Posts Tagged ‘Talking’
American Innovative Teach Me Time Talking Alarm Clock and Nightlight User Review
I have to agree with the other reviewers who wished the green light could be brighter, and the display could be dimmer. Aside from that, I think it’s a great product. My 3 year old son was very excited to get it and start using it. The green light feature has been very helpful for him to know when it’s OK to get up in the morning, without having to keep asking me. If he wakes up too early, I just ask him if the green light is on yet, and when he says no, I remind him that he needs to go back to sleep — he usually does. We use it at nap time, too. I’ll be looking forward to using the “Teach Me Time” feature as he gets older, too. I also like that the display can show either digital or analog, or both. I normally wouldn’t have spent this much on a clock, but I expect that we’ll get many years of use out of it, in which case I think I will have gotten my money’s worth.
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Reviews American Innovative Teach Me Time Talking Alarm Clock and Nightlight
Products by : American Innovative
Top Model : TMT081-US
Rating Reviews : 4.0
More Info. Click to See Now! at amazon.com
*** Product Information and Prices Stored : Aug 15, 2010 13:07:41 ***
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Tags: Educational Insights Talking Hot Dots Pen User Review
Wow! I’m speechless. I purchased 2 hot dots pens made by Educational Insights (from Fat Brain toys – who offer free shipping w/min purchase and Amazon check-out through their website), several of the phonics/reading packs (pre-K, making inferences, using context clues, and main idea) and the multiplication and division math packs. However, telling time, U.S. States, and even make your own flashcards packs are also available.
What’s so great about these? Provides instant reinforcement and encouragement through engaging sounds and visual cues (light turns green for right or red for wrong). My pre-K/K and 5th grader are both equally enthralled.
I will quickly go over the cards, since they are relevant to your purchase of the pen:
Notes on the reading comp cards:
For older kids: These can definitely be done solo. Some of the reading passages appeared in last year’s annual achievement test. One caveat is that the cards offer a full range of grade levels in 1 pack (e.g. 2.0-6.0). So, they may have limited applicability to say an average sixth grader reader. 3rd grade would be ideal. However, there is a key card in the front that lists the story name and grade level (e.g. 2.1 or say 5.7) – plus they are arranged by grade level in the box. The questions are very appropriate, standard multiple choice type questions (what’s the main idea…).
For younger kids: An adult or older reading buddy is needed to facilitate. The pre-reading phonics cards contain letter identification (match the upper case with its lower case letter), color and word identification (shows you a red apple and asks you to find the word “red”), number recognition (count the animals, number is shown below (e.g. 1 giraffe), identify the corresponding word – e.g. one, two…), and rhyming (picture of mouse on left, choices are pictures of a house, rake, car). The instructions are at the top of the cards. After a few rounds, I think the letter identification could be done solo. There are several different card packs, including consonants as well.
Note on the math cards:
There are several (10) answer choices on either side of the problem. So, it is tricky, however be warned that the fact the answer choices are there WILL provide visual cues. So, these cards alone will not teach children to master multiplication/division/addition/subtraction. My son seeing the 64 reminded him the answer to 8×8 correctly and quickly, but take away the card and he answered 65.
Notes about the pen itself: There are several sound settings; mute, low, and loud. In a classroom environment, mute would be preferable, but the child can easily control the volume as there is no lock-out option. There is no on/off button. The battery cap (on the top) itself easily screws on/off (not an actual screw requiring a screwdriver) releasing the batteries. I like this, but a K teacher in the midst of 20 curious 5 y.o. may not.
Notes about the cards: they are thick cardboard, nicely boxed. The smaller cards – pre-K phonics and math cards come in small plastic index cases that can actually hold a pen inside. The reading cards are actually quite large (nearly a half sheet of paper) and fit into a cardboard box, clearly labeled. One worry is that with rigorous/excited usage from multiple children, it is conceivable that the pen could mar the answer bubble thus providing a “hint” as to the correct answer. The cards seem reasonably priced, and since the make your own dots are super cheap, they could even be repaired if this were to occur.
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Reviews Educational Insights Talking Hot Dots Pen
Products by : Educational Insights
Top Model : 2770
Rating Reviews : 4.0
More Info. Click to See Now! at amazon.com
*** Product Information and Prices Stored : May 11, 2010 20:26:34 ***
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Disney Toy Story Talking Jessie Doll — 16” User Review
My parents bought this for my son who is 3 1/2 and loves both movies Toy Story and Toy Story 2. After we got him the Buzz Lightyear doll he asked for the Woody character. He played we these for a couple of weeks then asked for the Jesse doll. He’s been re-creating scenes from the movie including parts where they drop lifeless into their boxes, except my son throws them lifeless. I squirm thinking he’s gonna break one of these dolls but they’ve kept up so far (he’s had them a few weeks now, 8 days with the Jesse doll) and they’ve kept up well; Buzz is losing some of his paint but my son could care less. Personally, I think the Jesse doll is true in detail to the movie and has the same funny sayings as well.
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Reviews Disney Toy Story Talking Jessie Doll — 16”
Products by : Disney
Top Model :
Rating Reviews : 2.5
More Info. Click to See Now! at amazon.com
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WowWee Tribot Talking Companion User Review
My 3, 6, 12, 16, and 17 year old sons AS WELL AS my 38 yr old husband all have fun with this robot! It is neat for all ages~! As for the educational value, it does help children with hand/eye coordination and those with speech delays can have fun repeating the robot! EXCELLENT TOY AND GREAT VALUE~
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Reviews WowWee Tribot Talking Companion
Products by : Wow Wee
Top Model : Tribot
Rating Reviews : 4.0
More Info. Click to See Now! at amazon.com
*** Product Information and Prices Stored : May 10, 2010 06:28:30 ***
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