Reading Comprehension

Nobody's sharper than Marko the Pencil when it comes to helping students learn to read for meaning and prepare for tests. His tips are super-effective and his outrageous antics keep students on task. With Marko's guidance, students ace a practice test by learning how to read passages, find key words, and determine the best answers. Students stay calm and relaxed knowing they have the tools they need to succeed! Grades 2-4.

A team of teachers—who consistently get superior performance from their students on standardized tests—helped us create this video. We carefully examined reading tests in several states to identify winning strategies for boosting scores and reducing anxiety.

Lets face it: preparing for state-mandated tests is not a favorite activity of teachers and students. But there's no reason it can't be fun when you have an entertaining character to connect with kids. That's why were so pleased to have Vic Mignogna playing the voice of Marko the Pencil. Vic is well known for his award-winning acting in anime cartoons and video games. Vic won Best Actor, 2007 American Anime Awards.

As a special reward at the end of Reading Comprehension, Marko makes an appearance at the Golden Stylus Comedy room to show just how sharp he can be! His kid-friendly jokes will have everyone laughing.

Reading Comprehension includes:
• Identifying the Main Idea
• Using Context Clues
• Making Inferences
• Recalling Details and Sequencing
• Drawing Conclusions
• Following Directions
• Mastering Standardized Tests

Awards: iParenting Media Awards Outstanding Products; Family Review Center, Platinum Award; Coalition for Quality Children's Media, Kids First! Endorsement

"This program teaches students to read questions first on a test. Read the questions carefully and, look for important words like EXCEPT. Underline sentences that seem important. Usually the main idea is at the beginning and the end of a passage. Scan for context clues read sentences right before and after something you don't understand. Be a detective, look for clues! Put the answers in the fill-in-the-blank questions, and see which one sounds right. If you think you know the correct answer, you still need to read the other options. Use clues that the author gives you. Look for transition or order words: first, next, then, finally, etc. Children learn a variety of reading strategies to help them perform successfully on standardized assessments. It also teaches them reading comprehension through the use of cool songs, fun humor, and much practice. Parents can view along with their children and understand where their child may be having difficulty." — reviewer for 2008 Teachers Choice Award for the Family Program

"Test-taking skills are increasingly important as high-stakes testing becomes the norm. This program teaches students solid test-taking strategies in the subject area of reading. Computer-generated 3-D animation introduces a young girl about to take a test, and her test mentor, Marko the Pencil. Marko is enthusiastic, optimistic, and chock full of testing tips. He recommends reading the questions first, then reading the selection while looking for the answers required. He suggests reading all possible answers before choosing the correct one, and using inference skills when necessary. Marko then walks viewers through three passages and the questions that go with them, while applying the skills he has discussed. Along the way, students are reminded to be neat and to erase completely when necessary. The strategies are solid and would be useful in test-taking. Students will enjoy the occasional light humor and appreciate the program's clear, specific content. The review at the end covers 13 test-taking tips, and if you hang around during the credits you get to hear Marko's comedy routine, consisting of very bad riddles. While not perfect for all test-taking situations, this program presents some important skills in an interesting way, and would help to relieve students' testing anxiety" —Review from the School Library Journal Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA August 2007

Category:

• Learning & Education
• Animation

Tags:

• Rock 'N Learn
• rocknlearn
• reading comprehension
• become a better reader
• score high on reading test
• vic mignogna
• read for meaning