TESOL CALL Interest Section Software List Deborah Healey, Editor Elementary Titles   [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] Academy of Reading Machine: Win, Mac Skill: Reading Publisher: Autoskill International Purchase options: network - see publisher for details Level: Literacy, beginning For: preK-12 Special use: Elementary, literacy, bilingual A phonics-based literacy product, this program uses graphics, sound, and animation to steer teacher and student through pre-testing, prescribed exercises, then post testing. Strong management component. Has screens for reading difficulties in oral, aural, motor, speed, response, and other areas. Special needs accommodated. No reading ability needed to begin but requires ESL teaching to accompany product. Version 5 and up designed for central deployment, with a web-based user interface. Windows XP/Vista; Mac OS X. Ace Reporter Machine: Win, Mac Skill(s): reading, writing Publisher: Mindplay See also Learning Services, Comenius, World of Reading Approximate single-unit price: $50 Purchase options: network, lab pack, site license Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-2 Special use: Bilingual, elementary Students read 'teletype' messages and conduct 'phone interviews' to find answers to Who, What, When, Where and Why questions. Once their stories are complete they select the best headline for the story. Now part of One-Pick Pack (English only) or Language Pack (Spanish or French), which includes Ace Detective, Ace Explorer, Ace Inquirer, Ace Reporter, Easy Street, Race the Clock Language Arts, Word Hound, and some math titles. Pay a separate fee to install each the One-Pick Pack titles. Achieve: Writing and Language Arts Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): writing, reading, vocabulary Publisher: Learning Company, The Approximate single-unit price: $25 Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 2-6 Special use: Elementary Designed to meet a third through sixth grade language arts curriculum- grammar and spelling, parts of speech and sentence structure, lsynonyms and antonyms, build vocabulary. This incorporates Word Munchers, Schoolhouse Rock/Grammar Rock, Writing Trek. Designed for native speakers, but useful for ELLs. Arthur's Teacher Trouble Machine: Mac/Win Skill(s): listening, reading Publisher: Learning Company, The Approximate single-unit price: $40 Purchase options: lab, network, site, teacher's ed. Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: Bilingual, elementary An interactive, animated story about an elementary schooler (Arthur the Aardvark) surprising even himself with what he accomplishes. The program has excellent graphics, sound effects, dialogues, and lots of surprises to maintain student interest. Text can be heard in English and Spanish. Requires CD-ROM drive. Best used in K-6 and family literacy settings.  Return to the Index Bailey's Book House Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): reading, vocab Publisher: Riverdeep Approximate single-unit price: $40 Purchase options: teacher pack Level: For: K-6 Special use: elementary Elementary; explore words, rhyming, letters, and stories. BeltSuccess Machine: Win Skill(s): comprehensive Publisher: Binary Logic Purchase options: contact publisher for details Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: K-6 Special use: elementary Five-level series with 16-24 lessons. Major emphasis is on grammar and vocabulary development, with a variety of exercises that include reading, listening, and voice recording and comparison with the model. Extensive record-keeping and management that prints out reports and certificates. Schools subscribe for a period of time and pass the costs on to students. The package includes books and a dongle (hardware key). Students can work at home in the book, then enter their answers on the computer to check them. The company offers on-site teacher training. Win 98/XP. Bilingual Reading Comprehension Machine: Win, Mac Skill(s): reading Publisher: Knowledge Adventure Approximate single-unit price: $230 Purchase options: lab, network, site Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: Bilingual, elementary Now part of Classworks, a comprehensive classroom management tool. This component is a reading comprehension program in Spanish and English that features immediate on-screen translation of stories into either language. It features 36 stories with colorful graphics. Includes audio capability for students to hear key words translated into either language. Billiards 'N Homonyms Machine: Mac Skill(s): vocabulary Publisher: Heartsoft Approximate single-unit price: $35 Purchase options: lab, site, network Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 3-8 Special use: elementary, bilingual Students see a sentence to complete at the top of the screen, and try to shoot a billiard ball at the pocket near the appropriate homonym. Correct choices make it into the pocket. The word lists can be customized. The English and ESL version includes two sets of disks, one in English and one in Spanish. In the Spanish version, vocal instructions are in Spanish and text is in English. Part of the Heartsoft Bestseller collection.  