STARFALL.COM

Star fall.com is a tutorial software that is designed to teach reading.This software is especially designed for kindergartners, preschoolers as well as primary school children who possess a weakness learning to reading. This site is relevant to every culture because reading enlightens the mind, broadening individuals horizon, expands ones intellect. Without being able to read and write one may be seen as being relatively handicaped.
The software is a titorial which teaches students step by step learning.

Colourful with pictures and graphics the site's home page appeals to users. the home page is very well orgsanised making it very simple for users to navigate to their desired level which includes:
>ABC's:- The ABcC section teaches the alphabet, letter sounds and vowels with the assistance of audio and video presentations for each letter.
>Learn to Read:- This section teaches topics such as long, short vowels and two vowel words.It also contains story books for the users level where users are able click on words that they are not familiar with and the computer tells them what the words are.
>It's Fun to Read:- This section is designed for students who have acquired the skills from the previous section and are able to read and understand at a fair level. It teaches students to read at a more advanced level than in the Learn to Read Section, it teaches them how to read and answer simple questions about themselves, poetry tongue twisters and interactive games.
>I'm Reading:- This is the final level in the course and is desinged basically for users to practice their reading skills.
The home page also contains thirteen interactive nursery rhymes that teaches colours and shapes.

Vygotsky believed that true education is not the mere learning of specific knowledge
and skills. It is the development of children’s learning abilities – that is, their
capacity to think clearly and creatively, plan and implement their plans, and
communicate their understanding in a variety of ways. He believed this could be done
by providing them with a set of ‘cultural tools’ for thinking and creating.

Reference:

http://www.starfall.com/

Links to other reading software:

www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/reading/

www.yourchildlearns.com/

www.readingdoctor.com.au/

www.microsoft.com/.../enrich-your-kids-reading-skills.aspx

IXL Practice Maths Educational Software

Does your child encounter great difficulties when faced with numerical problems? Does it seem impossible for him/her to absorb what is being taught at school? Well IXL is the site for your child.

IXL is a interactive mathematics tutorial course that is specifically designed for pre- kindergartners, kindergartners and primary school students alike, by acquiring the skills provided at each level users will undoubtedly be able face what challenges await them in the level that follows. The site's bright green background and colourful illustrations will instantly snatch their attention.

IXL is very well organized and easy for individuals to access exactly what they are looking for without losing time having to go around in 'circles' as the site's content is catergorized according to the different age level: pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and 1st year. Further more under each of these headings a preview of the course outline is provided. This site provides virtually an unlimited number of mathematical questions in over 1000 different topics.

This site is appropriate for all the suggested levels as coluorful graphics and pictures are utilized as aids in solving problems for the pre-kindergarten to the second grade levels, however graphics are not used for the upper levels as children at this age should be able to construct knowledge on their own. The questions at this site are multiple choice where users are required to read the questions and click on the answer that they think is right. Your assistance will be the scaffold your child needs at the lower levels as you may need to read the questions to them. According to the psychologists Jean Piaget and Lev Yygotsky; teachers should limit lecturing and explaining as much as possible and move towards learning activities that will put children in active roles.

The site contains a timer and a scoreboard which can be used to measure your child's improvement and a "themed" game board at each level. In mathematics continuous practice makes perfect, IXL aims to encourage users by making practice fun, unlocking awards on the game board when users excel, either by mastering a skill or increased practice time. The theorist Robert Sternberg stated that experience increases intelligence. For example, children who are exposed to enriched learning experiences both in pre-school and and during later schooling will score higher in intelligence tests than those who lack these experiences. IXL provides a great amount of experience, that will play a vital role in increasing your child's mathematical knowledge.

Mathematics is relevant within every class, ethnicity and culture because without possessing basic mathematics skills/knowledge carrying out normal day to day activities such as counting money will appear relatively difficult and even some what impossible.

Rferences:
http://www.ixl.com/math/report/

More Math Educational Sites:

www.vectorkids.com/

www.mathforum.org/

http://www.superkids.com/

http://www.macroworks.com.au/

www.kidsclick.com/

Spell Zone

Without knowing how to spell properly life wold be very difficult. Spellzone is an interactive English spelling course which teaches you important spelling rules.

This tool specifically designed for teenagers,adults,home schooling and for foreigners who desire to learn English. Its bright blue background pictorial illustrations makes visitors feel warm and welcomed. The site provides step by step instructions, is properly organised into different sections an very well labelled which makes it very simple to access.

This educational tool consists of 37 units and contains a free demo and course guide. It has 450 web pages of spelling tips which range from dictionary use to playing word games. It teaches the long and short vowel sounds,adding suffixes, spelling different word endings, homophones, common words with odd spellings, and differences in British and American spelling.

The programme works by teaching users all the spelling rules that can help them learn and remember the right choices for where each sound should be used for example 'ee' and 'ea' sounds. knowledge of these rules are then put to the test through the use of practice exercises and spelling tests. Users are able to evaluate their progress as results from previous tests are stored and can be viewed at any time they wish.

Spellzone is an excellent software tool as it contains wide variety tips, questions and provides instant feedback this educational software will help anyone become good at spelling.

References:
http://www.spellzone.com/
http://www.ixl.com/

Links to other Educational Software:
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/
http://www.macroworks.com.au/
http://www.educational-freeware.com/
http://www.edu-soft.org/