Mighty Math Zoo Zillion

Math Zoo Zillions is a Mathematics program that builds basic problem solving skills and concepts essential for success in maths. This program, not only aids in the development of key math skills but aids in the building of confidence in the subject area. Mighty Math may be used from kindergarten to the 2^nd grade, helping students develop a sturdy foundation in maths, where they cultivate strong math skills and concepts and an unwavering understanding of maths. By means of original, creative activities, users are provided the opportunity to learn the number line concepts, addition and subtraction, counting money and making change, problem-solving skills and early three-dimensional geometry.

This program uses amusing, comical creatures to assist in making math fun and interesting to the users, hence making learning and understanding the mathematical concepts easier and long lasting. Zoo Zillions allow for individuals to become intrinsically motivated to learn math, by means of their fun activities, catering for the desirable age group, as they now enjoy learning math and aren’t just doing it for the sake of it. Using Mighty math zoo zillion one can enjoy five irresistible activities in an intuitive interface that encourages independent play, explore more than 100 topics and thousands of brain-boosting math problems, progress through several levels of challenge with Grow Slides that automatically adjust to suit your increasing skills and tackle spoken story problems that boost real-world smarts and confidence.

This is a program that is well designed and structured to meet the needs of its audience, in ways that are innovative and interesting. I think this is a program that parents and teachers should consider using, as it is truly beneficial and can be used from as early as kindergarten. Children should be very involved in their learning and this program provides them the opportunity to construct their own understanding of the concepts being taught, hence making Mighty Math Zoo Zillions a splendid option for children.

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www.smartkidssoftware.com/ndedm31.htm

Jump Start Reading for First Graders

Jump Start Reading for First Grade is a program that incorporates the basic 1^st grade curriculum in a fun, exciting, interesting and amusing way by use of age- appropriate activities and games. Frankie the program’s mascot, takes the user on a tour of an interactive school, where the 1^st stop is the 1^st grade classroom. Mrs. Flores the 1^st grade teacher teaches the basics, using the most innovative ways that would be most beneficial to the users of this program. For each successfully completed attempt at the activities, points may be won.

The Jump Start reading for 1^st graders, aids in the development of the child’s reading, vowel sounds, story comprehension, telling time, addition and subtraction, simple fractions, counting money, arts and creativity and lots more. These activities are all brought about in ways that are beneficial to the child and aid in the child’s understanding of the concepts, this is especially so for the Math activities, such as fractions and unit measures where they do an exceptional job at illustrating and teaching the concepts. The progress of the users is documented in the Progress report on Mrs. Flores’ desk; these reports indicate the success rate of each educational topic and also serves as a direct link to modules, games or puzzles that include skills used in that area. Although three levels of play exist in many of the modules, the program's Adaptive Learning Technology allows it to monitor each user's progress and adjust itself accordingly.

Although there are unique ideas and teaching approaches in the program, not all are executed suitably, as well as the reward animations lack variety and creativity eventually becoming tedious as it repeats itself over and over. However, despite these minor setbacks the Jump Start Reading for first graders enable users to have access to fun, simple, skill building activities that aid in the child’s cognitive development. This program is easy to use, kid friendly and has a rating of 4.6 out of five in educational value, making it an excellent choice for your first graders.

I think this a wonderful multi subject program that allows for children to learn by means of fun activities, which still convey the concepts necessary for them to understand and learn. Creativity is essential when teaching and planning lessons and the ideas used to bring about concepts in this program are not just unique but they are innovative and can catch the users attention, setting it apart from other programs. Hence the Jump Start Reading for first graders is the best choice for home and school use.

• www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/multisub/​1stgrade/1/js1st/​merge.shtml

• www.smartkidssoftware.com/ndkna16.htm

www.JumpStart.com

Motivational Quote

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising every time we fall."Confucius

Sometimes we are so focused on never failing that we fail to realize that our true success is the courage to rise every time we fall.

Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics

Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics

The Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics is an educational software that aids in a child’s cognitive development. This program is a systematic phonics based reading program, designed to teach children how to read through the development of phonemic awareness, letter sounds, word families and sight words in a purposeful, contextual fashion. The Reader Rabbit series takes the users of the software on a journey down various paths such as “Letter Land”, which is a path with a series of sequenced storybooks. In addition to the basic reader books the user must work through "skill house" games that teach basic encoding and decoding techniques, for instance (m + at = mat, h + at = hat).

The Interactive Reading journey views learning as unique, and that different children learns at different rates and in different ways. This phonics program follows an organized vocabulary approach to beginning reading instruction. This program has been designed to be used in school at the k-2 level as well as for use at home. The interactive reading journey has been said to have excellent potential for home schooling a beginning reader.

The real question is, is this program kid friendly, well the answer is yes! The reader Rabbit learn to read with phonics is user friendly and is appropriate for kindergartners, advanced pre-schoolers, as well as slower 2^nd and 3^rd graders. Therefore if one is looking for a well structured phonics program the Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics is the ideal choice. It has been rated a 5 out of 5 for educational value, a 4.8 for kid Appeal and a 4.5 for ease of use, making this program a wonderful choice for children preparing for kindergarten and pre-school.

reviewcorner.com/software/rrlearnphonics.html

smartkidssoftware.com/ndlec117.htm

Inspirational Quote

Inspirational Quote,
'Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away'

Reflection

When I take the time to reflect on my past experiences and all the people that have come in an out of my life, I just have to be extremely grateful because if it weren't for these people and the things I've been through, i'd never be the person I am today. I've learnt to never regret the things I've been through and maybe even the decisions I've made because that has really been the reason that i could move forward as a better person than I was yesterday, the day before or even three years ago.