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 Reviewed by: Suzanne Long

Reader Rabbit 1 is a software program designed to provide students with practice with word awareness. All of the words used are CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words and there are over 200 of them used in this program. Students can choose from four activities. The Matchup activity allows students to match words with their corresponding pictures. This activity can be changed to match a picture with its word or to match a picture with its first, middle or last letter. In the Sorter activity, students sort words according to their beginning, middle or ending sound. In the Labeler activity, students create words for the pictures given. They can be given the beginning, middle or last letter, or none of the letters in the word. In the Word Train activity, students fill a train with words that have two of the same letters in the same positions as the previous word on the train.

One of the characters may be clicked on at any time to make changes to the programs. The volume can be adjusted, the level of activities can be changed, and the audio can be turned off.

This software is appropriate for use with kindergarten and first grade students. The skills practiced would very easily fit into the kindergarten or first grade curriculum. If the user intended to complete the activities as displayed on the main menu, I would recommend switching two of the activities. I would have my students work on the Word Train before working on the Labeler. When building phonemic knowledge, a student should work on word families, as in the Word Train, before working on blending sounds, as in the Labeler. Reader Rabbit 1 is also free of bias or stereotypes.

This software is very easy to run and students should be able to use it independently. The characters explain every activity and provide an example of what to do for every activity. These explanations can be repeated and a "help" character is always available. Moving from one activity to another is accomplished easily as is making changes to activities..

The animation is quite enjoyable throughout the program. Animation is also used when correct answers are received. There is no animation for incorrect answers and this feature allows the student to know that a correct answer is still waiting to be given. The voices of the characters seem a bit scratchy in the software’s introduction, but I did not find this anywhere else.

The use of technology is good in this software with its easy to use style and its wonderful, colorful animation. Students do not have to use the activities in any order, but instead can jump around to the different activities.

The software, however, does not allow the student to make any product or to print out any material. Also there is no internal system for keeping track of student progress. Instead a student activities chart is given in the teacher’s manual. It can be copied and placed next to or near the computer.

 Role of Students

The students are empowered by the software in that they can choose where they want to go in the program. They do not have to follow a prescribed format and may change the levels of each activity on their own. This allows them to feel success as they proceed from each level to the next.

The students may work independently or with a partner. Working together can enhance their cooperative working skills and increase their levels of success.

 Role of the Teacher

Students can work on this software independently, although teachers will need to give students a brief introduction to this software. A demonstration of the software can be given to the whole class using a projection system.

Teachers may also change the programs to fit specific needs of individual students or groups of students. The activities can be changed to focus on beginning sounds, ending sounds or vowel sounds.

This software does not contain an internal system for tracking student progress. Instead, a tracking chart can be found in the teacher’s manual. The manual is an excellent resource for the teacher. It contains lessons to fit each of the activities and games to play. Sheets of word cards and pictures can be found and replicated. The educational value is also listed for each of the activities.

 Classroom Usage

This software could be used by individual students or by a pair of students. Whole class lessons can be found in the teacher’s manual. These lessons could be used to complement or introduce the skills found in the program. There are an array of lessons that can be implemented in small, cooperative groups. A teacher would have no trouble finding, in the manual, a lesson to suit the needs of the classroom.

This software can complement any kindergarten or first grade curriculum, whether it is phonetically or whole language based. The practice with letter sound, letter placement and words would benefit any lower elementary classroom.

 Critical Summary

This software is well suited for kindergarten and first grades. The lively animation will encourage students to use and succeed with the activities. The activities provide excellent practice with recognizing and creating CVC pattern words.

Though there are no products made from the program itself, the teacher’s manual is filled with many wonderful activities and supplemental materials.

 Overall Rating (on a scale of 1 to 10) 10

This software will be easily incorporated into any classroom. Teachers will not only find it easy to use, but full of great lesson ideas. Students will enjoy using it and will in return receive excellent practice with word and letter awareness.