TWO MODES: OLSN provides two kinds of help: help for learning to recognize words, and help for learning to understand words. 

Click to recognize.	To understand click

MODE 1: Using OLSN to help recognize words:

1- Click word, 2 – Watch while listening, 3 – Try to read word again, 4 – Repeat as needed

Click as Needed! Whenever your child hesitates trying to read a word they should click it. Clicking on a word causes OLSN to pop-up with the word in its small blue box. If the word has a lot of letters, the word will appear broken into smaller and more easily readable parts. For example, click on the following word: segmented.

Did you notice that the word was shown in 3 segments?

Now, click it again, and this time after it appears in the box, click it again (segmented).  Did you notice how the ‘e‘ was gray and the ‘n‘ was bold and OLSN‘s voice said “N”? 

Now click it for a third time (segmented). Did you see and hear the word sounded out? This way of changing the looks of letters so that they can better telegraph their sounds is called PQs (for “pronunciation cues“). PQs are like “phonics clues” and “sound-out hints” that help children learn how to recognize unfamiliar words. OLSN uses PQs to guide your child’s learning into the kinds of rapid pattern recognition that good reading depends on.

Important Note: You and your child can learn all you need to learn about PQs by just using OLSN. You don’t have to learn PQs before using them to read with them, however, if you want to learn more about PQs, click here.

MODE 2: Using OLSN’s Word Explore button to help understand words.

Step 1: Whenever your child encounters a word that they don’t know the meaning of, they should click the word to open OLSN (just like they would for a word they don’t recognize).

Step 2: Once OLSN opens with the word in its box, your child should click on the Word Explore button which will then open the Reference Panel. The Reference Panel provides instant access to a number of types of references for learning about the word:     

Step 3: If English is their primary language, they should click on the Dictionary  or Synonym  button to see the words definitions. If English is not their primary language, they should click on the Translator  button to see translations in their language. Note: if the Translator is not set to their primary language, click on the Translator Menu  button to select it.

Important Note: Your child can click on any word in the  dictionary,  synonyms or  roots reference panel (for example “embarrassing” below), and OLSN will help them read (recognize and understand) the word. 

Now that you know how to use OLSN’s two modes, practice with some of the words included in the table below. Once easy for you, show your child how to use OLSN: “click, watch while listening, try to read it again, repeat as needed”. Once your child is using OLSN to work out unfamiliar words, have them click on the Word Explore button and use the Reference Panel to get help for understanding words. Keep practicing together until your child is able to use OLSN to help them recognize and understand any word they encounter.

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