PrepPositions 3.0

Prep Positions is a versatile educational application designed to facilitate the understanding and use of prepositions within sentence structures. Featuring 15 progressive levels, each containing multiple sentences, and customizable settings to accommodate individual learner needs, this tool offers a comprehensive approach suitable for students encountering difficulties with prepositional concepts. Its in-app data collection capabilities support progress monitoring, making it a valuable resource for Response to Intervention (RTI) and Individualized Education Program (IEP) implementations. Educators, including Language Arts specialists and Speech-Language Pathologists, will appreciate the level of customization and detailed data reports provided. Students are engaged through an interactive game mechanic involving earning balls, which reinforces learning in an enjoyable context.

To initiate gameplay, users import players via the Therapy Report Center or manually add them on the Players page. Up to five players can be selected per session. The app's 15 levels are developmentally sequenced; Level 1 targets early readers (approximately third grade), focusing on basic prepositions such as “at,” “up,” “down,” “on,” and “by.” Conversely, Level 15 addresses more advanced prepositions like “because of,” “close to,” “depending on,” and “up to.” Each level presents a visual prompt accompanied by a sentence with a missing word. Three options are displayed beneath the sentence, and players drag the correct preposition into the blank space to complete the sentence. An optional prompt feature allows players to record their sentence for pronunciation practice.

The application offers extensive customization options. In the settings tab accessible from the player selection screen, users can adjust audio parameters, set the number of balls required before engaging in gameplay, determine when the game prompts are activated (e.g., after earning a specific number of balls or at session end), modify background visuals, toggle recording suggestions, and edit sentences as needed. For individual player adjustments, tap ‘modify’ on the player icon to select a different level or target specific prepositions within each level.

Prep Positions integrates seamlessly with The Therapy Report Center, enabling efficient management of data. Each session generates a student report card summarizing performance by session, level, or preposition. These reports can be exported, printed, or emailed for documentation purposes. Data is chronologically stored to facilitate progress tracking. Additionally, from the report center, clinicians can modify a player’s level or initiate gameplay.

The primary objective of Prep Positions is to foster both conceptual understanding and practical application of prepositions in sentences. Considering that prepositions comprise approximately 30% of written language patterns, mastery in this area is vital for successful writing development. Through engaging practice combined with technological support, the app encourages skill transfer and promotes student self-advocacy by motivating learners to seek clarification or employ problem-solving strategies. Beyond RTI and IEP considerations, Prep Positions aligns with several Common Core State Standards in Language by emphasizing comprehension and use of prepositions within academic contexts.

• Customizable interface supporting differentiated learning approaches
• Robust data collection for comprehensive progress monitoring
• High-quality visual images enhancing engagement
• Structured across 15 levels with at least 30 sentences per level
• Adaptable for single or multiple users simultaneously

References:

• Pennington, M. (2010). How to teach prepositional phrases. Pennington Publishing Blog. http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/grammar_mechanics/how-to-teach-prepositional-phrases/
• Common Core State Standards Initiative: http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/L/4/