Know-Its: The Link To Reading

Brief description of proposal.
Skills come alive as children engage in games and manipulatives for active learning. Mr. Know-It’s Fun Boxes and Mr. Know-It’s Magna Boxes are skill-based games and manipulatives for teaching reading. Each Fun Box contains research-based games and manipulatives for applying phonics, high frequency words, comprehension, etc. The Magna Boxes contain magnetic letters and manipulatives with lapboard overlays for developing reading/spelling skills.

1. What is the educational need for this project?
The national reading objective, No Child Left Behind, demands that educators reach at-risk students. Instructors need to prevent reading problems from developing by reaching students at an early age. Keeping with our nation’s goal of teaching every child to read by third grade, the Know-Its materials target students who are hard to reach. By engaging them in games and interactive materials, students will apply reading skills. Learning only takes place if the student can apply what he/she has learned.

2. What are the goals for the students targeted?

• increase/improve reading skills by using Know-Its materials
• have special "hands-on" experiences in small group settings or centers
• increase students’ confidence in reading
• engage students in fun, interactive learning so they will become better readers/writers
• promote social interaction with peers

3. Describe the project and how it will be implemented.

Explain your educational setting. Possibilities are:

• Mr. Know-Its Fun Boxes and Magna Boxes will be used to supplement the classroom in learning centers.
• Mr. Know-Its Fun Boxes and Magna Boxes will be used in an after school program.
• Mr. Know-Its Fun Boxes and Magna Boxes will be used by tutors, etc.

Children need to apply skills to learn them. Games and manipulatives hook the children into learning as they have fun. The Fun Boxes include both games and manipulatives so students will have opportunities for individual skill development as well as interaction with other students. Phonics rules are no good unless you can use them in meaningful reading contexts. The games provide motivating ways to use the skills. High frequency words (sight words) need repetition. Mr. Know-It’s games provide a fun way to repeat the words. The game cards also double for flashcards. Many of the games use strategy, memory, or other thinking skills. Each Magna Box provides magnetic a dry/erase lapboard, magnetic letters, manipulatives, overlays, dry/erase pen, and eraser. The overlays provide skill development in comprehension, spelling, and letter patterns as students discover new words with magnetic letters. The lapboards will be used in small group instruction for writing or for making words with magnetic letters. They also will be used in learning centers.

4. How will the results be measured?
Instructors will observe and record improvements in students’ motivation and confidence in reading. Feedback from parents will be shared at regularly scheduled conferences.

Explain what assessments are used for PASS skills or which Standard Achievement Test is given. There is also a Know-Its Assessment available.

5. How many students will be affected by the project?

Explain how many students will be affected directly and how many will be affected indirectly. If materials will be shared with other teachers or programs such as after-school, volunteer tutors, or classroom learning centers, more students will be affected. Having “game times” with other classrooms is another way to show that more students will be affected.
Also, it could be shown that the program will extend to other classrooms or schools in the future.

Each MagnaBox contains overlays and one MagnaBoard Set (lapboard, stand, dry/erase pen, magnetic letters and manipulatives.) Additional Accessories allow for group settings.