Rookie Reporter

Age Range: 9-14 yrs
Platform: Mac or PC
Medium: CD ROM
Cost: $79.95

Company: Meridian Creative Group
Phone: 800-695-9427

Description:

Rookie Reporter is a language arts program written by speech/language specialists, designed to meet IRA/NCTE standards for the English Language Arts. The whole language approach builds listening, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

Eight scenarios, or newsworthy environments, are presented from eight different curriculum areas. Rookie reporters interview intriguing characters and observe their interactions with each other and their surroundings. The rich multimedia environment, with over 125 pieces of audio and animation per scenario, builds listening and pre-writing skills.

Reading skills are enhanced when the student chooses "Who, What, When,..." questions. Pre-writing skills are also emphasized via the Personal Digital Assistant which allows taking photographs, notes and audio recordings.

A Teacher's Manual is included to use Rookie Reporter as a jumping-off point for language arts classes. Children, ages 9 to 14, will benefit from working independently or in groups.

Newspaper terms build reading and vocabulary skills, while the Edit and Layout section builds writing and presentation skills. A video tour of a newspaper facility provides a context for the student.

Software Review:

Jane Chatterton, Manor School

Honeoye Falls, New York

Rookie Reporter is an excellent program to introduce children to the exciting world of newspaper publishing. It is an ideal tool for motivating students and improving their writing, listening, reading and thinking skills. Children love the colorful exciting scenarios. They are entertaining, flexible and provide many opportunities for practice. Although it is recommended for middle school age children, fourth- and fifth-graders can handle it. My fourth-graders were completely mesmerized. They loved the idea of interviewing the characters in the scenarios for several reasons. One, they don't have to schedule a time to interview someone. Secondly, they can replay the character's response and that makes taking notes easier. Third, the rookie reporters aren't as nervous when working on a scenario as they are with real people. Besides, it is easier to give them opportunities to practice their interviewing skills with Rookie Reporter than it is to find people who will agree to be interviewed. But, best of all, Rookie Reporter integrates curriculum and that makes for wonderful, motivating jumping off points to many topics.

Award:

Erie Advertising Club Gold Rooster Award for Interactive Multimedia

To order Rookie Reporter, click here

For further information, click here

We hope you found what you needed on this page. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.



Howard J. Bender, Ph.D.
President
The Education Process Improvement Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 186
Riverdale, Maryland 20738
hjbender@epicent.com