New Coaching Practice Activities in Reflex

Are you ready for it? ExploreLearningReflex has three new coaching practice activities with Coach Penny as alternatives to the current Picture Puzzle. That’s three more opportunities for your students to build math fact fluency and demonstrate what they know while engaging in activities that keep motivation high!

Animal Olympics Trainer joins Coach Penny’s Picture Puzzle. The new activities include Hamster Race, River Race, and Ski Race. Because Reflex is adding new options, you might wonder about everyone’s favorite, Picture Puzzle. Don’t worry– it’s not going anywhere.

What’s new?

• There are now FOUR coaching practice activities, including Picture Puzzle, Hamster Race, Ski Race, and River Race.
• When students answer math facts accurately and quickly, the player and trainer characters appear to move forward! Characters don’t move forward until they’ve answered one fact correctly, slow down if students answer incorrectly, and get to a full stop if too many facts are answered incorrectly.
• The activities are randomly offered based on prior coaching sessions. Students who get Picture Puzzle will have two rounds. The new activities have three stages with math breaks that include quick animations between fact sets.
• Each activity is broken up into stages, beginning with a countdown.
• In each activity, students help animals train for a race by answering math facts! Accurate and quick answers make the animals move faster and incorrect answers slower, even to a stop if they miss too many facts.
• There are new scripts for Coach Penny to encourage students in English, Spanish, and French.

Hamster Race

River Race

Ski Race

What stays the same?

• Coach Penny, of course! She continues to guide students in answering math facts as they gain fact fluency and confidence.
• Coaching sessions are based on the student’s fluency and needs before moving on to the rest of Reflex Island.
• Green Light still illuminates in the upper right corner of the screen when a student has answered a certain number of facts correctly and met the Daily Usage Requirement.
• Progress Tree maintains a visual indicator for the number of fact families a student masters.
• Tokens are earned as students demonstrate fluency in a new fact or family, just as they have come to expect. The more activities students play, the more tokens they earn to purchase in-game rewards.

FAQ

What are the names of the new activities?
There are three new activities in Animal Olympics Trainer: Hamster Race, River Race, and Ski Race.

Is Coach Penny’s Picture Puzzle going away?
No! Picture Puzzle is here to stay.

How many times will students do an activity before moving to the rest of Reflex Island?
Picture Puzzle still includes two puzzles. The new activities will guide students through one session with math breaks in stages.

Will students be able to choose which activity they would like to do?
No– activities are randomly offered based on student needs determined through prior coaching sessions.

Why are math breaks included?
Research shows that  brain breaks are powerful for making learning efficient because they allow students time to process information and prepare a fresh start for the next activity. They are effective in Frax, too!

Have visuals and animations been upgraded or enhanced?
Students will see a difference! These activities are visually engaging, with a unique setting for each, with Huck Finn, Wind in the Willows, and Dr. Zhivago as inspirations. Hamster Race is presented in a futuristic hamster-sized city. River Race has a 1920’s look, featuring steam riverboats, boater hats, and period dress. Ski Race is set in a 1950’s ski resort in the Alps.

What else can I expect with the new activities?
There are many twists for students within the Animal Olympics Trainer. Obstacles appear on the track. There are slow-down and speed-up components, as well as a follow-the-leader feature.

What languages are available for coaching?
Coach Penny encourages students in English, Spanish, and French.