Homeschooling Software Options
Since computers have become widely accessible, useful software applications were developed in many activity fields such as medicine or teaching, helping professionals to work faster and easier. Recently, home education came into the attention of developers who found a good ground to unleash their creativity in designing attractive educational programs. There are several types of homeschooling software, depending on its purpose.
Educational Software
These are interactive computer programs that teach the kids certain skills such as reading, spelling, typing, counting, telling the time or problem solving. There are many software companies such as Disney Interactive, Knowledge Adventure, The Learning Company or Scholastic, offering such homeschool programs on DVD or on CD-ROM. Usually, a parent who wants to buy educational software is guided in his search by the age of the child, the programs being grouped by age level and by the corresponding school grade.
It is well-known that children are attracted to computer games. Such software programs are presented like colorful games in which children have to find solutions to various problems, or to solve mysteries by discovering clues that could be related to math, science or geography. Being developed under professional guidance, each homeschooling software program is aimed to develop a certain skill in the child, be it a language skill, or a thinking skill, or a creativity one.
Testing Software
As taking standardized tests is a common practice of homeschoolers who seek for getting college admission, they can prepare for the tests with specially designed computer programs. Kaplan SAT ACT PSAT set of 5 CD-ROMs and the Switched on Schoolhouse Curriculum Diagnostic Tests are only two examples of what a parent can use to test the child’s achievements and educational progress.
<Lesson Planning Software
There’s no efficient homeschooling without thorough planning. This is why the parent must have strong management and organization skills, a good ability to set and pursue goals and milestones in the instructional plan. A little bit of computerized help is more than welcome when you have to deal with such a huge volume of information that needs to be organized. Programs like HomeSchool Minder include special lesson planner modules which will ease the parent’s task of planning their study schedule.
Record Keeping Software
An essential requirement for evaluating progress is to keep accurate records of the educational activity. Record keeping programs can simplify this time consuming and quite boring task for the parent. Two good examples are Edu-Track Home School and HomeSchool Easy Records.
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