Return to the Index Cat Came Back, The Machine: Mac, Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: Sanctuary Woods/Magic Quest Approximate single-unit price: $40 Level: Beginning For: K-6 Special use: Elementary, bilingual (Fr., Sp.) Stories can be read in English, French, or Spanish. Students can record and play back their voices while pronouncing any of the 1311 words in the story. They can also sing along to the story's song and create and their own stories with graphics. A teacher's manual is included, with lesson plans, worksheets, and blackline masters. Requires CD-ROM drive. Cell ebration Machine: Mac Skill(s): listening Publisher: Science for Kids Level: Beginning For: K-6 Special use: Science, elementary A thematic science curriculum on the Cell for K-6 classrooms in English and Spanish. Requires a CD-ROM drive. Students play the computer-based game "What's alive?," learn about magnification (The program comes with a microscope and pre-stained slides.), learn about cells from the scientists who first developed microscopes and discovered cells (Anton can Leeuwenhoek and Robert Hooke), and design new cells based on what they've learned in the lessons. Core Reading and Vocabulary Development Machine: Mac/Win Skill(s): reading, vocabulary Publisher: Educational Activities Software Approximate single-unit price: $675 Purchase options: lab, network Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 3-6, Adult Special use: Elementary This program is a comprehensive approach to reading and language development. In the first phase, students see, hear, say, and record each word. The second phase is a reading of the lesson text, 2-3 sentences per screen. The same text is then presented in a timed reading exercise, one phrase at a time. Next the student completes reading comprehension exercises. Students can refer back to the text to find the answer, and on an incorrect response the computer highlights the sentence where the answer should have been found. For vocabulary practice, students complete words from sentences in the text and choose the correct spelling. Directions are spoken in English and Spanish. This is sold separately or as part of the ESL/Basic Literacy bundle.  Return to the Index DressMe Machine: Mac, Win Skill(s): vocabulary Publisher: Idiom Software Approximate single-unit price: $30 Purchase options: $100 site Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-8 Special use: elementary This simple ESL program developed by teachers focuses on clothing and accessory vocabulary. Students dress male and female characters through commands they give. Students see graphics and vocabulary words, and use both in activities. The program includes an online speaking glossary. Multiple program site licences available.  Return to the Index e*Assessment Machine: Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: Harcourt Achieve Approximate single-unit price: $500 Purchase options: for full system Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-3 Special use: Elementary This complete classroom package helps teachers administer and analyze reading K-3 records. The full package includes a Palm personal digital assistant; PDA-based software; 57 leveled benchmark books (levels 2-20); a fiction and nonfiction title for each level; an additional book per level for placement and ongoing assessment; all benchmark books' text, diagnostic, and assessment software loaded on the Palm; Teacher's Guide, Phonics Blackline Master; and Quick Start CD. The system lets the teacher record reading errors on the Palm, and the software calculates error rate and tracks student progress.  Return to the Index E-blocks Machine: Win Skill(s): comprehensive Publisher: Positivo Informática Level: Literacy, beginning For: pre-K-3 Special use: literacy, elementary E-Blocks is an interactive learning table -a portable panel that connects to a computer. Children place blocks on touch-sensitive locations in response to stimuli and questions presented on the computer screen. The program includes pictures, music, animation, and games and is designed for young children. Earobics Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): reading Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Purchase options: Contact publisher Level: Literacy, beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: elementary Includes interactive software, guided instruction, student resources, teacher's guides, correlations and assessments, customized professional development, and school-to-home connections. Designed for reading and phonics work. Easy Street Machine: Mac, Win Skill(s): reading, math Publisher: Mindplay See also Learning Services, Comenius Approximate single-unit price: $50 Purchase options: lab, site Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-3 Special use: Bilingual, elementary, literacy Builds reading and math readiness skills. Teaches counting, classification and labeling in English and Spanish. Can be customized for special needs. Now part of One-Pick Pack (English only) or Language Pack (Spanish or French), which includes Ace Detective, Ace Explorer, Ace Inquirer, Ace Reporter, Easy Street, Race the Clock Language Arts, Word Hound, and some math titles. Pay a separate fee to install each the One-Pick Pack titles. Edunetics Interactive Series (Grades 4-6) Machine: Mac/Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: Steck-Vaughn See also Harcourt Brace Purchase options: lab pack available Level: Intermediate, advanced For: 4-6 Special use: elementary, science Earth science, biology, and history simulations designed for native speakers. CD-ROM. Individual titles range in price. All are listed separately on the Steck-Vaughan website, not listed as Edunetics. Edunetics Interactive Series (K-6) Machine: Mac/Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: Steck-Vaughn See also Harcourt Brace Purchase options: lab pack available Level: Intermediate, advanced For: K-6, T Special use: elementary, science Phonics, Time, Dinosaurs, African Wild Animal Adventures, Earth Care, Violent