Sunday, June 12, 2011

LeapFrog Tag School Reader

The Tag School Reader is a  handheld tool designed for students in PreK-3rd grade.  You use the tag reader to read specially-printed books by touching the tag reader to the book.  It can read a whole story or just certain words.  You can also place it over the pictures for more information about the story.  There are activities to go along with the story after finishing the book that focus on comprehension, phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary.

I think this sounds like a great tool to use for a literacy center during guided reading.  This is something that students can do on their own to either listen to a story and have help reading the story.  This device also comes with headphones so it is not disrupting to other students.


Image from: http://www.leapfrog.com/school/prod_pages/common/Tag_School_Reader.jpg

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Software Evaluation

Learning Today is a provider of elementary reading and math software. It is an award winning, web based individualized learning program for each student.  Students take a placement test and lessons are based off of that assessment.  It focuses on phonemic awareness, phonics, high frequency words, vocabulary development and reading comprehension.  Each individual area is assessed in the placement test so students could be at different grade levels for each sub section.  There are interactive lessons which can be individualized, small group or whole class instruction.  It also has lessons that can be used on an interactive white board.
 The math program is set up the same way as the reading program.  It focuses on numbers and operations, measurement concepts, geometry concepts, algebra, and data analysis and probability.  

The cost is figured per student or there is a classroom pack.  A classroom pack for both reading and math for 25 students is $1220 for a year.

This seems like it could be a worthwhile program if you had access to a classroom set of computers on a regular basis.  Parents can also access this site and have their child participate in this program at home.


Image from: http://www.learningtoday.com/corporate/images/default/header_r1_c1.gif