Dear Parent, You know how important reading is to your child’s future. If your child can read, your child can do anything. That’s because reading is the foundation upon which all fundamental learning is built. A good beginning is absolutely essential. That is why VTech designed the Fundamentals of Reading product line to help your child develop language skills, the skills crucial to learning how to read. Our age-appropriate activities will help your child feel successful every step of the way.
SPEAKER VOLUME CONTROL SWITCH CONTRAST SWITCH LCD SCREEN TOUCH SENSITIVE ACTIVITY BUTTONS NUMBER BUTTONS/ ARROW AND ENTER BUTTONS ON BUTTON OFF BUTTON ROLLER BALL MOUSE LETTER/OBJECT REPEAT BUTTONS BUTTON HELP MELODY BUTTON BUTTON SHAPE BUTTONS MOUSE PAD TO BEGIN PLAY 1. To begin play, press the ON BUTTON ( ). You will hear a short tune followed by “Hello! Are you ready to play?” 2. Select from 22 activities by pressing the TOUCH SENSITIVE ACTIVITY BUTTONS BUTTONS.
. Press the SHAPE BUTTONS to hear the shapes identified. You can also use these buttons to hear the 20 built-in melodies played in different instrument sounds. 5. Press the NUMBER BUTTONS to hear numbers identified or to enter your answers in the number-based activities. You can also use the ARROWS to move the LCD screen cursor up, down, left, or right. Press the ENTER BUTTON after using the arrows to enter your answer for most of the activities. 6. Use the MOUSE to select answers on the LCD screen. 7.
10. To adjust the volume, slide the VOLUME CONTROL SWITCH ( ) located to the left of the LCD screen up for the high volume position ( ) or down for the low volume position ( ). 11. To adjust the contrast of the LCD screen, ) located slide the CONTRAST SWITCH ( to the left of the LCD screen up for the high ) or down for the contrast position ( low contrast position ( ). 12. To turn the learning toy off, press the OFF BUTTON ( ). You will hear a short tune followed by “Bye-bye!” 13.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES LETTERS, NUMBERS AND SHAPES ACTIVITY 1 - LETTERS, NUMBERS AND SHAPES This activity will help your child strengthen his or her letter, number and shape recognition skills by reviewing the 26 letters of the alphabet, the numbers 1-10, and four basic shapes. Learning Benefits for Your Child - The Letters, Numbers and Shapes activity is presented to your child to reinforce the twenty-six letters of the alphabet, numbers 1-10, and four shapes.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 1 - LETTERS, NUMBERS AND SHAPES (continued) • Encourage your child to find the beginning letter of his or her name as well as other names of family members on the learning toy. Ask your child to think of his or her friends’ names or favorite toys, stuffed animals, etc. and guide your child in finding and saying the beginning letters of those words on the learning toy.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 2 - FIND IT ACTIVITIES (continued) 3. Press the letter buttons to answer the questions about letters or words. 4. Press the number buttons to answer the questions about numbers. 5. Press the shape buttons to answer the questions about shapes. 6. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound with a positive phrase and the answer will be identified. A positive animation and the answer will appear on the LCD screen. 7.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 2 - FIND IT ACTIVITIES (continued) • Watch your child play this activity. You will be able to determine which letters, numbers, words, or shapes your child is successful in identifying. It will also give a good indication of which letters, numbers, words or shapes your child is having difficulty identifying. Be sure to make note of those and continue to have your child work on them.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 3 - ALPHABET & NUMBER ORDER ACTIVITIES (continued) 2. The friendly voice will ask a random question. For example, “Which letter comes before the letter C?” The question animation will appear on the LCD screen with four answers to choose from. 3. Press a letter button or use the mouse to select the answer. 4. You may also use the arrow buttons and the enter button located on the number buttons to select your answer from the LCD screen. 5.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 3 - ALPHABET & NUMBER ORDER ACTIVITIES (continued) 7. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound with a positive phrase. A positive animation will appear and the answer will flash on the LCD screen. 8. If the answer is incorrect, you will hear a negative sound with an encouraging phrase. A negative animation will appear and the incorrect answer will be identified. The question will be repeated. 9.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 4 - LEARN THE WORDS LEARN THE WORDS This activity builds vocabulary skills. Your child will be exposed to fifty-two various objects with different beginning letters. He or she will learn the beginning letter for each of these objects. As your child presses a letter button, a friendly voice will let your child know the name of the object that is pictured on the letter buttons.