O - Reading
  P - Other Language Arts, Elementary and Secondary
 
 

Alpha-Phonics A book by Samuel Blumenfeld was pulled from the market, replaced by a newer package. Now it's back. Price $29:95 plus shipping ($3). 2 audio tapes for $20 plus $2. Blumenfeld teaches with rhyming sets, a little different from the traditional way, but I can see that it will work as well. There are more expensive programs and a few cheaper ones. As far as I can tell, they all work.
   We have the package listed on the CD under the same title. The URL doesn't link so I expect that they have given up on this idea and are giving it back to Paradigm again as a single book.

Fantastic Word Gizmo, The A CD-ROM for Windows 95 or better or for Mac. I tried two of the four games. In game 1, I was told to type a certain letter. I did so and the wheels and pulleys ran, the bear looked around, and the little guy made a few remarks. Finally I figured I needed to do something more so tried clicking on the OK button. Then I was given another word and more. After while a red ball came out of a tube, got pressed into the treadmill and was sent into another tube to start blowing up a balloon. After more words I figured I knew what I needed to tell you so tried to click game three. That didn't work so I restarted the program. Game 3 requires writing words. Most are easy. For example, the word for "a short sleep." One was something about the surface features of an area. All I could think of was "topography" not really a word for beginners, but "surface features" might not be in their vocabulary either. That was wrong. I should have written "map." It was pronounced, spelled, and written for me. Maybe I should try first grade again. The CD will teach your kids a little about words, and maybe keep them busy while you do some lesson planning. From the company website I discovered that the this program has 103 levels including vocabulary words that would challenge a college English professor. Get the price and contact information in Appendix R under Geo Runner. go.

Sing, Spell, Read & Write Now from Modern Curriculum Press (Imprint, Pearson learning), 4350 Equity Dr., P.O. Box 2649, Columbus, OH ) 876-5507. Fax . http://www.pearsonlearning.com.
 

The Write Start A preschool and kindergarten program which the author feels provides a better preparation for school. She has used it with great success. It covers the alphabet, the numbers, and the phonetic sounds. Not reviewed. Price around $80 with shipping.  The Write Start, P.O. Box 1621, Carmel, N.Y. 10512; http://www.thewritestart.com.
 
 

Part 1, Christian Light Education reading series I received the textbook, six consumable unit books (and tests), teacher's guide, and answer key for the 2001 edition, 4th grade reading and language study. I appreciate the character-building quality of the stories — some from the Bible. The materials are of good physical quality, too. And I'm really impressed by the prices. The hardcover textbook retails for $8.95. Everything costs just under $31. The hardcover textbook has 264 pp. including a glossary. The unit workbooks are $2.29, about half what it would cost to photocopy and they have soil-resistant covers. Of course the material is copyrighted so it would not be right to copy anyway. I just wanted to give you a point of comparison. I would probably not use all of the unit activities, although most are quite good. Even if you use another reading program, you could get the textbook for the stories. The publisher explains:
    "Like other Mennonite and Amish books of its kind, you'll find stories of courage and virtue from a time when standing up and doing the right thing was expected of young people, when children learned the value of friendship and listening to their parents. These stories will not only captivate children's attention but increase their desire to read."
    Christian Light Education, PO Box 1212, Harrisonburg, VA ; (540) 434-0750 or Fax ... 8896.

Part 1, Calvert School. Forward slash is missing in the URL. Should be: http://www.calvertschool.org Calvert is a home study guidance school. In this appendix they are listed for publishing CD-ROMs.
Part 1, English Plus Website and e-mail newsletter about teaching and learning English http://englishplus.com.

Part 8, Creative Arts Calendar - 1ST ANNUAL CREATIVE ARTS CALENDAR CONTEST:
$250 AWARD!  Looking for poetry, short stories, photography, drawing, creative arts of all types.  Applies to all artists!  Penmanship is a 15-up page calendar, saddle-stapled in black and white, month to month calendar with quotes, guidelines, and more.  Deadline: Postmarked September 1st, 2000.  Yearly contest.  Send for guidelines.  email: auverli. Write:  Penmanship, P.O. Box 2475, Staunton, VA 24402 (USA)

Part 8, Learn to Write the Novel Way - A good writing program following the Konos idea of learning by doing. Some writing teachers believe grammar will be automatically learned by supervised reading and writing. Others feel that grammar is fundamental and that rules needs to be learned directly. This is a little like the whole-language / phonics debate. Carole Thaxton believes both are important and has put together a good program. She says it's for grades 5 to 12. I believe I would use it for 9 to 11. After trying it, my opinion might change. This is partly because of the natural maturing of the verbal abilities. She also says it's for one credit. How do you lead someone through writing a novel without working with them? She sets up the learning of various skills as the work is refined. I can see how it would work well although some supervision might be needed. "Novel" usually means the kind of writing I have chosen not to read. Carole addresses this too by considering Philippians 4:8. The price for the 220 page manual (punched for a three-ring binder) plus the teacher's guide is about $50 including shipping. Konos Connection, 1998, PO Box 142099., Fayetteville, GA ; http://www.konos.org; info.

Part 8, Write On A correspondence course for your kids that looks practical and includes Bible story concepts. http://www.writeonagain.com.