Earth readings. Designed for native speakers. CD-ROM. Individual titles range in price. All are listed separately on the Steck-Vaughan website, not listed as Edunetics. English Adventures Machine: Win Skill(s): comprehensive Publisher: Techno-Ware Approximate single-unit price: $500 Purchase options: lab Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-3 Special use: elementary, literacy DVD-based series of adventure stories, chants, songs, and texts that introduce children to the sounds of letters, letter combinations, and the creation of words from these sounds (phonics). Record and playback options, as well as record-keeping. English for Kids Set Machine: Win Skill(s): comprehensive Publisher: ESL Pro Systems See also World of Reading, Learning Services Approximate single-unit price: $60 Level: Beginning For: K-3 Special use: elementary Six CD-set includes English For Kids (pronunciation). English Practice Combo (vocabulary, listening, grammar, spelling). My First Incredible Amazing Dictionary, and PDF-formatted Printing Workbook, Cursive Writing Workbook, and Creative Writing Workbook. Customized versions are available for speakers of French, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, German, Chinese, Hindi, Portuguese, and Russian. See a review at http://calico.org/CALICO_Review/review/engkids00.htm. ESL ReadingSmart Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): reading Publisher: Alloy Multimedia Purchase options: $750 for up to 25 users Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: K-6 Special use: Elementary Reading skill practice with literature: myths and legends, biographies, poetry, and short stories from different regions and cultural traditions. Learners can link to related stories, articles, vocabulary and comprehension activities and relevant Web sites. Vocabulary support is provided through pop-up definitions while reading, as well as graphics and sound. Teachers can track learners' performance through online reports.  Return to the Index Froggy Phonics Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): reading Publisher: Ingenuity Works Approximate single-unit price: $30 Purchase options: lab, site Level: Literacy, beginning For: pre-K-3 Special use: elementary, literacy This CD-ROM has three modes: Learn, where children click on words or letters to hear them spoken; Watch, where children match words and objects then watch a movie incorporating target sounds; and Play, where students have five activities that focus on reading, spelling, painting, matching, and pattern recognition.  Return to the Index Great Beginnings Machine: Mac Skill(s): writing Publisher: Teacher Support Software Approximate single-unit price: $70 Purchase options: network, site Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: K-6 Special use: Elementary Students create stories based on thematic vocabulary provided in the program's 'story starters.' Students can choose graphics to illustrate their own stories and print them.  Return to the Index Heartsoft Bestseller Machine: Mac Skill(s): comprehensive Publisher: Heartsoft Approximate single-unit price: $400 Purchase options: $400 lifetime site Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-8 Special use: elementary, bilingual A set of 12 Heartsoft products, including Billiards 'n' Homonyms (vocabulary game), Bubblegum Machine (sight work with key words), Coin Changer (practice recognizing the value of coins and bills), Electric Math Chalkboard (uncover a picture by answering math questions correctly), Electric Coloring Book (keeps students within the lines), Great American States Race (social studies game about the US), Memory Master (concentration with letters and numbers), Reading Rodeo (literacy game), Sleuth Master (a mastermind game - guess the hidden 4-number code), Spinner's Choice (a version of Wheel of Fortune - guessing words or phrases in categories), Tommy the Time Turtle (practice in telling time), and Word Capture (wordsearch puzzles). The ESL version includes copies of each program in Spanish. Network/site license for $400 lets schools add copies as their needs grow.  Return to the Index Jump Start Reading series Machine: Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: Knowledge Adventure See also Amazon, mail order Approximate single-unit price: $10 Purchase options: lab, site, T version Level: Literacy, beginning For: pre-K-2 Special use: elementary, literacy A series of programs, sold separately. Reading programs are for Pre-kindergarten to grade 3 (about 9 years old) and have a focus on phonics and vocabulary practice. Literacy titles include sound-spelling drills. Multimedia drills with game elements designed to promote literacy. Teacher editions include 2 copies of the software plus teacher materials. Windows 2000/XP; not listed as Vista-compatible.  