Excel @ Middle School
(Knowledge Adventure) is a compilation of software titles-some of which have been around for a while-coupled with a bland tutorial program that covers most of the curriculum offered in middle school. It's a good way to get a FANTASTIC library of titles useful for middle-schoolers (who read at or about grade level) at an INCREDIBLY low price. It's also a way for kids who need a little extra help with grammar, math, or science to quickly look up definitions, terms, and short explanations of concepts. It's not, though, a patient tutor who is going to help kids who are really struggling with middle school material-especially written material. The first disk (of six) starts out by offering help in Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, world geography, science (life, earth, physical), or history (Ancient Civilizations, World, U.S.) by taking a pretest in the topic selected. Then new topics are offered in either Study (reading/example) or Practice (test) mode. Topic Tests are also available for kids to use as practice. All of this is strictly print material on the screen-no graphics, multimedia, or other jazzy features that kids have come to expect from software. There's also no text-to-speech feature, so kids have to read the material for themselves. What's great about this section, though, is the search feature. For example, can't remember what an abstract noun is or need some further explanation? This is the place to quickly find it. The testing sections are also an easy way for kids to bone up and self test themselves before quizzes and tests at school. All of this material is updateable by connecting to an Internet site; and a homework help site called GenerationYou is also available from within this first disk. The true value in this software, though, is the other software titles it contains, including Typing Tutor, Math Blaster Pre Algebra, Multimedia Workshop (great for putting projects together), Ultimate Speed Reader, Ultimate Word Attack , French for the Real World, Spanish for the Real World and the Simon & Schuster New Millennium Encyclopedia (Windows only)-all titles that have sold separately in the past for $20 or more. All of these titles are great for introducing and remediating material. One suggestion: parents need to find out for themselves what's on these disks. These aren't the kind of programs kids are going to use on their own, so you may have to suggest that a certain title might be helpful.