Software Can Be Useful and Entertaining Gift
In the midst of the holiday season, my thoughts naturally turn to educational software--along with chocolate Santas and rum balls, of course.
Why software? It’s a useful, entertaining and long-lasting holiday gift. It’s also a great accompaniment to the home computers that many families will receive. And, if your child has an extended winter break as part of the year-round school schedule, educational software is the perfect way for him or her to get some one-on-one tutoring before the next term.
There are about 10,000 separate educational software programs on the American market, so doing the research and experimentation needed to find the right program for your child may sound like a lifelong hobby. But fear not--I’ve been slaving at the task for you.
These programs are found in software stores throughout the county and work on IBM, Apple and Macintosh systems. Most cost $35 to $50.
Most educational software seems to focus on math and language skills and for good reason: Those subjects are fundamental for success in all others, and your child can never be too competent in them.
“Math Blaster,” published by the Learning Co., is a fun way for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade to strengthen skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Kids love it because it is a Nintendo-style game in which they “blow up” if they choose incorrect answers.
“Algebra Blaster” (Learning Co.) is the next step, using a similar video game format, for students in junior and senior high school.
Other excellent math titles include “Letters, Numbers and Words” (Broderbund) for the early grades; “Super Solvers Outnumbered” (Learning Co.) and “Mutanoid Math Blaster Mystery” (Davidson) for junior and senior high schoolers.
Computers can add an interactive and animated quality to reading that books just don’t.
“Reader Rabbit” (Learning Co.) will challenge your primary-grade child to improve his or her reading and spelling skills through a variety of word games, all emceed by the animated Reader Rabbit character.
For older kids who must add grammar to their language skills, try “Word Invasion” (Learning Co.) It teaches the parts of speech in a way that recalls the venerable arcade game, “Space Invaders.”
Also consider these programs for language skills: “Reading Magic” (Tom Snyder) for preschool; “Kids Can Read” series (Discis) and “Puzzle Storybook” (Davidson) for early grades; “Children’s Writing and Publishing Center” (Learning Co.) and “Bank Street Writer” (Broderbund) for fourth through seventh grades.
Some popular programs exercise not just one but several crucial skills.
“Oregon Trail” (Mecc) takes your child on a trip along the Oregon Trail, the route followed by thousands of westward migrants during the mid-19th Century. It’s a simulation game in which the student must purchase food and supplies, make camp, battle Indians and disease, and adjust for climate.
“Oregon Trail” exercises skills in reading, geography, social studies/history, analytical thinking and problem-solving.
The “Carmen Sandiego” (Broderbund) series can also help your child practice several skills simultaneously. “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” for example, asks the child to locate a fugitive by analyzing clues about certain places in the United States.
The program emphasizes skills in reading, geography, history, and the use of reference books such as atlases and almanacs.
Some other titles for junior and senior high schoolers, on interesting topics: “Space Adventure” and “Science Adventure” (Knowledge Adventure); “Time Riders in American History” and “Operation Neptune” (Learning Co.).
Still have questions about what to look for and how to know when you’ve found it? Here are two concise and thorough sources I’ve come across:
“Parent’s Guide to Educational Software” is a paperback that is found at most large bookstores. And “Parent’s Guide to Educational Software for Young Children” offers 20 pages of free advice. For a copy, write to Edmark Corp., P.O. Box 3218, Redmond, Wash. 98073-3218.
