Introduction
Reader Rabbit is an advanced educational software program designed to help young children learn to read and develop essential thinking skills. This version is specifically optimized for the Apple IIgs computer, leveraging its capabilities for speech and graphics to create a highly motivating and effective learning environment.
Key benefits include:
- Speech: Reader Rabbit pronounces each word clearly, aiding recognition, memory, and spelling.
- Development of Thinking Skills: The program teaches children about letter patterns and sequences that form words, fostering logical thinking.
- Motivation to Learn: Engaging 16-color graphics, animation, and positive reinforcement keep children motivated.
- Easy-to-Use: Designed for minimal adult guidance, allowing children to learn independently or with a helper.
System Requirements
For Apple IIgs:
- Apple IIgs computer with a 3.5" disk drive.
- 256K RAM (1 megabyte memory expansion recommended for faster loading).
- Keyboard or Joystick.
- Color Monitor recommended.
For Tandy/IBM and Compatibles:
- IBM PS/2, PC, XT, AT or Tandy 1000 HX, EX, SX, TX, Tandy 3000.
- 256K RAM.
- Either 5.25" or 3.5" disk drive.
- DOS 2.0-3.3 (IBM/Tandy) or DOS 2.1-3.2 (Tandy).
- Color Graphics Adapter.
- Color monitor recommended.
- Optional: Joystick.
A special "talking" version for Apple IIgs takes full advantage of its digitized speech and enhanced graphics.
Getting Started & Quick Start
For Apple Computers: Insert the Reader Rabbit disk into the drive and turn on the computer.
For IBM/Tandy Computers:
- With Floppy Disk Drive: Boot from your PC-DOS or MS-DOS system disk. At the A> prompt, replace the DOS disk with the Reader Rabbit disk. Type
RABBITorQand press [Enter key] to begin. After the title screen, press any key to proceed to the menu. - With Hard Disk Drive: Boot from your hard disk. Insert the Reader Rabbit disk into drive A (or B). Type
A:(orB:) and press [Enter key]. Then typeRABBITorQand press [Enter key] to begin.
For first-time use on IBM/Tandy, installing DOS onto the Reader Rabbit disk is recommended (see Appendix A). Non-readers may need a few minutes of help learning the keys and game mechanics.
Choosing a Game
From the main menu, select a game by pressing its corresponding number. For beginners, Sorter Game (1) or Matchup Game (4) are recommended.
- 1. Sorter Game: Match words that share a specific letter in a specific position with the one shown on the Sorter Machine.
- 2. Labeler Game: Unscramble letters to correctly label pictures on shipping cartons.
- 3. Word Train Game: Create a word sequence where each word differs by only one letter from the preceding word.
- 4-9. Matchup Games: A memory game involving matching pairs of cards. Options include matching pictures to pictures, pictures to words, pictures to letter parts, or words to words.
Game Options & Controls
Talking & Sound: Press the [T key] on the menu screen to cycle through options: "Talking & Sound", "Talking Only", "Sound Only", or "Quiet".
Joystick: For Apple, IBM, or Tandy 1000, a joystick can be used. Press the [J key] from the main menu to enable it. Use the joystick button to select items.
Special Keys:
| Key(s) | Apple | IBM/Tandy 1000 | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movement | Arrow keys or [I key], [J key], [K key], [M key] | Arrow keys or [I key], [J key], [K key], [M key] | Moves the hand pointer up, down, left, and right. |
| Select/Start/Clear | [Return key] or [Enter key] | [Return key] or [Enter key] | Selects a letter, word, or picture; starts a game; clears a game. |
| Return to Menu | [Esc key] | [Esc key] | Returns to the menu from a game or help screen. |
| Instructions | [T key] | [T key] | Gives instructions for the current game. |
| Change Options | [M key] | [M key] | Allows changing game options (e.g., speed, letter position). |
Note: If your keyboard lacks arrow keys, you can mark the I, J, K, M keys.
Detailed Game Descriptions
1. Sorter Game
Objective: Fill five shelves by selecting words that match the sorter letter in the specified position. Incorrect words fall into the trash can.
Visual Description: A machine displays a "SORTER LETTER BOX" with a target letter. Words slide from a dispenser; below are shelves to catch correct words and a trash can for incorrect ones.
How to Play: Watch words slide out. If a word matches the sorter letter's position, press [Return key] or [Enter key] to save it. If it doesn't match, do nothing. Correctly placed words stay; incorrect ones change color. Reader Rabbit celebrates when shelves are full.
Changing Game Options: Before starting, you can adjust game speed (slow, medium, fast using number keys), sorter letter position (beginning, middle, end using movement keys), and the sorter letter itself (press [*] to choose).
2. Labeler Game
Objective: Arrange letters from letter boxes into labels on shipping cartons to spell the word corresponding to the carton's picture.
Visual Description: Shipping cartons display pictures. To the left are letter boxes (beginning, middle, ending letters) and blank labels on the cartons.
How to Play: Use movement keys to select a letter, press [Return key] or [Enter key] to pick it up. Move the letter to the correct position on a label. If correct, it stays; if incorrect, it returns to the box. All labels filled correctly reveal the word for the picture.
Changing Game Options: Press [*] to select different picture sets, each with multiple pictures and words.
3. Word Train Game
Objective: Fill a train with words from trucks, following the "One-Difference Rule": each new word must differ by only one letter from the word in the preceding car.