Return to the Index Key Skills for Reading: Spelling and Phonics Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): reading Publisher: Sunburst Technology Purchase options: lab, network Level: Literacy For: K-3 Special use: elementary Designed forr primary grades. Phonics activities focus on long vowel sounds, digraphs, and consonant clusters. Spelling includes practice with common roles and patterns of English spelling. Includes a Teacher Management Tool to track student achievement and progress on a single computer or on a server. Kids Time Deluxe Machine: Win, Mac Skill(s): reading Publisher: Great Wave Software See also Learning Lab Software, Learning Services Approximate single-unit price: $40 Purchase options: network, site Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-6 Special use: Elementary, literacy Helps children develop early learning skills through computer generated speech, graphics, and writing. Kidspiration Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): reference Publisher: Inspiration Software Approximate single-unit price: $70 Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-5 Special use: Elementary Designed for younger learners than Inspiration, this very visually helps learners build graphic organizers by combining pictures, text and spoken words to represent thoughts and information. Younger learners develop early literacy skills, and more advanced students improve comprehension skills and better organize ideas for writing. The website offers a free trial: http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/kidspiration/index.cfm  Return to the Index Let's Go Interactive Machine: Mac, Win Skill(s): comprehensive Publisher: DynEd International See also Oxford Univ. Press Approximate single-unit price: $600 Purchase options: 1 level for $130; site and lab Level: Literacy, beginning For: Pre-K -4 Special use: Elementary; bilingual (Sp, Port., Jap.); literacy A six-level, 12 CD-ROM series designed for children ages 4-10 (pre-readers and early readers), adapted from the American English textbook series by Oxford University Press. Songs and music by Carolyn Graham. Animated cats provide guidance throughout. Each lesson builds on the previous ones. Each level contains 8 units with conversation, vocabulary, grammar, and phonics lessons plus songs and a game, following a grammatical syllabus. A teacher's book, other classroom aids, and some bilingual versions are also available. Pricing options include per-student-use cost. Contact the publisher for details. Let's Go Read: An Island Adventure Machine: Win, Mac Skill(s): reading Publisher: Edmark Corporation/Riverdeep Approximate single-unit price: $45 Purchase options: school version avail. Level: Literacy, beginning For: Pre-K - 1 Special use: Elementary, literacy Reading skills in an adventure format. Hybrid Win/Mac CD-ROM or on disks by platform. Designed for native speakers. The CALL Interest Section had some problems with installing the CD-ROM at TESOL- not enough system resources. Lexica Reading Machine: Mac, Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: Lexia Learning Purchase options: see publisher for details Level: Literacy, beginning, intermediate For: K-12, AE Special use: Elementary Three sepsarate programs: Lexia Early Reading for ages 3-5 phonemic awareness; Lexia Primary Reading for ages 5 to 8 basic reading skills; and Lexia Strategies for Older Students for ages 9 to adult reading skill practice. Has explicit practice in phonemic awareness and phonics; also works on vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Leveled activities brance in response to student performance. Includes student record-keeping system. Records are stored online, at Lexia's server. Optional web-based component for self-study. The whole series is also available as a fully online program.  Return to the Index Mathematics e-Tools Machine: Win Skill(s): reference Publisher: Pearson Education Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: Elementary, bilingual CD-ROM of math learning resources for grades K-6 with instructions in English and Spanish. The program can be used by students and teachers to model textbook examples or as a standalone application. It offers assistance in subjects including place-value blocks, counters, money, time, fractions, probability, spreadsheets/data/graphers, geometry shapes and geometry drawing. Millie's Math House Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): reading Publisher: Edmark Corporation/Riverdeep See also online/mail order Approximate single-unit price: $20 Purchase options: school version avail. Level: Literacy, beginning For: pre-K-3 Special use: Elementary, literacy CD-ROM with interactive math activities. A Spanish version is also available. Multimedia Flash Cards Machine: Mac, Win Skill(s): vocabulary Publisher: EuroTalk Approximate single-unit price: $40 Level: Beginning For: K-9 Special use: elementary An computer-based flash card system designed to teach English as a second language to children. Features several games for learning the vocabulary and the capability for students to listen to digitally recorded pronunciations of each word and also to record their own voices. If using an IBM or compatible, this program requires an MPC-compliant machine and runs under Windows. My Reading Coach Machine: Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: MindPlay Approximate single-unit price: $300 Purchase options: contact publisher Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-6 Special use: Literacy, elementary Phonics-based program. Includes an initial assessment of reading skills, then assigns lessons and monitors progress. Virtual teachers provide support and encouragement. Will support Macintosh clients using a Windows server or Windows standalone machines.  Return to the Index  Return to the Index Odyssey ELL Elementary Machine: Win, Mac Skill(s): comprehensive Publisher: Compass Learning Systems Purchase options: contact publisher Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-4 Special use: elementary, literacy Comprehensive system that runs from a local server or over the Internet from the Compass Learning server. Includes extensive record-keeping and curriculum aligned with US government-required standardized testing (NCLB). The program includes a pre-reading progam and covers English structure and function, with opportunities for writing. Audio support is available in English and some languages.  