Spell Tricky Words - new game on RTZ

Hi All,

Very pleased to announce that we have another new game added to www.roythezebra.com. It's called Spell Tricky Words and features Zara our slightly different wildebeest who craves space adventure. In fact, she loves 'space' so much that she spends her time dreaming that she is a space wildenaut. As well as the game it comes packed with resources to save you time in the classroom.

Play it now! Or review the resources that come with it...

The educational objective for the new game is to support you whilst teaching tricky words, i.e. words that cannot be sounded out. Your student will be presented with words to spell, for example 'the' or 'into'. Following the standard approach to learning how to spell a word, the student then drags and drops jumbled letters to spell the word. This game includes the words: the, into, was, you, they and all.

Every word that gets completed correctly means that Zara's jet pac gets charged with energy; when she has a full jet pac she can explore space and meet new friends as well as find the golden trophy.

Included resources: the game also comes complete with lesson plan, as well as tricky word bookmarks, word mat, flash cards (access via the lesson plan) and worksheets.

The game is compatible with iPads, Android tablets and interactive whiteboards. By the end of the week we should have a complete set of this game for all tricky words on Club Roy.

Have fun playing the game. If you like the game then please consider subscribing to Club Roy where you'll be able to play this game with all the tricky words.

Leave me a note in the comments below; feedback always welcome.

Best wishes,

Tim

Tim Bowerbank

www.roythezebra.com / www.clubroy.com

Roy BIG Update

We are super pleased to announce that over the weekend our new website was launched for Roy. We’ve added some great new features that we think you’ll love, including the following:

iPad compatible (plus other tablet devices compatible) - the design and functionality of the new site has been totally focused on giving tablet users the best possible experience. It’s also still really great on desktops, laptops and of course, interactive whiteboards.

Games remastered - the majority of games have been remastered so that they a) can be played on tablets b) look much better c) sound much better.

Story remastered - full screen, high definition images, plus narration (if you would like it)

Reading certificates - each chapter has a printable reading certificate that you can use

Quicker - using Cloud technology the site should now be much faster than it was before.

Operation Rescue Lucy - our new engaging story on rescuing Lucy the elephant from the worst zoo in the world is now available on our new service Club Roy.

Club Roy launched - our new subscription website with 149 games, Operation Rescue Lucy, lesson plans and more than 700 printable resources for you to use. You can join from less than £1.70 GBP per month ($AUD2.67 per month, $USD2.50 per month).

Why all this change? The old website was simply old and needed fixing to embrace new technology plus that site and strategy weren't financially viable any longer. So changes had to be made and new solutions found that work for both you and me!

We hope you like what we’ve created for you, sorry if you got a shock this morning when you logged onto Roy.

Tim

Last ones done! Words that rhyme for iPads and Android devices...

Pleased to say that I have completed all the words that rhyme games so that they can be played on iPad and Android devices.

This last set has Belinda the chicken in it - the one with apples on her tree! And I have enhanced the game in comparison to the previous flash version (which is still there if you need it - made in 2005!). It looks good and is nice to play on your iPad, so have fun using it.

Here are some screen grabs and links so that you can go direct to the reading games from here.


Here are the links for the games:
Words that rhyme with cat
Words that rhyme with lad
Words that rhyme with gap
Words that rhyme with jam
Words that rhyme with man

 

Next job... mmm, convert the stories I think to make them tablet-friendly.
Blog again soon!
Tim

Onwards… new tablet version for words that rhyme - Ryan the Rhino...

Onwards… a new super-duper version of the words that rhyme - Ryan the Rhino game. Perfect for playing on iPads and Android tablets.

It has been great to re-visit this reading game which was one of the first ones I made way back in 2005… I have learnt a lot of new skills since then so it was chance to make the game much more enjoyable! And of course so that it can be played on tablets…

Here are the links to the game and some screen grabs! Have fun playing it… feedback always welcome!

Words that rhyme with bell
Words that rhyme with hill
Words that rhyme with pet
Words that rhyme with ten
Words that rhyme with tin

Words that Rhyme Games for iPad and Android Devices

Hi All,

Just to let you know that I've redeveloped the first set of Words That Rhyme (the ones with the bees in) games so that they now run on iPad and Android devices. i.e. tablets... nearly there, converting the interactive reading games to run in tablet browsers has been a huge task! Actually, this particular set of games have long been due an overhaul; they were one of the first sets I made way back in 2005! Wow, 11 years ago as I write today! So it was good to get stuck into making them better and of course to work on the iPad.

OK, so here are some screen grabs and some links - have fun playing them.

 

Game 1 - words that rhyme with bug

Game 2 - words that rhyme with dash

Game 3 - words that rhyme with dot

Game 4 - words that rhyme with lip

Game 5 - words that rhyme with top

Very excited about the plans that we have for the site... including of course Operation Rescue Lucy... which is finished but waiting for its new home in a subscription site which will have a very low price that will help us cover our costs and continue developing content whilst giving you quality content that you can use to support your teaching of literacy at school and at home. 