Visual Description: A train with empty cars is shown, alongside trucks containing various words.
How to Play: Select a word from a truck that differs by one letter from the current train car word. Press [Return key] or [Enter key] to place it. If correct, new words appear. If incorrect, the words change color.
Tips: To get unstuck, check if words share the same beginning, middle, or ending letter.
4. Matchup Games
Objective: A memory game where players match pairs of cards. Options include matching pictures to pictures, pictures to words, pictures to letter parts, or words to words.
Visual Description: A grid of face-down cards is presented. Players turn over two cards at a time to find matching pairs.
How to Play: Use movement keys to select a card, press [Return key] or [Enter key] to flip it. Select another card. If they match, they disappear. If not, they flip back down. Continue until all pairs are matched.
Changing Game Options: Press [0] to see choices. Select a picture set number and then a game type letter (e.g., 'P' for Picture-Picture, 'W' for Picture-Word).
Learning Concepts and Skills
Reader Rabbit is designed to build foundational reading and spelling skills through a series of carefully sequenced games:
- Sorter Game: Identifies unfamiliar letters, builds recognition speed, locates letters (beginning, middle, end) in C-V-C words, and recognizes spelling patterns.
- Labeler Game: Reinforces letter location in C-V-C words, highlights middle vowel sounds, develops spelling skills, and associates words with pictures.
- Word Train Game: Teaches identification of words differing by one letter, using logic to sequence words by holding two letter positions constant while changing a third.
- Matchup Games: Enhances association and matching of pictures, words, and letter parts; improves spatial awareness (up/down, left/right); and builds concentration and memory skills.
The program offers over 200 three-letter words and more than 70 pictures, with customizable options to adapt to a child's learning pace and focus on specific skills.
Note to Teachers: The Learning Company offers a Reader Rabbit School Edition with additional resources for classroom integration.
Additional Activities
Word Search: Puzzles containing eight hidden three-letter words that can be found across, down, or diagonally. Players circle found words.
Word Play: A multi-player game using the provided Word List. Players take turns naming words and specifying letter locations (beginning, middle, end), with opponents naming the corresponding letter. Variations include matching words to pictures starting with the word's ending letter.
Word Lists
The manual includes extensive lists:
- Word List: A comprehensive list of over 200 three-letter words used in the games (e.g., bad, bag, ban, bat, bed, beg, bet, bib, bid, big, bin, bit, bog, bop, box, bud, bug, bum, bun, bus, but, cab, can, cap, cat, cob, cod, cog, cop, cot, cub, cud, cup, cut, dab, dad, dam, den, did, dig, dim, din, dip, dog, don, dot, dub, dug, fad, fan, fat, fed, fib, fig, fin, fit, fix, fog, fox, gab, gap, gas, get, gig, gob, got, gum, gun, gut, had, hag, ham, has, hat, hem, hen, hid, him, hip, his, hit, hog, hop, hot, hub, hug, hum, hut, jab, jam, jet, jig, job, jog, jot, jug, jut, keg, kid, kin, kit, lab, lad, lag, lap, lax, led, leg, let, lid, lip, lit, lob, log, lop, lot, lug, mad, man, map, mat, men, met, mid, mix, mob, mom, mop, mud, mug, nab, nag, nap, net, nib, nip, nit, nod, not, nut, pad, pan, pat, peg, pen, pep, pet, pig, pin, pit, pod, pop, pot, pun, pup, put, rag, ram, ran, rap, rat, red, rib, rid, rig, rim, rip, rob, rod, rot, rub, rug, run, rut, sad, sag, sap, sat, set, sip, sit, six, sob, sod, sop, sub, sum, sun, sup, tab, tag, tan, tap, tat, tax, ten, tin, top, tot, tub, tug, van, vat, vet, vim, wag, wax, web, wed, wet, wig, win, wit).
- Picture-Word List: Categorized lists of words with associated images, including ANIMALS (bat, bug, cat, fox, hen, pig, ram, rat), PEOPLE (dad, men, mom), HOUSE (bed, pad, pen, mat, mop, rug, tub), CONTAINERS (bag, box, keg, lid, net), KITCHEN (bun, can, cob, cup, ham, jam, nut, pan, pot), PLAY AND WEAR (cap, hat, wig, rod, six, fan, pin, tag, ten), TRAVEL (bus, cab, map, sub, van), and OUTDOORS (bud, log, sun, hut, web).
Customer Service & Warranty
The Learning Company offers customer support via phone at 1-800-852-2255. The product is warranted against defects for 90 days from purchase. Damaged disks can be replaced for a fee by returning the disk with $10.00 to The Learning Company, 6493 Kaiser Dr., Fremont, CA 94555, Attention: Disk Return Dept.
Appendix A: Installing DOS
Instructions are provided for installing DOS system files onto the Reader Rabbit disk for easier startup on IBM/Tandy systems, depending on whether you have one or two floppy drives, or a hard drive. If system files cannot be transferred due to space limitations, the program can still be run by booting from the DOS disk and typing RABBIT.
Other Award-Winning Programs
The Learning Company also offers:
- Math Rabbit (Ages 4-7)
- Gertrude's Secrets (Ages 7-10)
- Children's Writing & Publishing Center (Ages 10-14+)
- Magic Spells (Thinking/Problem Solving)
- Think Quick! (Thinking/Problem Solving)
- Rocky's Boots (Advanced Problem Solving)
