Students requiring these types of assistance may not be able to use the program. Jo Mercer Doctoral Student in Educational Technology University of Delaware Reading Galaxy is one of the few software programs that specifically provide practice in reading comprehension skills and strategies. Its use can be beneficial for students with learning disabilities who often experience difficulty understanding what they read, even though they have adequate word recognition skills. Designed to build reading comprehension for ages 8-12, Reading Galaxy follows the format of a TV game show set in outer space.
Students can either read independently or listen as the computer reads passages from a book.
Reading Galaxy offers 30 children's titles from which to choose. Older readers will enjoy such works as The Outsiders and Summer of My German Soldier, which deal with more mature themes. Reading Galaxy can be used to help struggling readers practice on passages of a book before attempting to tackle the entire work. Reading Galaxy could also be a good tool to engage reluctant readers. While the brief excerpts are easy to read, they include some of the most absorbing passages in the books.