Training

Training Manual

CORE Computer Tutorial On-line Overview

THE BASICS

I. Overview of the Computer Tutorial:

A. CORE Reading and Vocabulary Development was designed for the older or ESL student who is reading at beginning levels. This computer tutorial is designed to help students practice reading and writing skills that have been learned in tutoring sessions. The student can work on the computer tutorial independently or with a tutor.

B. CORE Reading has 18 lessons, which are broken up into different reading levels and become progressively harder. These reading levels are approximate and even the lower grade levels might help higher-level students. The different reading levels are listed below:

Lesson 1: Pre-Primer Lesson 10: Reading Level 1-2
Lesson 2: Pre-Primer Lesson 11: Reading Level 2
Lesson 3: Primer Lesson 12: Reading Level 2
Lesson 4: Primer Lesson 13: Reading Level 2-3
Lesson 5: Primer Lesson 14: Reading Level 2-3
Lesson 6: Reading Level 1 Lesson 15: Reading Level 3
Lesson 7: Reading Level 1 Lesson 16: Reading Level 3
Lesson 8: Reading Level 1 Lesson 17: Reading Level 3-4
Lesson 9: Reading Level 1-2 Lesson 18: Reading Level 3-4

C. Each lesson is based on a story and contains 9 activities. Each lesson has the following nine activities:

1. Word List
2. Reading
3. Phrase Reading
4. Fill-In
5. Questions
6. Practice Writing
7. See, Say, and Spell
8. Spell It Right
9. Writing

If students have a difficult time reading or comprehending the story or instructions, the computer will read these out loud. Push the sound icon on the screen and the computer will read the instructions or the story passage on that page.

D. Supplementary Activity Worksheets

1. Worksheets to accompany most of the nine activities are available from the Project Read staff. These worksheets allow for extension, preview, or review of activities. The worksheets can be used during tutoring sessions when the student is not using the computer.
2. The worksheets are designed to reinforce computer activities or to serve as a test to see if students have achieved mastery. The worksheets can also be used as a review after a prolonged time lapse to check on retention, which is the ultimate test for mastery.
3. The worksheets are modeled after the computer programs. Some of the written activities duplicate the computer programs; others contain slight variations. Additional worksheets are also provided to extend vocabulary and to give extra writing practice.
4. The “Word Expansion” activities extend the basic vocabulary presented in the computer programs by approximately 30 words per lesson.
5. “Scrambled Sentences” gives ESL students an extra opportunity to practice word and sentence manipulation by beginning with three-word sentences.

II. Approximate Timing for Activities:

A. Students can spend 35-45 minutes on one entire lesson, or they can come back daily for 5-10 minute sessions that include one or two of the nine basic activities. The computer is programmed to start each student where s/he left off, i.e., at the appropriate activity based upon previous sessions.

B. The following list offers an estimation of the average time each activity takes. Times will vary according to the number of errors the student makes and the skill level of the student.

1. Word List 3 minutes
2. Reading 3 minutes
3. Phrase Reading 3 minutes
4. Fill-in 5 minutes
5. Questions 3 minutes
6. Practice Writing 5 minutes
7. See, Say, and Spell 8 minutes
8. Spell It Right 5 minutes
9. Writing 5 minutes
III. Login:

1. Turn on the computer, screen, and speaker.

2. When the “Network Password” box comes up, click Cancel.

3. Double click on the CORE reading icon. This will open up the CORE Reading program.

4. A Login page will open with boxes for you to enter the student’s information.

a. When a student starts the program for the first time, s/he is required to enter his/her first and last name, teacher’s last name, and class period number in the appropriate boxes. The class period number is 1.

b. The student needs to enter in the exact information every time s/he uses the computer, or his/her scores will not be recorded correctly. The student also needs to use the same computer every time in order to have information about past work, scores, and lessons recorded together.

c. When a student leaves a lesson and returns at a later time, s/he is requested to enter his/her first and last name, teacher’s last name, and class period number. The student is then taken directly to his/her “personalized” lesson menu (if student information was entered exactly the same), which shows the student’s previous scores and suggests which activity this student should attempt next-this is indicated by a flashing title on the appropriate activity. However, students can attempt any of the nine activities in a lesson at any time and in any order. Activities may also be repeated as many times as a student or teacher desires.
5. The computer will ask you if the login information is correct. If the information is correct, click on the YES button, which will take you to the main menu box that contains all of the lessons.

IV. Selecting a Lesson:

1. Once you have entered in all of the student’s information, the main menu box with the titles of the different lessons will appear.


2. Select the lesson you wish to work on and click OK.

3. Once you Click OK, a screen that lists all 9 activities will appear. (Because the computer will save all of the student’s work,it will show the student where s/he left off last time. If the student stopped in the middle of the lesson, the activity the student should begin with will have its circle marked and will be flashing. If the student is just beginning the lesson, start with Activity 1.)


4. Click on the activity you want the student to work on. Click the GO ON button.