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 4 - LEARN THE WORDS ACTIVITIES (continued) 5. When any shape button is pressed, the shape will be identified and a shape animation will appear on the LCD screen. • Your child may already be asking you questions regarding beginning letters of words such as, “What does the word bike begin with?” This is great! Be sure to answer your child! Your child’s curiosity will only increase by playing with this activity.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 5 - SOUNDS OF LETTERS ACTIVITIES (continued) ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Press the Sounds of Letters touch sensitive activity button and you will hear a short tune followed by “Let’s learn the sounds of the letters!” Then the friendly voice will say “Press a letter button.” 2. Press the letter button to hear the letter sounds. The letter animation will appear on the LCD screen. 3.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 6 - SOUNDS OF WORDS This activity introduces your child to sounding out words. Your child will be able to hear every letter sound within a given word when completing this activity. On each letter button, there are two objects pictured. The object on the right will be sounded out. These words will help your child learn phonics because they are very simple and easy to understand.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 6 - SOUNDS OF WORDS ACTIVITIES (continued) How Can You Help? • Encourage your child to sound out the words with the friendly voice. Remind your child to look at the letters within the word while he or she is sounding out the word. BEGINNING LETTERS • Using the objects from the learning toy, write each of the words on cards. Have your child try sounding them out on his or her own.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 7 - BEGINNING LETTERS ACTIVITIES (continued) 3. Press the letter button or use the mouse to select the answer from the LCD screen. 4. You may also use the arrows and the enter button located on the number buttons to select your answer from the LCD screen. 5. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase. A positive animation will be shown and the answer animation will appear on the LCD screen. 6.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 7 - BEGINNING LETTERS ACTIVITIES (continued) How Can You Help? • After your child has found a beginning letter correctly, have him or her tell you the meaning of the word, and then use the word in a sentence. This is a great way to see if your child understands the meaning of the word. • Have your child write some of the words from this activity down on paper. Your child may wish to use paint, crayons, or markers to show the words he or she is able to spell.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 8 - ENDING LETTERS ACTIVITIES (continued) 3. Press the letter button or use the mouse to select the answer from the LCD screen. 4. You may also use the arrows and the enter button to select your answer from the LCD screen. 5. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase and the answer will be identified. A positive animation and the object animation will appear on the LCD screen. 6.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 8 - ENDING LETTERS ACTIVITIES (continued) How Can You Help? • Using words from this activity, write some of them down on index cards, leaving the ending letter off. You may wish to provide three choices underneath the word in order for your child to choose from. Next, have your child take a card. He or she should determine what letter is missing in order to spell the word correctly. Let your child tell you the word that he or she has created.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 9 - SPELLING ACTIVITIES (continued) 3. Press the letter buttons to enter the correct answer. 4. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase followed by the answer. The object animation and the answer animation will appear on the LCD screen. 5. If the answer is incorrect, you will hear a negative sound and an encouraging phrase and the question will be repeated.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 9 - SPELLING ACTIVITIES (continued) How Can You Help? • After your child has spelled a word correctly, have him or her tell you the meaning of the word, and then use the word in a sentence. This is a great way to see if your child understands the meaning of the word. • Have your child write some of the words from this activity down on paper. Your child may wish to use paint, crayons, or markers to show the words that he or she is able to spell.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 10 - MISSING VOWELS ACTIVITIES (continued) 3. Press the letter button or use the mouse to select the answer. 4. You may also use the arrows and the enter button located on the number buttons to select the answer from the LCD screen. 5. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase and the answer will be identified. A positive animation will be shown on the LCD screen. 6.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 10 - MISSING VOWELS ACTIVITIES (continued) How Can You Help? • Review the names of the vowels A, E, I, O, and U. Tell your child that there is a special name for these letters. The special name for this group of letters is vowels. Be sure that your child knows the sounds, both long and short vowel sounds. • While reading books, magazines, signs, etc. to your child, draw attention to the vowels in words. Have your child tell you what the vowel is within a word.