Instructional Game Software

The topic in Chapter 3 that caught my attention the most was the different types of software programs. There are various types of software that aid in learning these days which include drill and practice, tutorial, simulation, instructional games, and problem solving software. The software that I am most familiar with is the instructional games. In the book, it refers to Arthur’s Math Games which I have personally never heard of, but am definitely going to look into. As a First Grade teacher, my kids absolutely love any time they have on the computer. I even have the computer as one of my literacy stations where they get on Starfall.com and read or watch movies on certain phonics sounds. It has a wide variety of material that goes along with lots of phonics lessons I teach whether it is long or short vowel sounds or even blends. The computer center is probably one of the centers they are most focused at just because it is something different and it is interactive and entertaining, therefore, they enjoy learning more. An instructional game software my kids thoroughly enjoy is Batter-Up. It increases their motivation for Math and they are learning at the same time. However, this is not the only instructional method I use when it comes to the math curriculum. Most of the time, I allow certain students throughout the week to play it when they have made good choices that day or whole week. That way, it gives them an incentive to make good choices, but it is an instructional tool also.