Reading comprehension can be improved through drill and practice, especially for primary grade school children. The computer, when matched with appropriate software, can be used for this purpose. Reinforcement to correct responses can be immediate, with sound added to include another sensory reinforcer.
One of the problems with programs on the market is their inability to alter the program, once the initial routines are learned. The Reading Program is designed to be altered by simply changing the DATA statements.
Be creative
We, as parents, often make up short stories for our children and then ask questions to check for understanding. Place those stories and questions in the DATA statements, and your children can enjoy them again and again.
After the opening screen and music, the instruction screen is shown. Next the short story screen comes up and remains in place until RETURN is pressed. This allows the child to take whatever time is necessary for reading.
The screen wipes clean, and the first question is shown in the text window. If the response is correct, the next question is shown. However, if the response is incorrect, the story is shown again, and the question repeated. After a third incorrect answer, the correct answer is shown. Correct responses are rewarded with a musical salute. There is no scoring routine in this program, but one could be added by placing a counter in the musical salute and adding a screen before the closing routine. The BREAK key is turned off during the main loop to prevent accidental interruption.
A bit of caution is necessary about placing your short story in the DATA statements. Exactly eight DATA lines are needed for correct program operation, and no single DATA line can be more than nineteen characters long. If less than eight DATA lines are necessary to tell the story, fill the remainder of the eight with blank DATA statements. Immediately after the eighth DATA statement, place your question, followed by a comma and then the correct response. You can ask as many or few questions as you desire. The questions and answers should not be more than 35 characters. However, the last question must be followed by DATA NONE,NONE. This statement is used as a flag for the next story decision loop. Leave the Line 9999 DATA statement as is. This statement is the flag for the OUT OF DATA routine. This should be the last line in your program.
Feel free to alter and modify the program to suit your needs.
| Program Routines | |
|---|---|
| Line | Function |
| 2 - 60 | Opening graphics |
| 65 - 80 | Opening music |
| 85 - 99 | Instruction screen |
| 100 - 200 | Main routine |
| 210 - 220 | Next story decision loop |
| 600 - 610 | Musical salute |
| 800 - 810 | Out of data screen |
| 820 | Closing graphics |
| 915 - 929 | Closing music |
| 1000 - 1070 | Story #1 |
| 1080 - 1120 | Questions for story #1 |
| 1130 | Decision flag |
| 1140 - 1210 | Story #2 |
| 1220 - 1260 | Questions for story #2 |
| 1270 | Next story decision flag |
| 1280 - 1350 | Story #3 |
| 1360 - 1400 | Questions for story #3 |
| 1410 | Next story decision flag |
| 9999 | Out of data flag |
1 DATA 874,89,465,361,972,198,585,966,
638,968,667,970,130,972,380,9235
65 DATA 83,119,29,281,995,670,63,331,1
39,76,597,719,464,41,707,5314
140 DATA 35,368,293,739,432,381,238,73
0,888,538,288,558,77,801,814,7180
220 DATA 197,380,931,83,408,298,222,21
9,2,746,404,148,161,242,94,4535
924 DATA 98,75,736,709,211,452,91,815,
762,453,947,688,843,88,207,7175
1090 DATA 616,163,592,719,861,950,894,
977,912,637,692,700,551,818,333,10415
1240 DATA 324,525,493,868,86,401,603,7
18,694,770,471,863,812,976,527,9131
1390 DATA 408,494,868,367,2137