Do your children need review activities? A 7-program package, the Softbasics Soft-Pak, is a great resource to help children aged 6-13 with basic skills. This teacher-developed software set covers elementary math and language arts. With the Test Maker and Test Master components, parents can also provide their own on-screen quizzes for students to review other subject areas, like science or social studies.

Math Maker is the best worksheet generator I’ve ever seen. The main page offers separate drop-down menus for word problems, fractions, decimals/percents, the four basic operations, and miscellaneous topics. I counted over 150 different worksheet types! Click on an item in any drop-down list, and the worksheet prints instantly, along with answer keys, if desired. Each time a worksheet is selected from the drop-down menu, a different set of problems prints, so if a child has continuing trouble with a particular topic, he can have as much practice as he needs without memorizing the answers.

Math Master offers on-screen versions of most Math Maker topics. Some of these games are rather time-consuming to complete. However, parents can shorten any activity by having the child complete only part of it or by choosing an activity that meets his needs in a shorter time.

Math User offers 900 word problems in true/false and multiple choice formats to test students’ skills in analyzing information. The questions are divided into three skill levels, and an on-screen calculator is provided.

True/False Math Challenger offers several low-key game formats for practicing basic math facts. Our two favorites are Hit a Homerun and Treasure Hunt. In the Homerun game, the player has the opportunity to score singles, doubles, triples, and home runs by answering T/F versions of math facts that are displayed around a baseball diamond. An optional timer makes the game more challenging, and the player can select which operations to review and whether to include negative numbers. Students can use the game alone or in teams. However, the game does not end at nine innings, so parents will need to declare a stopping point!

Treasure Hunt is a multiple choice mental math game in which students try to earn as much treasure as they can while avoiding invisible pitfalls. Difficulty levels can be set from simple math fact recall to multi-operational problems. This game does not take a long time to play, making it a great reward activity for students who enjoy computer time.

Finally, Language Arts Master contains on-screen and print activities for reading, spelling, grammar, word usage, and proofreading skills. Unlike the math programs, these language activities are not randomized with each use. However, since each topic contains several exercises, plenty of practice is available. Parents can also expand the spelling and reading word lists with Test Maker.

All on-screen activities are silent to avoid distracting other students nearby. There are no time-wasting arcade games. Plain, simple graphics help the student focus on each practice topic. Unfortunately, although special-needs students have the greatest requirement for extra practice, the lack of sound may be a problem for them. However, they could still benefit from the programs if they work with a parent or older sibling, who can read with them and assist with answering on-screen, if necessary.

(c)By Laura L. Belknap.
Originally published in The Times Examiner (Greenville, SC). Posted on this site with permission.