Phonics Can be Easy and Fun on Nintendo DS
My Virtual Tutor: Reading takes children on phonics adventures.
Initially, they are in space. The tutor can be seen on the left screen looking out the porthole of a spaceship while students try to catch the shooting stars on the right screen with the words that start with the assigned letter. For example, if the letter "r" is assigned, then they would try to catch the stars with words like red and rose, but not words such as do and him.
During the tutor session, children are afforded an unlimited number of mistakes as they are encouraged positively while preparing for the challenge session. The key is to find five correct answers.
While in the challenge session, children can only make three mistakes, forcing them to have to know the letter they are looking for in order to win, rather than simply catch every star that passes until the tutor congratulates them. This is all done while the letter they need to concentrate on is displayed with the virtual tutor for the child to reference.
The only downside to this part of the game is that when children lose, some may not know it because although the screen says "try again," there is no audio indicator to let them know they did not pick the right stars.
Luckily, this can all be alleviated by parents playing with their children, helping them understand the game so as to gain maximum utility of it.
All in all, My Virtual Tutor: Reading for Nintendo DS is a great game for children to play. Not only does it have fun games and stories, but it is as easy to travel with as Super Mario Bros. And at $29.99, it'll be the cheapest private tutor a child has ever had.
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