Math Resources for Middle School Children
As children enter into adolescence and puberty, often the area of least concern and focus begins to be in the academic setting. With social skills proliferating and hormones raging, many middle school children begin to suffer a depreciation in grades at a time which is most crucial to their success moving forward into high school academics. As parents, utilizing the available software resources at home, in addition to offering support to the middle school educators, will further enhance your adolescent’s math grades, including algebra and geometry, and make for an easier transition into high school curriculum.
When researching home math resource software, for use by a middle school child, consider the following options:
Destination Math:
This school/home software based program offers tutoring in middle school tasks such as ratios, proportions, introduction to statistics, graphing and an introduction to the Pythagorean Theorem. Compatible on Mac and Windows operating systems, the program is visually stimulating with a variety of colors and full sound enhancement. Average cost of program is $499 under a school organized program. Although considered a more costly program, the program offers optimal interactive stimulation to the middle school student.
Mighty Math Astro Algebra:
Program focuses on functional use of graphing, equations, number lines and coordinate planes with some tutoring in decimals and fractions. Graphics are enhanced however color is not as optimal as some comparable home based middle school software programs. However, the program is compatible with Mac and Microsoft 95 and 98 with average cost of this program is quite a bit less than the comparable programs, beginning at $69.96.
Skill Detective: Middle School:
This middle school software program provides not only educational tutoring but also provides a parental guide in measuring the middle school child’s advancement against state and national standards. Specializing in a variety of subjects, this math software program serves as a excellent academic softward program and resource tool for critical thinking. Not well equipped with graphics, colors nor sound, this middle school math software program is not an ideal program for middle school children who require an interactive approach to learning. However, the program does offer parents an ideal resource in determining and gauging academic performance in a standardized format. Compatible with Mac and Microsoft 98, 2000 and NT, the program cost, in a home edition begins at a rate of $99.00.
Working to maintain a middle school child’s academic performance is vitally important to ensure the necessary building blocks are in place for entry into high school. With many middle school children easily distracted in an academic setting, the involvement of parents in this program is crucial. By seeking and utilizing these key home math software programs, the academic performance of the middle school student can be maintained, improved and measured against national and state standards. For more information regarding these and other home educational software programs, visit www.riverdeep.net.
