Melissa+Burton

Software Reviews

// JumpStart Phonics- Read & Rhyme //

1. The purpose of this software program is to help children learn to read through games, rhythms, rhymes, and music. This software is appropriate for kindergarteners and 1st graders, age 4-7. It is appropriate for reading.

2. This software falls into the categories of instructional game and some tutorial.

3. I would integrate this into my classroom as a “free play” option so that way my students would be enjoying themselves and having fun, but still learning important pre-reading skills at the same time. I would incorporate this into my kindergarten class. I would incorporate it into my free play time, but it would ultimately be useful in my students reading. This software could also be useful in a music group because it incorporates rhythms and rhyming.

4. I think some of the biggest strengths are that it helps keep the children engaged with bright colors, playful characters, and puts learning in a fun game like situation. I also really like the fact you can monitor the children’s progress with this program. The weakness I found was that the software requires the use of a microphone. This would be fun for the students, but would disrupt the rest of the class.

5. The program costs $14.95. It can be purchased on the internet. The web address is [|www.softwareforkids.com]. The system requirements are: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Windows 7 Pentium II or faster 128 MB of RAM 300 MB available on hard drive Video Card with 32 MB memory 16 bit color @ 800x600 Sound Card DirectX 9.0 24X CD-ROM drive Microphone (not included)

// Super Flash Action Kindergarten Software & Workbook //

1. The purpose of this software program is to help teach kindergarteners essential math, reading, science, and social studies facts in a fun and playful superhero-themed curriculum. This software is appropriate for children ages 5-6. This software is appropriate for math, reading, science, and social studies.

2. This software falls into the categories of simulation, instructional games, and tutorial.

3. The nice part about this software program is it can be integrated almost anywhere. The program comes with a workbook as well as computer software so you can integrate the worksheets into any part of your lesson plan. The computer software could be utilized during computer time or free time. This software could be used in a kindergarten classroom. This program could be used in math, reading, science, and social studies. The worksheets that come with this program could be integrated into almost any aspect of your lesson plan. It could also serve as a homework activity.

4. The strengths of this program are it encompasses so many different subject areas in one software program. It comes with worksheets and computer software making it very easy to implant into almost any lesson plan. The weaknesses are it’s only geared for 5 and 6 year olds, which means if any of the students in your class are above or below grade level they may not fully benefit from the program.

5. This program costs $19.99. It can be purchased online. The website is [|www.schoolzone.com]. The system requirements are: Windows® 7, Vista, XP SP3 Pentium® III 1GHz 1GB of RAM 800x600 32-bit color video 16-bit sound card 700MB of available disk space CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

Mac® OS X 10.6.6 Intel Processor 1GB of RAM 800x600 32-bit color video 16-bit sound card 700MB of available disk space CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

// Read Rabbit Personalized Math 4-6 //

1. The purpose of this software program is to help children learn and master various math skills while playing various educational games. This software is geared for children 4-6 and the appropriate subject area is math.

2. This software falls into the category of instructional games.

3. I would personally integrate this program into free play and also into my math lessons. I would reward children who finished their work first by allowing them to go and play this game. So in their mind they are getting a reward and yet they are still learning and mastering various concepts at the same time. This program also comes with the ability to print out handouts. I might implement these handouts in my math curriculum or use as homework sheets. This is appropriate for the kindergarten grade level and for the math subject area. You could integrate the printouts into lesson plans and the game itself into free play or as a “tutoring time” or even a reward time for various students.

4. I feel the biggest strength of this program is its fun design. It guides students through various math skills while they get to have fun in a theme-parked theme game. I feel the biggest weakness is the program doesn’t mention anything about being able to keep track of the child’s progress. I think that feature would be very helpful so you can track whether the children are actually learning and benefiting from the program.

5. The cost of this program is $14.95. It can be purchased online. The web site is [|www.softwareforkids.com]. The system requirements are: 486/66MHz or better processor 20 MB free Hard Drive Space 16 MB of RAM 2X CD-ROM drive or faster SVGA display and 256 colors Windows compatible sound device Speakers ||  ||   || Macintosh Requirements || Any PowerPC or better 20 MB free Hard Drive Space 16 MB of RAM 2X CD-ROM drive or faster 256 color display, 13-inch or larger Speakers ||  ||
 * || Windows Requirements ||
 * Windows 98, Me, XP, Vista
 * System 7.1–9.2, OS X Classic mode

// Reading //// Blaster Ages 4-6 // 1. The purpose of this software program is to teach children the basics of reading and preparation for reading. This software is geared for children ages 4-6 and is appropriate for kindergarten children.

2. This software falls into the categories of drill and practice, problem solving, and instructional games.

3. This software could be integrated into reading groups. It could be used as a reward for children who finish their work early or it could be used for children to practice and master certain skills they may need extra help with. I would use this in a kindergarten class and in the reading subject area.

4. I think the strength of this program is the bright colors and presenting the material with a fun theme and incorporating fun themes. I think its weakness would be it doesn’t mention anything about coming with printouts or the ability to track the child’s progress.

5. This program costs $9.99. It can be purchased online. The website is [|www.smartkidssoftware.com]. The system requirements are: Windows XP, Vista, WIN7 (32 Bit) Not compatible with macs

// Pencil Pal Kindergarten Software & Workbook // 1. The purpose of this software program is to teach kids foundational skills in writing, reading, math, patterns, and sequencing. This program is designed for kindergarten classes age 4-5. The appropriate subject matter would be math, reading, and writing.

2. The software falls into the categories of drill and practice, problem solving, and instructional games.

3. This software program comes with a huge workbook so the sheets could easily be incorporated into math, reading, and writing lessons for extra practice. They could also be used as homework sheets. The software program itself could be used as a free play activity where the kids could gain extra practice on mastering certain skills. It could also be used as a tutoring tool for kids that may need extra help in certain areas. This would be most useful in a kindergarten class and used in the subject areas of math, writing, and reading. The worksheets would integrate wonderfully into lesson plans and I think the computer software would work wonderfully at reiterating main concepts to the students.

4. The strengths of this program are the workbook it comes with and the wonderful computer program which used bright colors and a playful theme to teach children basic concepts in a fun and engaging way. The primary weakness I found was the age it’s geared toward. If you have advanced students, they may find the program not challenging enough.

5. The cost of this program is $12.99. This program can be purchased online. The website is [|www.schoolzone.com]. The system requirements are : Windows® 7, Vista, XP SP3 Pentium® III 1GHz 1GB of RAM 800x600 32-bit color video 16-bit sound card 700MB of available disk space CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

Mac® OS X 10.6.6 Intel Processor 1GB of RAM 800x600 32-bit color video 16-bit sound card 700MB of available disk space CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

Sesally Toffolla-Kuhn I really like how you stuck with the age groups recommended for each program, I did the same thing. It was actually a fun assignment and really neat to see the different software programs that are out there.I never knew there was so much information out there for all ages of students and what they can be learning. I knew of a few software information but never in such great detail. Your assignment was really informative, good job!