Programs such as Word Blast and Spelling Buddy take much of the drudgery out of spelling drills by livening things up with games, graphics, and sound. Despite its explosive title, Word Blast is a non-violent adaptation of Hangman that includes a vocabulary builder mode to extend the play from spelling to definitions. With a word list of over 1,700 words and the ability to add your own words, Word Blast offers lots of variety. There's a password-protected supervisor section for parents and teachers to track progress. This engaging program features a vocal buddy who offers encouragement along the way.
Research shows that the more kids read, the better they do in school.
Schools are now requiring kids to read as part of their daily homework. Kids' Stuff is an excellent resource for selecting new books or tracking the books that your child has already read. The database contains information on over 831 books for grades 2 through 8, and you can add your own books. Create library lists, prepare reading schedules for upcoming book reports, or sort through the categories to find the perfect adventure or biography for silent reading time in the classroom. There's also no better time to start learning a second language than those early years.