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Back to school
time can be exciting for some kids, nerve-wracking for others, but
for most kids it's a little bit of both. For families,
"busy" is the best adjective to describe this time of
year. Most families struggle to strike a balance between play time
and learning time for their kids once they're back in school, and
that is where good children's software and learning aids can come
to the rescue. We've hand-picked some curriculum-based titles that
will help ease children into practicing school skills without
overwhelming them.
~~Recommended Back to School
Software~~
Reference Library for the Family
  Now
there's even more reason to own an Encarta Reference Library. The
2005 edition includes Encarta Kids, designed to meet the research
needs of elementary-age children. Of course, all of the features
that won our hearts in previous versions make Encarta Reference Library
2005 Premium a must-own family software program. Translation dictionaries,
homework helpers, an interactive atlas, video content from the Discovery Channel,
exceptional multimedia, dictionary and thesaurus, hand-picked
editors' links, and more. A DVD
edition is also available at the same price.
What does it do?
Children will find the up-to-date information they need for school
reports and projects. Project starters are also included, as well
as games that help hone their trivia and geography skills.
 Why do we recommend this
title? This series is vibrant and
alive with up-to-date content and fabulous features that attract
both kids and parents--and hold their interest. Kids won't only be
turning to this resource for their homework needs -- they'll enjoy
browsing the reference library just for the fun of it!
Who is it for? Best for
children ages 7 and up. Adults will turn to this reference
suite as well.
See our full
review.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: Microsoft Encarta Reference Library Premium 2005 CD
(CD-ROM set) or
Encarta Reference Library 2004 DVD
at Amazon.com]
Early Math
  Math
Missions Grades K-2: The Race to Spectacle City Arcade is a
fantastic new program from Scholastic that strikes an
extraordinary balance between play and learning. This game
cleverly involves children in practicing real-world math skills at
three difficulty levels appropriate for late Kindergarten, first
grade, and second grade--all in one package.
What does it do?
Children attempt to rebuild a city using their math skills. The
city is fun, but the store clerks are not very good in math. Kids
earn money for the city by playing a variety of fun activities.
Children measure, weigh, count money, explore quantities, work
with place value, and more, in the fun cartoon setting of
Spectacle City.
Why do we recommend this
title? The program provides plenty of practice with math
skills that children need. The program is fun, encouraging, and
creates a wonderfully positive environment for learning.
Who is it for? The range in
difficulty levels makes this game excellent for accommodating the
often large variance in children's skill levels in early
elementary. Late Kindergarteners to second graders.
See our full
review of this excellent software here,
and our screenshot gallery of the
game here.
 Math
Missions Grades 3-5: The Amazing Arcade Adventure is another
title in the new Math Missions series. Excellent program.
What does it do?
Children attempt to rebuild a city by helping out store clerks who
are not very adept at math. Kids
earn moneyby playing a variety of activities found in the city.
Kids do real-world math problems in graphing, fractions, rounding
off, percentages, and more--and they work towards owning and
managing an arcade.
Why do we recommend this
title? This CD-ROM strikes an excellent balance between fun
and learning.
Who is it for? Three
difficulty levels are intended to cover third to fifth grade math. The
program is likely to be too challenging for children just entering
third grade, and is therefore best for children working at a
4th-5th grade level.
See our full
review of this excellent software here,
and our screenshot gallery of the
game here.
The 3 R's
 A
nice software bundle of previously released titles is especially
appropriate for reviewing second grade skills in reading and math,
and offers a bit of history too. JumpStart 1st-3rd Grade
Learning Playground includes 3 titles that will have kids
learning as they play.
 What does it do?
The three titles included in the bundle are: JumpStart Reading
(originally for second grade), which is an excellent title for vocabulary, reading
comprehension, and spelling practice in an adventure-style
setting; JumpStart Math (originally
for second grade) which also features an adventure setting and a range of
skill-building activities; and JumpStart Explorers is a
fun game that has kids transported back in time to learn a bit of
history and interesting facts about world cultures.