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 11 - WORD FAMILIES ACTIVITIES (continued) 2. The friendly voice will ask a random question such as, “Pick the words that rhyme with king.” The question animation will appear on the LCD screen. 3. Use the mouse to select the two rhyming words. 4. You may also use the arrows and the enter button located on the number buttons to select the answers from the LCD screen. 5. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 11 - WORD FAMILIES ACTIVITIES (continued) How Can You Help? • Familiarize yourself with word families as you play the learning toy with your child. While he or she is playing, see if your child can tell you what word family the word on the LCD screen belongs to. Have your child think of another word to go with that family. • Make word family wheels. Cut out two circles making sure one is smaller than the other. On the edge of the large circle write the word family (i.e.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 12 - ALPHABETIZING ACTIVITIES (continued) 2. The friendly voice will say, “Select the words in alphabetical order” and the question animation will appear on the LCD screen. 3. Press the letter button or use the mouse to select the answer. 4. You may also use the arrows and the enter button located on the number buttons to select your answers from the LCD screen. 5. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase followed by the answer.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 12 - ALPHABETIZING ACTIVITIES (continued) How Can You Help? • Think of a particular category that your child is interested in. Together brainstorm about five words related to that category. Write them down in random order. (To make it easier, be sure each word begins with a different letter.) Next, have your child put them in alphabetical order. It may be very helpful if your child refers to the learning toy to see the correct order of the letters.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTVITY 13 - PUZZLE PICTURES ACTIVITIES (continued) 2. The friendly voice will say, “Look at the pictures on the screen. Press the buttons of the pictures you see in the correct order.” Two objects will appear one by one on the LCD screen. 3. Press the letter buttons to find the matching pictures you see on the LCD screen. 4. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase.
SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 14 - SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS This activity strengthens language development by introducing your child to spatial relationships. He or she will identify the location of various objects. A friendly voice will ask your child questions such as, “Is the circle above or below the van?” Learning Benefits for Your Child - The Spatial Relationships activity teaches your child new important vocabulary words.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 14 - SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS ACTIVITIES (continued) 5. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase followed by the answer. A positive animation will be shown on the LCD screen. 6. If the answer is incorrect, you will hear a negative sound and an encouraging phrase and the question will be repeated. A negative animation and the question animation will appear on the LCD screen. 7.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 15 - WORD SCRAMBLE WORD SCRAMBLE This activity strengthens spelling skills by asking your child to put scrambled letters in the proper sequence to correctly spell a word. Picture clues will be given as your child tries to unscramble short words. Learning Benefits for Your Child - The Word Scramble activity will help your child apply the skills that he or she will learn throughout this learning toy. ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: 1.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 15 - WORD SCRAMBLE ACTIVITIES (continued) 5. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase. A positive animation and the object animation will appear on the LCD screen. 6. If the answer is incorrect, you will hear a negative sound and an encouraging phrase, and the question will be repeated. The negative animation and the question animation will appear on the LCD screen.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 16 - COMPLETE THE SENTENCE ACTIVITIES (continued) COMPLETE THE SENTENCE Learning Benefits for Your Child - The Complete the Sentence activity is designed to teach your child about sentence structure. Your child will learn that sentences must convey a complete thought. By finding the missing word, the thought will be completed. Your child will also sharpen his or her vocabulary skills by searching for the correct word in order to complete the sentence.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 16 - COMPLETE THE SENTENCE ACTIVITIES (continued) 5. If the answer is incorrect, you will hear a negative sound and an encouraging phrase and the question will be repeated. A negative animation, the object and the question animation will appear on the LCD screen. 6. When any number or shape button is pressed, the number or shape will be identified and it will appear on the LCD screen.