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children's software review
achieve! writing & language arts grades
3-6
 Rating: 
Ages: 9-12 Subject:
Reading Brand:
The Learning Company/Riverdeep
Review Sections: Product Overview
Technically Speaking Skills
Covered Educational Value
Entertainment Value Design
Replayability Dollar
Value
Product Overview
Achieve! Writing & Language Arts Grades 3-6
includes four previously released titles, updated for current operating systems,
as follows:
- Schoolhouse Rock! Grammar Rock
- The Writing Trek
- Strategy Challenges Collection 2: In the Wild
- Word Munchers Deluxe
These titles vary in their approaches and difficulty levels. Schoolhouse
Rock! Grammar Rock requires children to play grammar games in order to prepare
for a "Knowledge is Power" party. As they play, kids earn Rocky coins to use
in an arcade. This program features nine Schoolhouse Rock videos, all grammar-themed.
These include the likes of Conjunction Junction, Interjections, and the Tale
of Mr. Morton. The videos provide much of the game's grammar instructions, and
they are creative presentations of grammar basics, particularly for children
who learn best through song. The program's activities are loosely based on the
videos. For example, children work with adverbs at Lolly's shop (based on the
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here video), and children take Mr. Morton
for a jog while they work with subjects and predicates. The activities help
children practice and master a variety of grammar skills.
The Writing Trek is a strong educational title that is best for homeschool
situations or for children motivated to develop their writing skills. This unique
program offers six areas to explore in a fantasy village setting. Children learn
about different writing genres, such as tall tales, retold stories, and biographies,
through videos and examples. Kids are presented with a number of practice opportunities,
quizzes, and a plethora of project starters meant to inspire kids to write their
own work. Children can develop a variety of writing skills through exercises
and quizzes. For example, kids learn about active and passive vocabulary, participate
in a vocabulary word challenge, practice their skills at paragraph breaks, learn
about setting, character, and plot, and so forth.
Strategy Challenges Collection 2: In the Wild offers three unique games
— Tablut, Jungle Chess, and Surakarta — that require drawing on strategy
and critical thinking skills. Each game can be attempted at three different
difficulty levels, and can be played either against a friend or a computer opponent.
The emphasis here is on offensive and defensive strategies, and these are related
to strategies of wild animals through videos. For example, children learn about
a coyote's offensive strategies for survival in the wild. During game set-up,
children can choose either an offensive or defensive computer opponent. Children
receive instructions and helpful advice while they play the games. In Jungle
Chess, for example, players own animal pieces that each have a number value.
Their goal is to move a piece into their opponent's den while avoiding traps
on the game board. They must pay attention to a number of rules. For example,
an animal piece can only capture an opponent's piece if it is greater than or
equal to its own value, with one exception. Also, the rat is the only piece
that can move into the water, where it is safe from all other animals except
another rat. All three games are fun and challenging.
Word Munchers Deluxe offers simple arcade-style games, at a variety
of difficulty levels, that strengthen word skills such as vocabulary, grammar,
and synomyms/antonyms. The basic idea is to direct the Muncher to the correct
words while avoiding Troggles. This program is not outstanding, but it is appropriate
for children who need encouragement to practice word skills.
This collection of programs is a rather unusual mix, simply because the titles
range from arcade-style (Word Munchers Deluxe) to software that was originally
intended for school use (The Writing Trek). However, the variety offered
is a strength, and families (especially those with more than one child in the
recommended age group) will appreciate adding four strong titles to their software
collection for the price of one.
Technically Speaking
Minimum system requirements are Windows 95B/98/ME/XP,
Pentium 166 MHz or faster, 32 MB RAM, and 8X CD-ROM. Mac users require a PowerPC
120 MHz or faster, System 8.6 to 9.2.2, 32 MB RAM, and 8X CD-ROM. The program
requires 45 MB of hard drive space.
Skills Covered
Children develop skills in writing, vocabulary, phonics,
synonyms/antonyms, adjectives, adverbs, nouns, pronouns, verbs, prepositions,
reading skills, writing genres, creative expression, analysis, anticipating
obstacles, strategic behaviors.
Educational Value
A range of skills are developed in different styles
of learning environments. Two of the titles in the set, Word Munchers Deluxe
and Schoolhouse Rock! Grammar Rock are programs that offer skills practice,
while the other two titles feature active and creative learning environments.
Entertainment Value
Most of the programs in this set grab children's attention
through videos and fun challenges.
Design
For the most part, the programs feature smart design
elements that promote independent play. The programs keep track of children's
participation, and most offer help when a child needs it.
Replayability
This 4 CD-ROM set offers plenty of content and engaging
material that will motivate children to play the games over the long term.
Dollar Value
This CD-ROM carries a suggested retail price of approximately
$20 US.
Released: 2003
Reviewed: March 2003
Purchasing Information:
This program is available for purchase through Broderbund here:
ACHIEVE!(tm) Writing & Language Arts Grades 3-6
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