Full stop games for iPad and Android Tablets

Hi All,

Just to let you know I've uploaded new versions of the Full Stops Beginners game today. This is the simple version with just one sentence and of course the jumping snails. Works really well on an iPad in Safari and also on Chrome on an Android tablet - so have fun playing with them.

Just about to start work on the advanced full stops game and should have this done during May. This is all part of the big push to get the site fully operational on tablets via tablet browsers, naturally, since Flash player seems to be phasing out this is the way forward.

Here are some screen grabs:

You can access the game from the normal games menu on www.roythezebra.com and also direct from the links below:
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5


Operation Rescue Lucy is going to be launched in September with a following wind. If you like to preview it with some of your class then I'm looking for 5 schools to pilot it. Let me know and I'll send you some links to access the story.

Does it make sense for iPad and Android

Hi All,

Just to let you know that you can access the 'Does it make sense?' games now for your iPads and Android devices. I have just converted the game so it will run on tablets - it's the one with Zara having a dream about space travel.

Have fun using it… here are the links to the games:
Does it make sense 1
Does it make sense 2
Does it make sense 3
Does it make sense 4
Does it make sense 5

And some screen grabs.

Best wishes

Tim

Capital Letter Games for iPad and Android

Hi All,

Just to let you know that I have converted another batch of games so that they run on iPads and Android tablets. I have just finished and uploaded the Capital Letter Beginners' games.

Easy to access, just follow the links next to the older links that say NEW try our tablet version of this game... or access them here. I have also jazzed it up a little too and made it bigger...

Remember to get your capital letters correct so that it helps Zara's space dream come true!

Here are some screen grabs for you and some links.

Words Within Words for Tablets (iPad and Android)

Another quick blog post... just converted another flash reading game into one for iPad and Android tablets. It's been on my website for quite some time and now pleased to announce it's another one you'll be able to use on your tablets.

Help give Lucy some toys to brighten up her cell at the zoo by finding the words within the words. BTW, Operation Rescue Lucy is finished but we're building a new site for it, more on that later.

Here are the links you need (already on the website) plus a few screen grabs.
Happy Christmas to you all.
Tim

Words within words (open, small, still, train)
Words within words (other, start, thing, crayon)
Words within words (before, kitten, catch, clean)
Words within words (donkey, today, often, narrow)
Words within words (barking, think, another, teacher)

Singular Plural (adding 's') for iPads and Android

Hi All,

Pleased to announce that another reading game has been converted so that it plays nicely on an iPad or Android devices. It's the Singular Plural adding 's' game that sees Lucy in her zoo cell, place the singular and plural words correctly and you get to give Lucy something to decorate her zoo cell with.

There are five versions of the game covering: words we use at school, words we use on the farm, words we use at home, clothes we wear and food we eat.

Here's a screen grab - you can access the game here...

Help Lucy sort her singular and plural words...

Don't forget that these games are free and also come with lesson plans plus printables to help you save time.

Don't worry Lucy, Roy is on the way to rescue you. Quick update on Operation Lucy... it's finished! Wo... that took a long time, but sorry it's not accessible yet as we're working on the site that will go with it. Will keep you updated from this blog.

High Frequency Word Games for Tablets (iPad and Android)

Hi All, just to let you know that I have converted another set of games into versions that will run on an iPad plus other tablet devices (e.g. Kindlefire, Nexus, Hudl, Samsung Galaxy), but also on smart phones (iPhone, Android etc.). The new versions focus on the learning of high frequency words; notably for days of the week, months of the year, numbers to twenty, and colours (with a US version: colors also).

If you use RTZ frequently you'll know this game theme well; it's the one with Uncle Tom in it getting ready for bed... sort the high frequency words into their correct order and then if successful you can give Uncle Tom one of his bedtime bits (glass of water, hay, socks and a blanket). Here's a screen grab for you...

And some links to the content:
- Days of the week
- Months of the year
- Colours (UK version)
- Colors (US version)
- Numbers to twenty

Just to finish off, if you're wondering how progress is going with Operation Rescue Lucy, then I am nearly there! Only 3 pictures left to colour (out of 77). I will then need to put into the right format so it can accessed so I hope to have it to you mid autumn term (with a following wind). There will be a small affordable price associated with it.

Any feedback on any of the above, as always gratefully received.

Best wishes

Tim

Tim Bowerbank
www.roythezebra.com

Alphabetical Order Games for Tablets (iPad and Android compatible)

We've just launched a new set of games that are focused on alphabetical Order and are suitable for being played on iPad and other tablet devices. It's a remake / enhanced version of the original Mo the zerbra alphabetical order game which has been on the site for many years. Here's a screen grab of it... follow the links in the main game menu pages in order to play it.

