Prep Positions
Prep Positions is a multi-purpose app specifically designed to encourage language and formulating sentences containing prepositions. With 15 levels, multiple sentences for each level, and the ability to adjust levels to fit individual needs, this comprehensive app is perfect for students struggling with understanding and using prepositions. The in-app data collection makes this app perfect for progress monitoring in Response to Intervention (RTI) or Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Teachers, Language Arts Specialists, and Speech-Language Pathologists will love the customization and the comprehensive data. Students will enjoy the earning balls for an engaging game while learning these important skills.
How to Play
Begin play by importing players into Prep Positions from the Therapy Report Center or entering players on the Players page. Once players have been added, up to five players can be selected per session. There are 15 levels of prepositions. Level 1 is designed for early readers (3rd grade) and includes “at, up, down, on, and by” while level 15 is designed for older students and includes “because of, close to, depending on, and up to.”
When the level is selected, the screen opens with a picture and sentence. Within the sentence is a blank space. Three possible words are shown underneath the sentence. The player drags the correct word up to the sentence to “fill in the blank.” An optional setting provides a prompt for the player to record the sentence to provide practice in saying the sentence correctly.
Customization
Prep Positions is highly customizable. The settings tab allows for customization of both the app itself or an individual player’s settings.
To customize the whole app – on the select player screen, tap the settings tab:
• adjust audio settings
• set the number of balls needed before playing the game
• select when to play the game (after earning a certain number of balls or at the end of the session)
• set the background visuals
• determine if the app should suggest recording
• Modify sentences
To customize for an individual player – at the bottom of the player icon tap modify:
• Select a level
• Modify the preposition targeted within each level
Data Collection
Prep Positions is compatible with The Therapy Report Center so data is easily managed. Within the app itself, a student report card is generated after every session. In the report card, data is reported by session, level, or by preposition. These report cards can be exported to the Therapy Report Center, printed, or emailed. Data is kept and compiled chronologically to make progress reporting easy.
Also from the report card center, it is possible to adjust a player’s level or play the game.
Purpose
The purpose of Prep Positions is to encourage both the understanding and use of prepositions in sentences. Prepositions constitute 30% of all writing1. For students to be successful in writing prepositions, they must be successful in knowing and using prepositions. The app encourages practice and carryover of the skills taught while having fun and using technology. Monitoring of these skills encourages students to self-advocate, ask for clarification, and use appropriate strategies for resolving problems.
In addition to progress monitoring for RTI and IEPs, Prep Positions explores many of the Common Core State Standards in Language. By incorporating the ability understand and use prepositions, the Common Core standards for Language are covered2.
Features
Prep Positions has the following features
• Customizable
• Data collection
• High quality images
• 15 levels and at least 30 sentences per level
• Single or Multi-player use
Sources
1Pennington, M. (2010). How to teach prepositional phrases. Pennington Publishing Blog. http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/grammar_mechanics/how-to-teach-prepositional-phrases/
2Common Core State Standards Initiative: http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/L/4/