Following Directions Monster

Following Directions Monsters is a multi-player multi-level app designed to improve receptive language skills in children. Designed by certified speech-language pathologists, Following Directions Monsters uses a fun whimsical theme to engage clients in their learning while increasing auditory comprehension. Easily customizable to fit nearly every need, Following Directions Monsters is an engaging activity for students and a great addition to the therapy toolbox.

Available on the App Store
Following Directions Monsters

The Evidence

Auditory attention and the ability to follow directions are critical for school and work force success. Research shows there are many aspects of auditory attention: preparatory attention, divided attention, vigilance, sustained attention, and selective attention (Medwetsky, 2006). Following Directions Monsters may help increase these skills by teaching the student to attend to auditory directions. Using Following Directions Monsters with an adult helper encourages vigilance and sustained attention.
 
Following Directions Monsters uses technology in the gist of speech therapy software to present written and auditory directions in a fun and interactive way. Created specifically to help individuals improve receptive language skills, Following Directions Monsters is ideal for those individuals who struggle with following directions, language processing, and auditory processing. In addition, professionals working with individuals with intellectual disabilities and English Language Learners may find the app a great option for those students who require explicit instruction for language skills (Hicks et al, 2011) including skills such vocabulary skills such as size, color, and as well as other basic concepts such as before and after.
improve receptive language skills app

Following Directions Monsters has 27 levels and each level increases the complexity of the directions. Level 1 is simple one-step directions (e.g., touch the car, touch the ball). Level 20 works on sequencing (first, second, third), while level 27 includes the concepts of before/after with multiple-step directions and descriptors such as color/size.

Following Directions Monsters for language improvement

27 Levels of Difficulty

how to improve receptive language

Following Directions Monsters has 27 levels and each level increases the complexity of the directions. Level 1 is simple one-step directions (e.g., touch the car, touch the ball). Level 20 works on sequencing (first, second, third), while level 27 includes the concepts of before/after with multiple-step directions and descriptors such as color/size.

Multiple Levels of Difficulty

Following Directions Monsters is the perfect app for a busy therapist or educator. Not only is it fabulous for working with a single student, it will work with up to five simultaneous players. Each player can work at his or her own level. Data is kept for each individual student as well!

Detailed Reports

Following Directions Monsters Report Card
Recognizing the need to monitor progress over time, Following Directions Monsters compiles data for each individual every session. The individual’s report card can be emailed or printed (with an air ready printer).
The report card features two views. The first provides a listing of each session, which level(s) were addressed, which settings were on/off, and a percent accuracy. This area also provides a small graph for a visual representation of accuracy.
The graph view provides an line graph report by date/accuracy. If the level has been completed with 80% or greater accuracy, a button showing the accuracy level is green. If the level has been played but not mastered, a yellow indicator is displayed.

Video Tutorial:

Available on the App Store

The app monitors progress so you have confidence the child is actually improving

Direction Monster for receptive language

Following Directions Monsters and the Common Core

The majority of states have moved to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in the education setting. Knowledge and use of frequently occurring adjectives is expected to begin before Kindergarten and be mastered by the end of first grade. Following Directions Monster is a creative and engaging tool created to improve receptive language skills and assist students in meeting the CCSS for English Language Arts Standards for Language in Kindergarten and First grade.

Following Directions Monsters and Response to Intervention

Following Directions Monsters is an ideal component for Response to Intervention (RTI) as well. The app, with teacher direction, allows for an intensive teaching of the material. The data collection and report center allow progress monitoring to occur with the touch of a button. Individual customization of difficulty levels and ability for each student to have their own goals, makes it ideal for small group instruction. The busy SLP or educator can see at a glance the selected level and overall accuracy to determine effectiveness of the intervention to improve receptive language skills. In addition, the app allows data to be exported to the Therapy Report Center for easy report writing and integration with other educational goals.

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What are special educators saying?

Great app, but may be best for older kids that can read (as I had to do for this second grader). Not a big deal, but if you were looking for an app that required independence with the younger crowd, this app would not meet that need

Jenna Raybun

MA, CCC-SLP

This app is well thought out and engaging. The game show theme is versatile so it can be used with a variety of age ranges, great if you have students from different grade levels in a session. You can use it for individual therapy and with groups of up to 5. I was thrilled to see that the categories followed very closely with the format of the EET ( Expanding Expressions Tool ) so this app would be a great companion to that system if you use it in your room as well.

Maureen Wilson

MS, CCC-SLP

Once you get it right, you have the option of recording yourself repeating the sentence to practice speaking correctly. I LOVE this option

Lauren LaCour

Speech-Language Pathologist

Source:

English Language Arts Standards » Language » Grade 1. (2012) Common Core State Standards Initiative. N.p., Retrieved from: http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/L/1/1/f/
Farquharson, K., & Franzluebbers, C. E. (2014). Comparing the effects of working memory-based interventions for children with language impairment. EBP Briefs, 9(1), 1-7. Bloomington, MN: Pearson
Hicks, S.; Bethune, K., Wood, C., Cooke, N., & Mims, P. (2011), Effects of direct instruction on the acquisition of prepositions by students with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis; 44 (3): 675-679.
Medwetsky, L. 2006. Spoken Language Processing: A convergent approach to conceptualizing (central) auditory processing. The ASHA Leader, 11(8), 6-33.
Musiek, F.E., Chermak, G.D., & Weining, J. 2007. Auditory Training. In: Chermak, G.D. & Musiek, F.E (Eds). Handbook of (Central) Auditory Processing Disorder. Comprehensive Intervention. Volume II. Plural Publishing Inc: San Diego.

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