Return to the Index Picture Cue Dictionary Machine: Mac/Win Skill(s): vocabulary Publisher: Attainment Company Approximate single-unit price: $170 Level: Literacy, beginning For: All Special use: elementary, literacy Vocabulary presentation program organized around four thematic units: shopping, meals, appearances, and home. Display mode presents the target words together with a corresponding picture and digitized pronunciation one by one. In Matching mode the students match the word to the picture--testing what they've learned. Teachers can modify the order and content of lessons for each student. Has IntelliKeys overlays for students with limited manual dexterity. CD-ROM. Primary Power Pack Machine: Mac, Win Skill(s): teacher utility, authoring Publisher: Centron Software Technologies Approximate single-unit price: $55 Purchase options: lab pack $95, site/network license $350 Level: Teacher For: T Special use: Elementary, bilingual A special version for the primary grades of Teachers Power Pack with Test Creator and Puzzle Power. Primary Steps to Comprehension Machine: Mac, Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: Knowledge Adventure Approximate single-unit price: $200 Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: elementary, bilingual (8 languages) Now part of Classworks, a comprehensive classroom management tool. This component is an interactive reading program with 36 original stories written at 6 different reading levels. Each story includes comprehension questions and can be individualized to different students' needs. The program include a student management system to track student progress through the lessons. Multilingual audio capability so that students can hear a translation of the text in any of eight different languages.  Return to the Index QKids Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): comprehensive Publisher: Q USA Approximate single-unit price: $740 Purchase options: Components also sold separately. Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-6 Special use: Elementary, literacy CD-ROMs, readers, audio and video cassettes are part of this comprehensive program for young learners of English. A variety of activities. QKids Kit includes QSteps Kit ($470) and QSurf Kit ($600). QSteps 1 and 2 CD-ROM can be purchased separately from the videos, audio cassettes, teacher's manual, and other Kit components for $140. QSurf 1 and 2 CD-ROM can be purchased separately for $140. Lab, network, and site options are also available. QSteps 1 and 2 Machine: Win/Mac Skill(s): vocabulary Publisher: Q USA Approximate single-unit price: $140 Purchase options: Kit for $350 Level: Literacy, beginning For: pre-K-2 Special use: literacy, elementary The two CD-ROMs contain a total of 8 units, each of which cover a specific vocabulary area. Words and sentences are presented through games and activities at different levels. The series focuses on the target language in specific settings; The Guard House (numbers), The Home (family relationships), The Paint Factory (colors), The Tailor's Shop (clothing), The Gym (parts of the body), The School (classroom), The Grocery Store (food), and The Theater (feelings). QSteps provides exposure to authentic language in natural contexts by means of an intuitive user interface for young learners. CD-ROM. Can be purchased as part of QKids with QSurf for $740.  Return to the Index Reader Rabbit 3 Machine: Win, Mac Skill(s): reading, writing Publisher: Learning Company, The See also Learning Services Approximate single-unit price: $35 Purchase options: lab, site Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 2-4 Special use: elementary Students complete stories by writing their own phrases or choosing from prewritten selections. A newspaper can be a class project. Available on Mac and Windows disks or a Mac/Win CD-ROM. Reader Rabbit Reading 1 Machine: Mac/Win Skill(s): reading, vocabulary Publisher: Learning Company, The See also Learning Services Approximate single-unit price: $35 Purchase options: lab, site Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-2 Special use: Elementary, literacy This program is designed to make learning to recognize letters and words fun for younger children. It uses brightly-colored graphics with smiling animals to motivate sound-symbol practice. Several different types of exercises are included, mostly phonics-related. Students can choose which type of activity to do; a record-keeping function is included so that the teacher can see what the learner worked on and how s/he did. CD-ROM. Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey 2 Machine: Mac/Win Skill(s): reading, vocabulary Publisher: Learning Company, The See also Learning Services Approximate single-unit price: $35 Level: Beginning, intermediate, teacher For: K-2 Special use: Elementary Thirty stories; games that promote phonics, word recognition and comprehension. On CD-ROM. Reading Blaster series Machine: Mac/ Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: Knowledge Adventure Approximate single-unit price: $35 Purchase options: lab, site, T version Level: For: pre-K-6 Special use: literacy, elementary The Reading Blaster series has three programs: Ages 4-6, Ages 6-9, and Ages 9-12. Multimedia drills and games build reading skills. CD-ROM. Teacher editions include 2 copies of the software plus teacher materials. Reading Blaster Vocabulary: Ages 9-12 Machine: Mac/Win Skill(s): vocabulary Publisher: Knowledge Adventure Approximate single-unit price: $35 Purchase options: lab, site, T version Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: 3-6 Special use: