Blue Ribbon Reviews April 2007
By Linda Lindroth

Refresh your curriculum this spring with these technology products for content review.

NorthStar Math™
With all the emphasis on assessment and high-stakes testing, this standards-based tool for math provides instruction and assessment matched to standards. NorthStar Math™ contains more than 4.5 million math questions aligned to state standards for students in grades 3-12.

Teachers will love the simple interface and the ease with which an assignment or test can be created using this online tool. Need to differentiate an assignment for individuals? Want to create a test of five specific standards in math? Just enter the standard or skill and how many questions you want on your lesson or test for each standard. Once items are selected, the test can be printed in PDF form, or the teacher can go online and make an assignment for an individual or a class to complete as a web-based test. The online test provides immediate feedback against state standards.

Whether it is a lesson with math problems and step-by-step solutions or an assessment, all problems are in full color, complete with math graphs. The program can be used to provide prescriptive practice in the classroom, in after-school programs, or for summer programs. Teachers can even use their own material when creating assignments.

Visit www.northstarmath.com for more information or call 800-284-7019. Call for pricing.

ClozePro
Create a cloze activity from any text in seconds with ClozePro from Crick Software. Practice reading, comprehension and vocabulary skills using any text - even science and social studies content.

Cloze call - creating cloze activities is a cinch with ClozePro.

Creating activities is as easy as 1, 2, 3. First, type or paste the reading text you want into ClozePro. Second, remove letters, words or phrases and watch the cloze grid form automatically. Third, run the activity on the computer or print it as practice for individuals or the whole class. Detailed reporting helps track student progress and the customizable interface makes it easy to differentiate for all students. Free ready-made activities can be found at www.learninggrids.com

For more information, visit www.cricksoft.com or call 866-33-CRICK. $199.

MegaMath
This series of six CD-ROMs from Harcourt School provides students with interactive practice to reinforce math concepts and skills. The CD titles are: Numberopolis and Shapes Ahoy! for K-2, Country Countdown for K-3, The Number Games, Ice Station Exploration, and Fraction Action for grades 3-6. The series has more than 400 activities and over 5,000 questions where students can apply concepts and build math skills. Help is available for each motivating activity and a "grow slide" provides leveled activities where students progress to new levels as they learn.

Visit www.harcourtschool.com or call 800-225-5425. $66.82 per CD, single computer license.

Linda K. Lindroth is Teaching K-8's technology editor and website coordinator, and a technology resource teacher at Russell Cave Elementary School in Lexington, KY.

April 2007, Vol.37, No.7