New Alphabetical Order Game for Tablets (iPad and Android compatible)

If you have any feedback then of course, as always I would love to hear it.... leave me a note here.

Apologies for the silence on this blog; you might think that nothing has been happening this end... but that couldn't be further from the truth... I'm finishing off Operation Rescue Lucy (currently colouring ch6 of 7) and re-making all the flash content on the site so that it can run on tablets and other mobile devices.

Best wishes for now,

Tim

www.roythezebra.com

Update on Operation Lucy...

Update on Operation Lucy...

Hi William

Many thanks for sending me your letter, I really loved reading it, and it made me happy to think that Roy the zebra had made you happy when you were reading the story... the next book is coming out very soon, it has been a massive job with more than 7 drawing pads filled with my pictures of Roy and his friends. I am just finishing off coloring the pictures and then I'll be finished, so it should either be just after Easter or the beginning of the summer term... I am sorry if that sounds a long way off!

Reading is great isn't it. If you can read Roy the zebra then that means you can now read lots of other books too, think about what kind of stories you love and what you like to do and I am sure that Ms Green will be able to find you a great book to read. Perhaps one on animals, or football, or dinosaurs, or... I'll leave that to you.

Thank you again for writing to me, it also reminded me that I needed to update my blog, so thank you for that too!

Best regards

Tim

Tim Bowerbank

www.roythezebra.com

Here's another pic from the book...

***

Dear Tim,

I have been reading your Roy the Zebra books. My name is William and I am 7 years old. I am happy when I read your books. I am waiting for your new book when is it going to come out? This is the sentences for your blog:

Little Mo’s Best Letter

Secretly, Little Mo was writing an extended letter to Lucy to rescue her despite the fact she was in the annoying zoo. How will Lucy manage to escape?

From William

How to draw Roy the Zebra...

I've been drawing Roy a long time now; he's really simple to draw so I thought I'd give you the instructions on how to draw him. Use an HB pencil, and have an eraser and pencil sharpener ready. 

Look at the 6 steps below and follow the pictures. 

Step1: Start with his head… the best way to draw Roy's head is to lightly draw a line at the angle you'd like his head. Then lightly draw a circle at the bottom of the line and the top, make the top circle slightly bigger, just like in this picture, add two triangles for his ears:

Step 2: Roy's neck… next draw a light line for his neck, it should be about the same length as his head starting from just below the top of the head line:

Step 3: Roy's body… draw a light line from Roy's neck to where his tail starts, it should be about 1 and a half times longer than Roy's head, draw two light ovals over the top of it, like this picture...

Step 4: Roy's legs… near to the bottom of the ovals, draw some light lines downwards, about the same length as Roy's head… 

Step 5: Roy's feet… draw small triangles at the bottom of Roy's legs like in this  picture...

Step 6: Roy's eyes and mouth… add Roy's curly eye near to the bottom of the top circle on Roy's head, add Roy's mouth on the bottom circle as in the sketch on the left...

Then all we have to do is to draw roughly around using the above objects as a guide, you should then see all of Roy… add his stripes, the hair on his neck plus tail and you're done!

Here are some extra pictures of zebras I've done in different positions… you can see the the lightly drawn bits… try drawing Roy in lots of different positions:

Have fun...

Update Operation Lucy...

I've finished the second chapter drawings for Operation Lucy. If you're reading the first book on www.roythezebra.com, then please use the What's happening sheets below, your students can guess what's happening in the pictures and then write a short sentence to describe... send me your sentences and I'll happily add to this blog.

Here you go...

What's happening with Little Mo...

What's happening now...

What's happening now...








Still inspired by drawing elephants, so here's another sketch for you... what do you think is happening here! Send me your drawings of Lucy and I'll add here too...

Have fun using Roy, ... mmm, now on to chapter 3 drawings... I'm aiming for 5 or 6 chapters.

Tim

Jefferson Township School

Thank you Jefferson Township School for your excellent final chapters for rescuing Lucy the elephant. Some very clever ideas here... and really nice use of Story Jumper. Thank you for sending me the links and I look forward to meeting you on Skype.

Here are some of my favourite bits from your chapters. I have included all the links so that everyone can look at your work. Thank you also to Sherry for organising.

Brilliant disguises! Love the beards!

George looking good...

Nice giraffe and landscape

Everyone living together...

Yup, that's a longggggg wayyyyy. We have sea gulls like that where I live!

http://www.storyjumper.com/book/index/7498102/504a2f7e0d0fa 

http://www.storyjumper.com/book/index/7577092/504a2f7e11f10 

http://www.storyjumper.com/book/index/7577052/504a2f7e16d2b 

http://www.storyjumper.com/book/index/7577052/504a2f7e16d2b 

http://www.storyjumper.com/book/index/7482472/504a2f7e25768 

http://www.storyjumper.com/book/index/7482602/504a2f7e2a57b