Blue Ribbon Reviews January 2007
By Linda Lindroth

With the emphasis for instrucction on mastery of core content and meeting AYP goals for NCLB, these two software programs truly fit the criteria. They not only identify individual skill needs to insure mastery, but also utilize a sequence of instruction that aligns with state and local standards.

SuccessMaker Math Concepts and Skills 2
SuccessMaker® Enterprise by Pearson Digital Learning is a math and language arts intervention program for grades 2-8. With more than 3,300 hours of individualized instruction, the system is set up to target student needs and deliver core content that allows the student to be successful. The SuccessMaker Math Concepts and Skills 2 curriculum opens to a classroom graphical user interface with the student's name on the whiteboard and a desk upon which is a laptop computer. A backpack sits beside the student's chair for messages and assignments. The student clicks on the computer on his or her virtual desktop, selects his or her assignment and begins working on the interactive lessons. The student has tools in the left margin to change the audio level, get help, check progress scores and access math tools (calculator, protractor, ruler, etc.) that can be turned on/off in the Teacher Administration area.

When a student first logs in, he or she works through an Initial Placement Module (IPM) that adjusts to the student's skill level. After 300 problems, the IPM establishes the sequence for content presentation that best meets the individual's needs. As students work through the curriculum, the exercises utilize a variety of teaching strategies and scaffolding to assist when errors occur. The student has two attempts to get a problem correct, although only the first response results in a correct answer on reports. Correct answers are rewarded with animated characters appropriate to each grade level.

As students work through the math content correlated to specific state standards, the dynamic reports provide information about skill mastery and levels of difficulty specific to the standards. There are periodic retention checks to help insure that students are retaining skills. Built-in tutorials provide remedial instruction to help insure mastery.

Dozens of powerful reports help teachers assess progress and even forecast achievement for high-stakes testing. The reports can be used to create flexible skills intervention groups for one-to-one or small-group instruction. My favorites are:

• Cumulative Performance - indicates gain since IPM, time, total sessions, exercises correct, skills completed and skills mastered


• Performance Percentages - shows percentage of skills mastered across computation and application strands


• Grouping by Areas of Difficulty - shows strand, strand level, skill description and students who didn't master the skill

For more information and for pricing, visit www.pearsondigital.com or call 888-977-7900. Math Concepts and Skills 2 - Spanish is also available.

Math'scool®
This supplemental mathematics program for the middle grades is designed to prepare students for algebra. The delivery of content is via a DVD that uses animation, awesome graphics, concrete examples and real-world situations. There are even video career profiles, titled "Mr. Tu's Excellent Examples."

The program consists of three Units: A) numbers and operations, B) geometry and C) measurement. Unit A is made up of 13 modules, with 74 lessons on 13 DVDs. Each module includes Instructor Manuals, Student Blackline masters and a Resource CD. Instruction consists of Guided Practice, Independent Practice, Additional Practice and Challenge Sets to extend skills for higher-level application.

For more information, visit BestQuest Teaching Systems® at www.bestquest.com or call 866-882-2160. The complete Math'scool package is $2,950. Individual modules are priced at $249 each.

---

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.

January, 2007 Volume 37, Number 4