GETTING STARTED

  1. Click Start -> Programs -> Need4Reading.
  2. Select New User.
  3. Type in the User Name.
  4. Type in the User Password.
  5. Re-enter the password.
  6. Now click OK.
  7. The program will now revert to the Login screen.
  8. You will see the user name in the box on the left.
  9. Enter the password for the user in the box on the right and click OK.
  10. Now the program will launch into Phonics.
  11. When there are more than two students, first select the student on the left then click in the password box. Enter the correct password for that particular student then click OK. As a supervisor or teacher, please keep a list of the students’ user name and passwords. Don't use the same password for different students.

The program opens with the letter ‘a’. The student points to the letter ‘a’ then clicks on the left mouse button. The student must wait for the blue mouse symbol to display before the mouse button will respond.



The computer now selects the next letter and makes the announcement. The student points to the correct letter then clicks on it. Should the student make an error the correct letter will be displayed, but the student must wait for the blue mouse symbol to appear, then click on the letter.

On the right-hand side of the screen you will see a number 20 at the beginning. This number keeps track of how many letters or words the student has to complete for the level. When the level is completed without error the number will reach 0. This completes the level and the next level will start.



Located next to this number you will see a sad face. This symbol means the student has not clicked on the letter within three seconds from the end of the announcement. This will also set the counter back to 20.

There are two numbers on the left-hand side of the screen. One displays how many correct answers have been given, the other displays the Level within the group.

Alphabet section
This section starts at the beginning of the sequence of letters that have been announced. If an error is made by the student he/she must start at the beginning of the sequence that has just been announced.

Comprehension section
This section is different from the earlier sections. The student is required to complete a sentence that has three words removed. Those selected words are placed at the bottom of the panel in a different colour. The student carefully listens to the sentence then selects the correct word by clicking in the correct sequence, starting from the first omitted word. This places the words back into the sentence and when all three words are correctly selected, the completed sentence is displayed for three seconds. Errors made by the student in the selection of any of the words will cause a large sad face to appear for one second. A small sad face appears after about 15 seconds if all three words have not been answered correctly. Either event will cause the program to automatically set up 10 sentences (displayed on the right).

The Management program (Master.exe)
There is a management section of this program called Master.exe. This can be found in the Need4Reading program directory. (Pw: Principal2003) This program will print out the statistics of each student. It can be used to select the level for a student if a computer becomes inoperative.

To transfer a student to another computer he/she will have reached the Comprehension section.

  1. On the new computer, use Master.exe by entering the password. Click New Student then enter the student’s name, user name and password, as well as the particulars for that student, then click Finish button. The program automatically assigns a new student number.
  2. Enter the level achieved from the previous computer into the edit box under Group.
  3. Now select the Student by clicking on the student’s name in the right hand window, which it will highlight. Now click the Comprehension button.
  4. It is a good idea to print the report from the original computer for that student prior to transfer.
  5. Further reports may be printed upon completion of the program.

The program keeps track of the student's progress as he/she moves through the various levels. Note that the program only records completed levels. When the section is completed the program will automatically logout and the student will then login as normal using his/her username and password to commence the next section.

Please make each password unique as a mixup can occur, which is very confusing for the students, should they accidentally login to another student's session.

Getting the most out of Need4Reading
The program progresses through the levels and doesn't require any intervention, the idea being that the student passes quickly through the work if they know it. If the student makes an error the program will tutor the student until he/she knows the work.

Please don't assume that the student knows all of the phonics or the alphabet as he/she may not. Omitted basics can impair their fluency in reading and comprehension in the future. The program has been carefully designed with this area in mind.

We recommend that the student progress at their own pace. This can be difficult to judge since there are wide variations in the ability of students.

  1. If the student is winning and making good progress, let them continue through the program.
  2. If a student is getting bogged down and not winning in an area make sure they understand all of the words in that section (use a simple or beginners dictionary).
  3. Try to finish on the completion of the level if at all possible.
  4. If a student is tired or hungry, don't let them start this program as the results will be impaired.
  5. Give the student something that he/she can achieve. This provides confidence building measures. This is very important to students who are having literacy difficulties.

A student's attention may tend to wane at times, therefore it is necessary to assure them that literacy will greatly enhance their employment prospects, resulting in a better future. This program is designed as a teacher's aid to enable students to receive the very necessary one-on-one tuition (which is time consuming), under the supervision of the teacher or caring parent.

www.need4reading.com
hbruce@tsn.cc
Howard & Ursula Bruce
January 1, 2003