The Usborne Foundation, a charitable fund established by Peter Usborne to support initiatives to develop early literacy, has launched a free online game to help children practice and consolidate the essential first stages of reading.
Aimed at beginner readers, Teach Your Monster to Read: First Steps is built on the principles of synthetic phonics and follows the teaching sequence in the “Letters and Sounds” programme.
It develops children’s speed and accuracy of letter recognition by taking them on a fantastic adventure through a magical world where they meet island kings and collect letters to win prizes. It also explores blending and segmenting, and introduces “tricky” words in a fun, interactive setting. It is aimed at beginning readers, both those who are on track and those who need more support.
Peter Usborne said “It is absolutely crucial that we make learning to read as much fun as possible. I have long been fascinated by the magnetic attraction that computer games have for children, and have worked hard to incorporate some of that magic into Usborne books.”
Teach Your Monster to Read, features the voice of Simon Farnaby from BBC’s Horrible Histories, and allows children to adopt a monster who has crashlanded his spaceship. They must guide him through a series of islands, practising letters to help him read his handbook, rebuild his ship and fly home.
To play Teach Your Monster to Read www.teachyourmonstertoread.com.
The sheep letter and sound game
Thanks for the mention!
ReplyDeleteWe would love to know what people think of the game as there may be more coming in the future, all of which will also be free.
Antonio (Producer - Teach Your Monster to Read: First Steps)