Why do we recommend this
title? Kids work towards goals in adventure settings and they
drill basic skills as they play. Although the titles are older
ones, they have quite a bit of appeal.
Who is it for?
Best for
children coming out of second grade, simply because it will help
reinforce and review concepts they likely encountered in the
school year.
See our review
of the game here.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: JumpStart 1st-3rd Grade Learning...
at Amazon.com]
Math, Science, and Logic
 Achieve! Math & Science
Grades 1-3 bundles a number of titles together to create one
very educational package for children on the younger end of the
suggested age group.
What does it do?
Two math titles, Mighty Math Carnival Countdown and Mighty Math
Zoo Zillions, offer a range of unique activities that exercise
children's early math skills. Children learn money math, 3D
geometry, addition, subtraction, place value, and more with these
titles. Sammy's Science House offers a nice exploration of early
science concepts like weather, animals, and seasons. The fourth
title, Thinkin' Things Fripple Town is a wonderful exercise in
both art and logic.
Why do we recommend this
title? Children explore math and science concepts in ways
that stretch their thinking and offer them a chance to truly
understand the concepts, rather than learning only by rote.
Who is it for? Best for
first and second graders who prefer open-ended games to fast-paced
arcade or adventure programs.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy:
Achieve! Math & Science Grades 1-3
at Amazon.com]
Math & Science
 Math & Science
Excelerator Grades 3-6 bundles 4 excellent software programs:
two Geosafari CD-ROMs for math, and two Mango Plumo titles for
science. Lots of skills practice and concepts to learn.
What does it do?
The two math titles are based on the Geosafari Knowledge Pad
electronic toy. These programs offer math quizzes that feature
bright graphics and a scoring format. Decimals, percentages,
number lines, fractions, multiplication, and division are the
games' focus. The Mango Plumo titles star a perky little bird and
feature adventure formats with creative and unique science lessons
about weather and space.
Why do we recommend this
title? Lots of learning and variety is packed into this
bundle. The science lessons are quite unique and offer useful
information. The math quizzes are actually quite fun to complete
and feature lots of variety.
Who is it for?
Best for
children at a third to fifth grade level.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy:
Educator's Choice Math and Science...
at Amazon.com]
Brushing up on Foreign Languages
 An
all-new title in the Mia series, Mia The Kidnap Caper offers
both problem-solving exercises and practice with either French or
Spanish (both languages are found in the game).
What does it do?
Children receive plenty of vocabulary practice in the selected
foreign language (French or Spanish). As they solve a linear
adventure, they participate in activities that allow them to brush
up on foreign language words and phrases (including such things as
food items, professions, numbers, and more.
Why do we recommend this
title? The graphics are rich and children are easily
transported into the exciting world of Mia the mouse and her
interesting friends.
Who is it for? Best for
children who have the follow-through and drive to solve a mystery.
Best for children who are already acquainted with the French or
Spanish languages and who could benefit from extra practice and
reinforcement.
Phonics
 Offering
a systematic approach to learning to read as well as a free-play
option, Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics is an excellent
program that is our top choice for practicing early reading
skills.
 What does it do?
In
the adventure mode, children travel from one letter land to the
next. Each explores the sound of a featured letter of the alphabet
and contains basic games that reinforce phonics as well as
introduce sight words. At the end of each letter land, a storybook
that incorporates the new sounds and words is earned. These books
are interactive and rather fun, and kids can record their own
voices and play back their narration. The
program can be played in an open-ended fashion as well. Children
can access the program's games, an ABC screen, songs, and
storybooks as they please.
Why do we recommend this
title? This
title has shown us the most consistent results of all the early
learn-to-read software programs. Parents who work with their kids
and help motivate them will appreciate Reader Rabbit Learn to
Read with Phonics.
Who is it for? Best for
children working at a Kindergarten level of phonics awareness.
[For more information, user
reviews, or to buy: Reader Rabbit Learn to Read With Phonics
or Reader Rabbit Learn to Read Phonics Pre Kindergarten
at Amazon.com]
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