Free printable certificate for participation

MECS Software

Ages 3-11. Phonetic Reading, CD1, regularly $600 when bought as individual modules; current special offer for PHS readers, only $99. CD2, regularly $900 when bought as individual modules; for PHS readers, $99. CD3, regularly $108, free to PHS readers when purchasing both CD1 and CD2 together. Specify Macintosh (System 7 and up required) or Windows (Win 3.1 and up).

Montessori Educational Computer Systems, 13008 Rover Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112. 800-995-5133. Web: www.mecssoftware.com/home.htm. Downloadable demos on site.

Capture a Montessori teacher for your classroom! Always patient and always present, this program is the most elegant and effective educational computer program I have ever used. Without the typical flashing lights and video cartoon clips so typical of educational software, the MECS Software programs steadily build your child's understanding and skills in a number of subjects.

Created by Carol Parker, a Montessori teacher with over 30 years of experience, the principles of good instruction are incorporated within each MECS program. This means focused lessons with no distractions and no reward system to cheapen your child's learning. The reward is the skill gained itself. Throughout, you will hear Carol's calm, encouraging voice as she teaches your children.

Montessori education stresses the "big picture" (framework) and essential topics for each subject, while eliminating excessive information. Details are filled in through research. That's why some of the programs listed below include a research component. Of course, library books and writing experiences will be part of the rest of your child's homeschool experience.

Each lesson is presented in the Montessori three-period format. First period presents the nomenclature for several items one at a time as the child looks at the example on the screen. For instance, Carol's pleasant voice might say, "This is Texas." The child repeats, "Texas," while viewing a picture of the state of Texas. Then two or three more states are introduced. Second-period lessons cement this information by giving multiple choices and asking, "Point to Texas." In this example, five states might be shown on the screen, with a list of state names down the side that have to be moved from the side of the screen to under the picture. The third period is where most programs begin: quizzing children for information by asking, "What is this?" while showing a picture of a state. So, Texas might be flashed on the screen and a label is then picked from a large group of names.

These programs invite "overlearning," repeating a concept until it is second nature, a needed component for long-term retention. Each program continues to work through one period until the child can complete the lesson to perfection. Students may work a program as long as they like, and some programs include a certificate that can be printed at the completion of the program. My son Timmy, at age 7, worked through the United States map and regions. He found a great deal of quiet satisfaction working through the three period lessons to mastery, and enjoyed displaying his newfound knowledge to me.

CD1: Phonics the Montessori Way

MECS Phonetic Reading CD1, which includes all six Reading Modules described below, is probably the most powerful program for teaching phonics to young children on the market. Materials are color-coded from simple to complex and brief animations highlight the many visual memory aids. Carol has discovered that children remember best when moving colored pictures and sound are enhanced by their own speech. So children are asked to repeat the letter sounds after the computer. Later, letters are presented kinesthetically so that all senses are eventually involved.

I presented an "animated alphabet" lesson to three preschoolers only this morning, and they were fascinated with the simple story sequence used in presenting each letter and its sound. This is essential to retention, as the brain was not created to retain facts but stories.

Reading Module 1: Reading Module 1 contains:

* The animated alphabet, described above.

* "b-d sort" and "p-q sort"--two lessons to help children distinguish between mirror image letters.

* First letter sounds, last letter sounds, middle letter sounds, and building three-letter-words (with clapping)--These four exercises build "phonemic awareness," the ability to hear each individual sound in a word. Three consonants are mastered at a time. On-screen teaching assistant "Monty Sory" (get it?) demonstrates clapping the sounds within three-letter words to refine the child's exact speech and enable him to hear each sound. Monty's mouth motions show exactly how each sound is made.

* The vowel ladder and blends--The "vowel ladder" introduces children to vowels and the first hurdle of reading, blending the separate sounds into words. The "window cards" promote speed blending of words. Really nice are the on-screen Teacher boxes that tell you (the teacher) just what to do at each point.

* Matching labels--These moveable labels are just like the moveable alphabet box in traditional Montessori schools. You can find a description of this moveable alphabet in Montessori's own handbook, available at most libraries. Your child matches labels to pictures of three-letter objects.

Reading Module 2: The method continues to teach with its "see, hear, say, move, say as you move" approach. Children advance to four-letter words and complete the second reading hurdle of blending two consonants. Digraphs are introduced with animations, and silent letters are illustrated.

Reading Module 3: In this module a terrific animated writing program leads your children through the steps of correct letter formation. Oh, how I hate to teach printing! This one is really my friend! The long vowels sounds are introduced, as are the final silent e and silent letter digraphs. Children continue building words with the on-screen moveable alphabet, which now includes these additional word parts. A word list is added at the end of the module to promote quick reading.

Reading Module 4: R-controlled vowels are introduced through key animated stories, and these new phonograms are now included in the movable alphabet. Vowel diphthongs such as ew, oo, ou, ue are introduced and tested, and then later presented in the animated word lists in a way that organizes all the spellings under one sound. In fact the same 70 phonograms used by Spalding's Writing Road to Reading are incorporated at this level. A great benefit for students to see how many different spellings can create the same sounds.

As a terrific bonus, the screens can be printed out so that you can make materials and handouts for your children.

Reading Module 5: This module reinforces and extends all the previous reading modules

Reading Module 6: Diphthongs are presented just as in module 4. Students read the animated stories in chorus with children's voices on the CD-ROM. As before, printable word lists are provided for hands-on practice, and words can be read and organized under headings for each diphthong.

CD2: Math, Geography, Earth Science, & More!

Speed is often not emphasized in the Montessori approach, but MECS teaches concepts in the same relaxed math-anxiety-preventing way and then adds a little mental zip.

The Red and Blue Rods. These rods are used to introduce the quantities 1 to 5 and 6 to 10. They are the first Montessori math materials presented to a student. The rods are painted in alternating patterns of red and blue. Students count and manipulate the on-screen rods in the same three-period format used in presenting all materials. I found that I needed to sit with my preschoolers because they couldn't quite answer fast enough on their own. But I didn't mind spending the time with them to reinforce their learning. I have plenty of counting activities in my classroom that are enhanced by this program.

This lesson is followed by a terrific yet simple introduction of numeral writing. The child simply follows a ball moving about a numeral with his finger. This ensures proper numeral formation and kinesthetic participation.

The Golden Bead materials. These explore the decimal system and presents 1-10-100-1000's places. The online teacher never gets tired of patiently presenting and counting with your child.

The Multiplication Board. This is a first multiplication lesson. An equation appears. The student places sets of beads on the board in rows to represent the equation. He then counts and types his answer. The "real world" versions of these boards are quite expensive, so here using the software provides a nice savings.

Multiplication Program. The following lessons are incorporated in this program:

* Multiplication as addition

* Commutative law

* Multiplying by 1

* Multiplying by 0

* 2x as adding doubles

* Math Facts

* Math Timings