elementary Multimedia drill with game elements. Teacher editions include 2 copies of the software plus teacher materials. Reading Magic Library Machine: Win, Mac Skill(s): reading Publisher: Tom Snyder Productions See also Learning Lab Software Approximate single-unit price: $50 Purchase options: lab, network, site; five-title pack Level: Intermediate, advanced For: K-3 Special use: Elementary Interactive storybooks of the 'create your own adventure' type let students step into the shoes of loveable heroes, choosing what will happen next. Students can record themselves reading or create QuickTime movies of their stories. Stories include Jack in the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, Flodd the Bad Guy, Fidd and Martina in Tough Kudd, and Hilary and the Beast. They can be purchased individually or as a five-title pack. Reading Rodeo Machine: Mac Skill(s): reading, vocabulary Publisher: Heartsoft Approximate single-unit price: $60 Purchase options: lab, site, network Level: Literacy, beginning For: pre-K-1 Special use: bilingual, literacy, elementary Literacy skills are the focus, with audio prompts. Icons show how to make letters, and graphics are used for letter associations. The rodeo motif comes in with the Cactus Kid, who lassos 104 cartoon graphics which begin with corresponding letters. The English and ESL version includes 2 sets of disks, 1 in English and 1 in Spanish. This title is included in Heartsoft Bestsellers. Reading Street Fluency Coach Machine: Win, Mac Skill(s): reading, speaking Publisher: Scott Foresman Approximate single-unit price: $200 Purchase options: $240 Mac version; grades sold separately Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: 2-6 Special use: Elementary Uses voice recognition software to build fluency in reading. Students read selections into the microphone, and software tracks words correct per minute and provides corrective feedback. Students can listen to model fluent readings and practice reading on their own. Grades 2-6 sold separately. Roxie's Reading Fish Machine: Win Skill(s): reading Publisher: LatticeWork Software Approximate single-unit price: $25 Level: Beginning For: K-3 Special use: elementary Animated game environment for children with basic, high-frequency words; text and audio. Shareware fee includes other titles. Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP.  Return to the Index Sitting on the Farm Machine: Mac, Win Skill(s): reading, speaking Publisher: Sanctuary Woods/Magic Quest See also World of Reading Approximate single-unit price: $40 Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: Elementary, bilingual (Fr., Sp.) Children can listen to the story, reading along as the words are highlighted, write their own story, record themselves singing the theme song, and publish their own interpretations of the story. Material is in French, Spanish, or English. This requires a CD-ROM drive. Spelling Blaster: Ages 6-9 Machine: Mac/Win Skill(s): vocabulary Publisher: Knowledge Adventure See also Amazon.com, other mail order Approximate single-unit price: $20 Purchase options: lab, site, T version Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 3-6 Special use: elementary Multimedia drill with game elements for spelling practice. Teacher editions include 2 copies of the software plus teacher materials. Mac OS 9 and below, Mac OS X, Windows 98/2000/XP/Vista, Stanley's Sticker Stories Machine: Win/Mac writing Publisher: Riverdeep Level: Beginning For: K-3 Special use: elementary Create animated storybooks. CD-ROM. Stickybear's Early Learning Activities Machine: Mac/Win comprehensive Publisher: Optimum Resource Approximate single-unit price: $60 Level: Literacy, beginning For: Pre-K-6 Special use: elementary, literacy Introduces young children to the English alphabet, counting, shapes, opposites and colors. Instructions for the six different activity options for each lesson objective can be in either English or Spanish. The lessons can be done either following computer prompts or in a more independent exploration mode. There are several other early learning titles available in the Stickybear series. Windows XP/Vista and Mac Classic/OS X on a hybrid CD. Stickybear's Reading Room Machine: Mac reading Publisher: Optimum Resource See also online/mail order Approximate single-unit price: $50 Purchase options: network, site Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: Bilingual, elementary Teaches pre-reading and basic reading skills in both English and Spanish. Exercises include match the word, find the word, and build a sentence. Activities use colorful animation and digitized speech. Story World 1&2 Machine: Win, Mac reading, listening Publisher: EuroTalk See also World of Reading Approximate single-unit price: $40 Purchase options: lab, site Level: Beginning For: K-5 Special use: Elementary This ESL program uses 8 well-known children's stories to teach English skills (narrated by British speakers). CD-ROM 1 has Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, Incy Wincy Spider, 3 Billy Goats Gruff and Humpty Dumpty. CD-ROM 2 has Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and Jill, Jack and the Beanstalk and Hickory Dickory Dock. A friendly dragon speaks 18 languages to guide the user in their native language. The user can even record their own story. The program tracks the progress of each user - earn enough points and print out your own certificate. Available in the US through World of Reading and other mail order vendors. Windows 2000/ME/XP/Vista; Mac OS X. Storybook Maker/Deluxe Machine: Mac, Win discussion, writing Publisher: Jostens Home Learning