February 2012

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Twinkle Twinkle iPad/iPhone App Update

February 24, 2012 in Apps by Super Simple Learning | No comments

Twinkle Twinkle 2.0

Twinkle Twinkle 2.0

We’ve been really happy with the feedback we’ve received on our first iPad/iPhone app, Twinkle Twinkle. Version 1.0 received stellar reviews from Kirkus Reviews, PadGadget.com, Digital Storytime.com, GiggleApps.com and more. And with 98 ratings in the U.S. iTunes store, it has averaged 4.5 out of 5 stars.

But we still wanted to add some things to make it extra special, so we’ve just released Twinkle Twinkle version 2.0. Here’s what to look for:

1) Record Your Own Voice – Now you can choose to record yourself telling the story. Parents can record the story for their children. Kids can record themselves reading the story. Or you can record your own version of the story (use a different language, simplify the story, etc.). This is a really great tool for getting kids excited about reading.

2) New touch animations and sound effects – We’ve added some fun additional effects, while keeping things simple so as not to take away from the story. Touch the moon and watch it glow! Play the “Twinkle twinkle” tune on the star and the moon! Find the shooting stars! Let us know what else you find ^_^.

3) Larger home and page-turning buttons – Thanks to your feedback, we’ve added bigger buttons to make navigation easier.

Let us know what you think! We’d really appreciate it if you’d leave us a review in the iTunes store.

Hope you enjoy it!

P.S.
To Android users: We’re really sorry we don’t have an Android app available yet. It turns out developing for Android, with the multiple platforms, has not been as straightforward as we had hoped. This storybook app is pretty rich in content, involving videos transitions and multiple effects, and it has proven difficult to keep the full functionality in an Android version. Rather than release a watered-down version, we’re still trying to re-create the full experience. We’re sorry to keep you waiting! Thanks for your patience.

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Valentine’s Day Topics – Cloze Exercises

February 12, 2012 in Activities, Holidays, Teaching Tips by Super Simple Learning | No comments

Skidamarink Cloze Exercise Worksheet

Skidamarink Cloze Exercise Worksheet

Music is such a wonderful teaching tool because there are so many activities that you can do with it. Besides singing and gesturing along to the music, you can use activity sheets, flashcards and games to extend the impact of your songs. One activity that we find particularly useful are cloze exercises, or fill-in-the-blank worksheets.

Cloze exercises are printed song lyrics with words or phrases missing. As students listen to the song, they fill in the missing information. They are great for students that are working on their reading and writing skills. They are also great for students that are a little hesitant to stand up and sing, but who still love music.

It’s easy to make your own. Simply type up the lyrics of the song you would like to use, then, remove selected words and replace them with a blank line. You can adjust your exercise to the skill level of your students. For an easier exercise, add a list of the words so that students can read them and know how to spell them. Make it more challenging by leaving the words off.

There many ways that you can use this great tool with your students. You might start by playing the song as background music during another part of the lesson or have it playing as the children enter the room. You can introduce the vocabulary with flashcards and review how to pronounce and spell the words that will be part of the exercise.

Pass out a copy of the lyrics to each student. Play the song and have students listen for the words. You might need to restart the song several times or pause the music so that students have time to write in the missing words.

After they have filled in all the blanks, listen to the song one more time and have students point to each word as it is sung and double check their answers.
Often, kids will sing along as they listen. If the students are willing, stand up and sing and gesture the song together.

Are you ready to try a cloze exercise? Here’s a free cloze exercise worksheet for “Skidamarink,” perfect for Valentine’s Day lessons, around Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, or anytime of year you need a sweet song.

For more cloze exercises, see the enhanced CDs in our Theme Series. Every song on the Animals, Halloween and Christmas CDs includes a cloze activity sheet!

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What does “Skidamarink” mean?

February 6, 2012 in Holidays by Super Simple Learning | No comments

Skidamarink a dink a dink“Does Skidamarink mean anything?”

Actually, Skidamarink does not mean anything.  It’s just a silly, made-up word.  The song is originally from an early 20th century Broadway musical, and over the years has been sung as Skinnamarink, Skinnymarink, Skiddymerink, and more.

It’s a great song for Parent/Child classes. The parent and child can face each other and sing! It’s always nice to finish with a big hug. And it’s a nice choice around Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, and any day children may want to share a little love. It’s also fantastic for school performances.

For the full lyrics and a gesture guide for Skidamarink, check out the Super Simple Songs Valentine’s Day page.

For a little bit of extra fun, try making up your own nonsense word and changing the lyrics around. For example, sing about your favorite foods!

Skidamarink a dink a dink.
Skidamarink a deeza
I love pizza! 

Have fun!

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Valentine’s Day Topics – Times of Day

February 1, 2012 in Holidays, Teaching Tips, Videos by Super Simple Learning | No comments

Skidamarink A Dink A Dink

Skidamarink a Doo, We Love You!

“Skidamarink” is our favorite Valentine’s Day song, it’s a little bit silly and very sweet. The actual word “skidamarink” doesn’t ‘mean’ anything, but it’s sure fun to say!!

Besides singing it to tell people you love them at Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or Father’s Day, Skidamarink can also be used to talk about times of day like morning, afternoon, evening and night time (symbolized by the moon).

When do you…?

Demonstrate the times of day gestures from Skidamarink, (download the gesture guide here) for morning, afternoon, evening and the moon. Use a cardboard clock to talk about the different times of day and what types of activities you do at those times. Ask kids about their daily and weekly activities. When do you eat breakfast? Go to school? Eat lunch? Have soccer practice? Go to English lesson? Eat dinner? Take a bath? Go to sleep?
Put the students in pairs and have a dialogue practicing with each other.

When do you….eat dinner?
I eat dinner in the evening.

When do you…eat breakfast?
I eat breakfast in the morning.

Afterwards, watch the video and sing Skidamarink together.

Let us know what you’ll be doing for Valentine’s Day this year!

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