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 17 - SENTENCE SCRAMBLER ACTIVITIES (continued) Learning Benefits for Your Child - The Sentence Scrambler activity provides your child with opportunities to read complete sentences. Your child will also recognize that a sentence tells a complete thought. Also, while playing this activity, your child will see that the first word in every sentence must begin with a capital letter and it must end with an end mark such as a period.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 17 - SENTENCE SCRAMBLER ACTIVITIES (continued) 6. Press any shape button to hear the shape identified. The shape animation will appear on the LCD screen. How Can You Help? • Allow your child time to compose his or her own sentences. Remind him or her to use a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence and an end mark (period, question mark or exclamation point) at the end. • Make up simple sentences for your child.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 18 - SOUND MATCH AND MUSIC ACTIVITIES (continued) 2. The friendly voice will ask a random question such as, “What object sounds like ____?” The matching object animation will appear on the LCD screen. 3. Press the correct letter button to choose the answer. 4. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase and the answer will be identified. You will see a positive animation appear on the LCD screen, followed by the object. 5.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 18 - SOUND MATCH AND MUSIC ACTIVITIES (continued) 7. Press the shape buttons while listening to the built-in melodies to change the instrument sound of the melody that is being played. How Can You Help? • Provide plenty of time for your child’s creative expression. Ask your child to think of new words that go along with the melody of the song.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 19 - MOUSE SKILLS ACTIVITIES (continued) 2. Move the mouse up, down, left or right, depending on the location of the cheese on the LCD screen. The mouse head will move in the same direction as you move the mouse. 3. If you move the mouse in the proper direction and select the cheese, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase. A positive animation will appear on the LCD screen. The next skill test will appear on the LCD screen. 4.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 20 - COUNTING This activity helps your child learn how to count. Your child will use visual clues to help him or her determine the correct number of shapes pictured. Learning Benefits for Your Child - The Counting activity is presented to teach your child about number and object association. Your child will benefit from being able to count the pictured shapes. ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: 1.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 20 - COUNTING 5. If the answer is incorrect, you will hear a negative sound and an encouraging phrase and the question will be repeated. A negative animation and the question animation will appear on the LCD screen. 6. When any shape button is pressed, the shape will be identified and it will be shown on the LCD screen. How Can You Help? ADDITION • Provide plenty of opportunities for your child to count various objects.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 21 - ADDITION ACTIVITIES (continued) ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Press the Addition touch sensitive activity button and you will hear a short tune followed by “Let’s learn how to add.” 2. The friendly voice will ask a random question such as, “What is one plus two?” The equation will appear on the LCD screen. 3. Press the correct number button to answer the question. 4.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 21 - ADDITION ACTIVITIES (continued) How Can You Help? • Show your child the number buttons on the keyboard. Tell him or her to use them as a number line to help solve the problems. • Have your child use tangible objects such as pennies, beans, blocks, etc. to show the numbers being added. This should be helpful in finding the sum or total. • When your child is playing the activity, encourage him or her to tell a story problem to go along with the numerical equation.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITY 22 - SUBTRACTION ACTIVITIES (continued) 3. Press the correct number button to answer the question. 4. If the answer is correct, you will hear a rewarding sound and a positive phrase followed by the answer. A positive animation and the answer animation will appear on the LCD screen. 5. If the answer is incorrect, you will hear a negative sound and an encouraging phrase, and the question will be repeated.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES BATTERY INSTALLATION 1. Make sure the unit is Off. 2. Locate the battery cover on the bottom of the unit. Use a coin or screwdriver to loosen the screw. Install 4 “AA” (UM-3/LR6) batteries following the diagram inside the battery box. (The use of new, alkaline batteries is recommended for maximum performance.) 3. Replace the battery cover and tighten the screw to secure the battery cover.
PHONICS READING CENTER™ ACTIVITIES CARE AND MAINTENANCE 1. Keep the unit clean by wiping it with a slightly damp cloth. 2. Keep the unit out of direct sunlight and away from any direct heat source. 3. Remove the batteries when the unit is not in use for an extended period of time. 4. Do not drop the unit on hard surfaces and do not expose the unit to moisture or water.
