Verb Quest

Verb Quest is a multi-player multi-level app designed to improve language skills in children. Verb Quest uses a fun magical theme to engage clients in their learning while teaching verbs. Easily customizable to fit nearly every need, Verb Quest is an engaging activity for students learning to use verb tense forms, and people who are learning English as a second language. Created to facilitate an understanding of verbs, Verb Quest has 20 levels ranging from simple present tense to the complex skills of negation, tense shifts, and participles. Each sentence has a corresponding picture to help reinforce the skill and increase engagement. Verb Quest is designed to teach and reinforce the grammar rules of the English language for children and English language learners alike. When playing Verb Quest, the active player is depicted by an image of the Smarty Ears mascot, Clever the Duck, flying on a broom. With each turn, a new picture is displayed with the phrase or sentence words shown on various pieces of paper. The player will drag the correct verb, to the sentence in a “fill in the blank” type of activity. An on-screen tally helps the student keep track, and when the mascot has moved 10 stones, a pop-up window displays with “Congratulations” and offers to continue practicing the same level of sentences, or moving to the next level. When done with the session, a simple tap on the done button brings the user to the reports center. In the report center, a tap on the avatar of the client brings up the choice of report cards or awards and points. The awards and points center is a great way to help clients see the scores and any awards they have won throughout the game. The students can “win” various types of wands for mastering levels of skill. Report cards are kept for each session and available to track progress monitoring over time by either session date or level of difficulty. Verb Quest utilizes the built-in microphone feature of the iPad to allow the student to record him or herself saying the sentences. This allows the student to gain the skill in using the correct verb tense. In addition, one customizable feature is the use of “random” sentences or “leveled sentences.” With the “random” sentences, Verb Quest will randomly select sentences for the student to complete and can be easily used for progress monitoring; while the “leveled” sentences allows the particular skill to be taught and practiced. Verb Quest has many customization choices from the “select a player” screen and from within each target page. The facilitator can choose to simplify the background, record the students saying the sentences, display hints, and automatically increase in complexity. In addition, the facilitator can select the “customize sentences” to select/deselect item choices. Verb Quest helps students meet common core requirements in English Language Arts. As early as kindergarten, students are expected to use frequently occurring verbs and nouns1. In first grade, students are expected to use verbs to convey a sense of past, present, and future2. By grade 5, students are expected to recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense as well as use perfect verb tenses3. Each grade incorporates increasingly difficult levels of verbs in their requirements. Understanding, and using, the correct verb tense is critical for academic writing4. Verb Quest is the perfect app to help students gain the knowledge needed for success. Verb Quest has the following features: • 20 levels of increasing difficulty and skill levels • Single or Multi-player platform • Customizable • Optional “hint” feature • Recording feature • Motivational awards • Ability to use the app for screening or teaching • Data Collection over time for each student • Compatibility with Therapy Report Center for easy report writing and progress monitoring