Title.  Curious George Learns Phonics

Content Type.  Language Arts/Reading

Rating.  8

Low Grade.  pp

High Grade.  1

Publisher.  Houghton Mifflin Interactive Corporation

Date Published.  1997

Platform.  Windows or Mac (We used Windows)

Price.  $39.95

Content Description.  This software has a circus theme with clowns, seals, elephants, and other big top attractions.  It provides teachers with a helpful tool to enhance the learning of beginning readers.  It focuses on letter sounds, rhyming words, letter recognition, word formation, and the use of words to create meaningful stories.  Although there is a variety of games, they are all on the same user level (ages 4-6).  Use of the mouse is prevalent throughout the games.  Though the activities can be utilized by ages 4-6, lower level learners may need more assistance with the directions.  This software is best suited for one person because there are no team activities and additional players would distract the main player of the games.  Time spent on the activity may vary depending on the number of tasks completed.

Installation.  Hardware Requirements:
Windows-  486/33MHz or higher.  Windows 3.1 or higher.  8MB RAM.  Double-speed CD-ROM drive.  MPC2-compatible sound card.  SVGA display.  Mouse.  15MB free hard disk space.
Macintosh- 68040 or higher.  System 7.1 or higher.  8MB RAM.  Double-speed CD-ROM drive.  Color Display capable of 256 colors.  Mouse.  15MB free hard disk space.
Installation (for Windows):  It was very simple.  You just put the CD into the CD-ROM drive and  the computer gives you further instructions.
 
 

Strengths.
· Good activities for practicing phonics skills.
· Impressive animation.
· Motivational feedback.
· Humorously entertaining.

Weaknesses.
· Distracting music.
· Narrator talks too fast at times making it difficult to hear.
· User may lose interest during certain portions of the program.

User Comments.
“The games were fun and I liked the monkey!”  --6 year old.
“I liked the story and the pictures in it.”  --4 year old.

Links.
http://www.techlearning.com/review.html

http://www.childrenssoftware.com/www.childrenssoftware.com/Tango3.acgi$/softsearch.taf?_function=detail&Layout_0_uid1=33492&_UserReference=F5A7B66E374D1EA7BD4E9260

 
http://www.childrensoftware.com/www.childrenssoftware.com/Tango3.acgi$/softsearch.taf?_function=detail&Layout_0_uidl=33492&_UserReference=F5A7B66E374D1EA7BD4E9260

http://www.mrsabc.com/