Approximate single-unit price: $45 Purchase options: lab $135 Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-4 Special use: Elementary; literacy Learners use the included picture cards to create a story that they can then tell to their classmates. Learners click on and drag the images they want to the desired location on the page. Students can also type in words. The Deluxe version reads words letter by letter, word by word, or by sentence and supports QuickTime movies. This graphical program will require a task set by the teacher for students to have much language learning benefit from using it. Runs on a CD-ROM under Windows or on the Mac. Storybook Weaver Machine: Mac/Win writing Publisher: Learning Company, The See also Smart Kids Software Learning Services Amazon.com Approximate single-unit price: $25 Purchase options: lab pack, site license Level: Literacy, beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: literacy, bilingual, elementary A creative tool for kids to write and illustrate their own storybook. Students can choose from hundreds of images and scenery combinations, plus a variety of borders and type styles. They can also add sounds and music to their stories. Story Book Weaver Deluxe on CD offers more graphics and animation, spoken word narration, and both English and Spanish writing capabilities. The disk version is slightly less expensive. MECC titles are now sold by Learning Company School.  Return to the Index Tell Me More Kids Machine: Win comprehensive Publisher: Auralog Approximate single-unit price: $130 Purchase options: age levels also separately Level: Beginning For: pre-K-6 Special use: elementary Specialized English course for Spanish speaking children based entirely on speech recognition. Offers progressive learning adventures based on age and proficiency level, including more than 1,000 activities, Karaoke and nearly 120 cartoons. Can be purchased for ages 4-7. 7-9. and 9-12 separately or as a bundle with all three. Windows 95/98/NT/2000. CD-ROM. Theme Connections 1, 2, 3 Machine: Win/Mac reading, writing, vocabulary Publisher: Prentice-Hall Regents Purchase options: Contact publisher for pricing. Level: Literacy, beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: literacy, elementary This 18-disk CD-ROM program supports the Prentice Hall Regents ESL program for Grades 1-6. Each of the disks links directly to and is fully integrated with a Student Theme Book and provides a variety of interactive activities (using animation, sound, and graphics). Activities include Screen Play: manipulating objects on the screen; Match Game: matching words and phrases; Story Reader: listening and reading; Story Maker: manipulating visuals and text to create a story; Draw and Share: drawing and coloring pictures; Puzzle: jumbled ideas and sentences; Story Completer: choosing words or pictures to complete a passage; Text Analyzer: highlighting portions of text onscreen; Comic-Strip Maker: writing and recording dialogue and creating captions to make a story; and Writing: a word-processor with pre-writing. Theme Connections 1 is oriented toward K-3; others toward 3-6. Thinking Things Collection 1 Machine: Mac, Win reading Publisher: Edmark Corporation/Riverdeep Approximate single-unit price: $20 Purchase options: lab, school version Level: Literacy, beginning For: Pre-K -6 Special use: elementary, literacy Thinking Thinks develops problem solving skills for small children but is also quite useful all the way to adults for oral language development in discussing attributes: color; striped; polka-dotted; plain; curly hair; glasses. Visit the Fripple Shop and Feathered Friends, especially. Tommy the Time Turtle Machine: Mac reading Publisher: Heartsoft Approximate single-unit price: $35 Purchase options: lab, site, network Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-3 Special use: literacy, elementary, bilingual Practice in telling time. ESL version includes a set of disks in Spanish, where vocal instructions and all text are in Spanish, as well as a set of disks in English. This is also sold as part of the Heartsoft Bestseller package. Tomorrow's Promise Spelling Machine: Win/Mac vocabulary Publisher: Jostens Home Learning Approximate single-unit price: $100 Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-3 Special use: literacy, elementary CD-ROM-based spelling program for young learners. Full year of instruction on each CD, with 14 activities and 3 games for each of 60 word lists. Learners can create their own stories and create their own storybook with the words. Extensive classroom management. Tortoise and the Hare Machine: Mac/Win reading, listening Publisher: Learning Company, The See also World of Reading Approximate single-unit price: $40 Purchase options: lab, network, site, teacher's ed. Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All Special use: bilingual, elementary Colorful and interactive storybook. Students can hear the story read in both English and Spanish. Each page is filled with surprises to entertain and motivate new readers. Requires a CD-ROM drive. If this program is used on an IBM or compatible, it requires an MPC-compliant machine. Treehouse, The Machine: Mac, Win listening, vocabulary, reading Publisher: Learning Company, The See also online/mail order Approximate single-unit price: $35 Level: Intermediate, advanced For: Pre-K-6 Special use: elementary This is not ESL stuff, but most of it can be easily demonstrated by the teacher, and kids catch on real quick. Includes seven educational games. Students explore the on-screen hideaway, learning about music, animals, mathematics, sentence structure, money & place value. Requires CD-ROM drive. Trudy's Time and Place House Machine: Win/Mac reading Publisher: Edmark Corporation/Riverdeep Approximate single-unit price: $20 Purchase options: school version avail. Level: Literacy, beginning For: pre-K - 3 Special use: Elementary, literacy Time and geography instruction with different activities. Designed for native speakers. CD-ROM. Twisted Tails Machine: Win reading Publisher: AHA! Software Approximate single-unit price: $10 Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: elementary Popular fairy tales with an optional mad-libs style twist - the stories are not quite as they used to be. When the stories are 'twisted,' the computer slots randomly selected names, words and phrases into the framework of the traditional stories. You can even select the names of the hero/heroine in each story or let the computer pick for you. Words can be added to the computer's vocabulary. The freeware version includes a few stories, and the shareware version includes several more.  Return to the Index Ultimate Writing and Creativity Center Machine: Mac/Win writing Publisher: Riverdeep Approximate single-unit price: $60 Purchase options: network, site license Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: K-6 Special use: Elementary Word-processor with graphics, sound, and animation add-ons. An interactive cartoon character prompts students through the prewriting process. Best for children, due to the nature of the graphics included. Comes on CD-ROM.  Return to the Index WiggleWorks Machine: Mac comprehensive Publisher: Scholastic Software Approximate single-unit price: $1750 Purchase options: network, site Level: Beginning For: K-2 Special use: Bilingual, elementary Children learn reading, writing, speaking and listening skills with this set of materials, including books, other print material, and CD-ROMs. Titles include Pizza, Kites, Raindrops, What Lila Loves, The Ball Game, The Tree House, What's Inside, and several others. Word Birds Machine: Mac/Win vocabulary Publisher: Prentice-Hall Regents Purchase options: Contact publisher for pricing. Level: Literacy, beginning For: pre-K - 3 Special use: Literacy, elementary Multimedia, thematically-organized vocabulary for native speakers. Very easy to use. Only available outside the US through a Prentice Hall Regents international distributor. CD-ROM. Word Hound Machine: Mac, Win vocabulary Publisher: Mindplay See also online/mail order Approximate single-unit price: $50 Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-6 Special use: Elementary, bilingual Students direct a mouse making its way through a maze, avoiding the cat and trying to reach the dog house, where they are asked questions about vocabulary. At the beginning level, learners are asked to match a picture/word combination with one of two below. Learners progress to more difficult matching questions as they work their way through the game. All instructions are spoken. Learners get more points with each correct answer. Learners can listen to instructions in English or Spanish. Available on CD-ROM or disks. A separate Spanish version is also available. Now part of One-Pick Pack (English only) or Language Pack (Spanish or French), which includes Ace Detective, Ace Explorer, Ace Inquirer, Ace Reporter, Easy Street, Race the Clock Language Arts, Word Hound, and some math titles. Pay a separate fee to install each the One-Pick Pack titles. Word Stuff: Amazing English Machine: Win/Mac reading, writing Publisher: Addison Wesley Longman See also Alta ESL Approximate single-unit price: $85 Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 4-8 Special use: Elementary Part of the Amazing English series, the CD-ROM teaches reading skills appropriate to novels plus some essay writing. Hard-bound teacher's manual. Separate CDs for pre-K-3 (Word Stuff = $85), 3-6 (Word Attack = $90). Write On Plus: Spanish/English Literacy Skills Machine: Win/Mac writing Publisher: Sunburst Technology Approximate single-unit price: $50 Purchase options: lab, network, school Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-6 Special use: Literacy, elementary CD-ROM based writing activities in both Spanish and English versions. Topics include English for You; My First Sentences; Class Journals; Chant, Chant, Chant; Poetry for Young Poets; The Me Disk I, Sentence Writing I, Sentence Combining with Aesop; Sentences to Paragraphs I.  Return to the Index Zak's Word Games Machine: Win vocabulary Publisher: Addison Wesley Longman See also Alta ESL Approximate single-unit price: $45 Level: Beginning For: K-6 Special use: Elementary A series of 24 word games. Children collect pieces of the Wheel of Knowledge when they play each word game. When they have collected all 24 pieces, the space alien Zak is able to go home again. Students can use a 2000-word online dictionary to help them solve the puzzles. Available in British and American English versions. CD-ROM. Zip Zoom English Machine: Mac, Win reading Publisher: Scholastic Software Purchase options: $3000 for 30-station license Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-3 Special use: literacy, elementary CD-ROM that accompanies 10 books, workbooks audio CDs, teacher's guide, and other material. There is a strong focus on phonics and basic vocabulary-building. Extensive record-keeping. Windows 2000/XP; Mac OS X. Return to the Index Read about a specific title: [1-9] [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] Go to the Publisher List https://eltexpert.com/softlist/elementary.html Last updated 15 February 2009 by Deborah Healey, dhealey at uoregon dot edu .