patth@dasys1.UUCP (Patt Haring) (09/03/87)
TEACHERS' TOOLBOX
The Best in Educational Software
Wondering which of the thousands of educational programs are
worth your money and attention? We've created "A+ Teachers'
Toolbox" to help educators, parents, and students sort through
the vast array of educational software for the Apple II Plus,
IIe, IIc, and/or IIGS. Each month A+ will have a group of
nationally recognized education experts select some of the best
programs in different educational categories. This month, our
recommendations come from the 1986 edition of Only the Best, an
annual directory from Education News Service in Carmichael,
California. Only the Best draws its listings from reviews by 22
educational organizations across the country. Only the products
that receive consistently superior ratings appear in this
publication. This month, we feature problem-solving software for
grades K-3. Some programs are also appropriate for older
children.
PROBLEM SOLVING
MEMORY: THE FIRST STEP IN PROBLEM SOLVING
A ten-disk program designed to teach problem-solving skills
through computer and classroom activities. includes lessons on
remembering sequences, shapes, parts of a whole, and
instructions, and on matching and regrouping objects. Students
get many chances to obtain the correct answer. The package
includes a teachers' guide, a puppet and student worksheets.
Appropriate up to sixth grade.
VITAL STATISTICS
List Price: $250 (includes all ten titles)
Requires: Apple II Plus, IIe, IIc, or IIGS; 48K RAM; 5 1/4-inch
disk drive. DOS 3.3; copy-protected; does not work with mouse.
Sunburst Communications, 39 Washington Avenue, Pleasantville, NY
10570-9971; (800)431-1934; in NY (800)221-5912; in Canada (800)
247-6576
GERTRUDE'S SECRETS
Three types of puzzles (loops, arrays, and trains) in which
students develop problem-solving skills through shape and color
classification. The program also allows children to create
their own puzzle pieces. Appropriate for grades pre-K-4.
VITAL STATISTICS
List Price: school version, $59.95; home version, $44.95
Requires: Apple II Plus, IIe, IIc, or IIGS; 48K RAM; 5 1/4-inch
disk drive. ProDOS; copy-protected; does not work with mouse.
The Learning Company, 545 Middlefield Road, Suite 170, Menlo
Park, CA 94025; (800) 852-2255; in CA (800)852-2256
GERTRUDE'S PUZZLES
Three types of puzzles (boxes, networks, and loops) of varying
levels of difficulty, starting at grade 3, in which children
learn how to solve problems with incomplete information and to
analyze what they see. The program also allows children to
design their own set of puzzle pieces.
VITAL STATISTICS
List Price: school version, $59.95; home version, $44.95
Requires: Apple II Plus, IIe, IIc, or IIGS; 48K RAM; 5 1/4-inch
disk drive. ProDOS; copy-protected; does not work with mouse.
The Learning Company, 545 Middlefield Road, Suite 170, Menlo
Park, CA 94025; (800) 852-2255; in CA (800)852-2256
CHECKERS
Designed to increase playing skills in the game of checkers,
this program offers 20 options for varied play at 16 levels of
difficulty. The Advice command provides players with the best
move at the time. The game, for use by one or two students,
starting at grade 3, provides practice in thinking and
problem-solving skills.
VITAL STATISTICS
List Price: $49.95
Requires: Apple II Plus, IIe, or IIc; 48K RAM; 5 1/4-inch
disk drive. DOS 3.3; copy-protected(backup copy $7.50); does
not work with mouse; game paddles optional.
Odesta Corporation, 4084 Commercial Avenue, Northbrook, IL
60062; (800)323-5423; in IL (312)498-5615.
MOPTOWN PARADE
MOPTOWN HOTEL
Each program provides a series of 11 increasingly difficult games
of logic in which students test hypotheses, use analogies, and
develop strategic thinking skills. Moptown Parade begins at
first-grade level and goes up to grade 5. Moptown Hotel begins
at grade 3 and is a sequel to Moptown Parade.
VITAL STATISTICS
List Price: home version, $39.95; school version, $54.95
Requires: Apple II Plus, IIe, IIc, or IIGS; 48K RAM; 5 1/4-inch
disk drive. DOS 3.3; copy-protected; does not work with mouse.
The Learning Company, 545 Middlefield Road, Suite 170, Menlo
Park, CA 94025; (800)852-2255; in CA (800)852-2256.
THE POND:STRATEGIES IN PROBLEM SOLVING
Games of varying difficulty, starting at grade 2, in which
students learn to recognize patterns to generalize from data,
and to think logically. Allows experimentation.
VITAL STATISTICS
List Price: school version, $59; home version, $44.95
Requires: Apple II Plus, IIe, IIc, or IIGS; 48K RAM; 5 1/4-inch
disk drive. DOS 3.3; copy-protected; does not work with mouse.
Sunburst Communications, 39 Washington Avenue, Pleasantville, NY
10570-9971; (800)431-1934; in NY (800)221-5912; in Canada (800)
247-6576.
ODD ONE OUT
Five games using color graphics, animation, and sound, in which
students select one of four items that does not belong.
Categories are letters, numbers, words, math facts, and
pictures. An option allows the teacher to control the
difficulty level and the content by adding material on any
subject. For individual students or pairs, up to sixth grade.
VITAL STATISTICS
List Price: $59
Requires: Apple II Plus, IIe, IIc, or IIGS; 48K RAM; 5 1/4-inch
disk drive. DOS 3.3; copy-protected; does not work with mouse.
Sunburst Communications, 39 Washington Avenue, Pleasantville, NY
10570-9971; (800)431-1934; in NY (800)221-5912; in Canada
(800)247-6576.
THE MINDSTRETCHER SERIES:
Jigsaw; Traffic Jam/Chain Reaction; Cube/Candles; Black/Kayles;
Jinx/Welter
A series of nine logic games and puzzles designed for gifted and
talented students, starting with grade 3. Programs increase in
difficulty and develop analytic strategies and pattern
recognition.
VITAL STATISTICS
List Price: $25 each; $125 for all nine
Requires: Apple II, II Plus, IIe, or IIc; 48K RAM; 5 1/4-inch
disk drive. DOS 3.3; copy-protected; does not work with mouse.
Island Software, Box 300, Lake Grove, NY 11755; (516)585-3755
ROCKY'S BOOTS
Games in which students design animated logic machines to score
points. Teaches basics of computer circuits as well as
high-level reasoning skills. Provides many opportunities for
invention and exploration. Appropriate for gifted third graders.
VITAL STATISTICS
List Price: home version, $49.95; school version, $64.95
Requires: Apple II Plus, IIe, IIc, or IIGS; 48K RAM; 5 1/4-inch
disk drive. DOS 2.0; copy-protected; does not work with mouse.
The Learning Company, 545 Middlefield Road, Suite 170, Menlo
Park, CA 94025; (800)852-2255; in CA (800)852-2256
--------------------------------------------------------------
You can reach Education News Service at Box 1789, Carmichael, CA
95609
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