READING
In today's Information Age, it is via the printed word that we access
knowledge. Jostens has developed a program that provides a cornerstone for a
lifetime of learning. The curriculum nurtures the literacy skills students
need to become proficient readers, and includes hundreds of lessons for
self-paced K-8 instruction. Students develop proficiency in word analysis,
vocabulary, comprehension, and study skills. Reading is taught as a series
of interrelated skills. Content is introduced in one strand, then reinforced
and extended in the next strand, as students are eased into higher levels of
critical understanding. The program's Directed Reading-Thinking Activity
lessons promote strategies that improve each student's ability to think and
understand, while incorporating each student's prior knowledge with new
vocabulary and information.
The exciting energy of computer technology engages students. Using the interactive power of the computer, beginning readers learn to decode and understand words through exercises that allow them to hear the pronunciation; they see the definition of new words, simply by clicking the mouse on the highlighted word. Students can record, then review, their voices -- comparing their pronunciation with a digitized recording of model pronunciation. They are introduced to new sound elements in the context of meaningful words and sentences that are part of their oral language.
As students progress, they become familiar with an appropriate mix of commonly used and subject-specific vocabulary, preparing them for both literature and content area reading. The program offers an abundance of motivating reading material, including biography, folk tales, legends and adventure stories. Many selections are classics by well known authors.
WRITING
The writing programs follow the writing process model and guide students
through pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing and publishing.
The Literature-Based Writing Program is designed to help students master the interconnected activities of reading, writing and thinking. Drawing from a wealth of multi-cultural literature -- folk tales, autobiographies, poetry -- writing is viewed as an essential tool in the development of higher-order thinking skills.
The Writing Program integrates reading and writing instruction in realistic literacy tasks that encourage students to use language in meaningful contexts. Reading and writing are presented as complementary, integrated literacy skills. Lesson content is derived from the sciences and humanities, as well as from life skills.
Keys to Adventure teaches proper finger placement, and demonstrates correct reaches to letter keys, shift keys and punctuation marks. All lessons end with a motivational game that takes a child on a trip around the world. The trips include social studies content and basic geography.
The Writing Processor combines the student-oriented word processor with instruction in the five steps of the writing process.
The curriculum meets recommendations by the National Council for Teachers of English and the International Reading Association.
MATHEMATICS
Multi-sensory Mathematics offers a challenging program that builds enthusiasm
for mathematics, and makes problem solving in every day life the focus of
instruction. The early curriculum provides 4 and 5 year-old students
foundational instruction in math readiness. Students at grade levels 1-8
learn the fundamental concepts and problem-solving strategies that they need
for success in high school.
Instruction goes beyond rote learning, with multi-sensory lessons that encourage students to learn through discovery and the development of reasoning skills. In selected lessons an online calculator is available for exercises that are designed specifically to develop students' problem-solving techniques. Mathematical concepts are tied to the student's real world, and skills are developed in the context of practical applications. Students are engaged with pre-algebra, pre-geometry and discrete mathematics topics, as opposed to simply reviewing arithmetic concepts and procedures. Students' abilities to understand concepts and employ skills are extended over time as they are challenged to apply their existing knowledge to new situations. Students visualize and internalize mathematical concepts through highly stimulating illustrations, graphics and animations.
The Mathematics Curriculum builds students' math skills in small steps with almost 400 interconnected lessons, many of which are almost an hour in length. A developmental approach guides students through the acquisition of critical mathematics knowledge without fragmenting the learning process. Designed by nationally recognized experts, the Mathematical Curriculum meets recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics and the National Research Council.
The Apple Macintosh K-8 disc requires any model Macintosh equipped with CD-ROM drive and a color monitor. The new Macintosh PowerPC models are compatible, but ask me about the details if you are planning on using the IBM compatible products with it.
For IBM compatible products the minimal system required is:
For more information and/or demonstration please fill out this form:
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