diversity

Resource: Click on the link to see the software's web page.	Comment on how this has been used to support diversity	Does the software have an embedded assessement? How does the assessment work.
RiverDeep	River Deep is a software housed on our server. Students are allowed to access this at home if they have an internet connection. I used RiverDeep greatly during Central Elementary's MARS program. MARS stands for math and reading on Saturday. RiverDeep is set up so that the teacher may use it to teach a whole group lesson on a particular math skill. After the whole group lesson has been taught, students "test" on that skill. The teacher can set up the test so that tasks that follow the test are prescribed to fit the students' level of learning. The student progresses through the tasks at their own rate. The tasks are set up to resemble a video game so students are engaged. There is a tool bar that students can access which will repeat the instructions as many times as students need to hear them. As with a video game until a child reaches a proficiency level, which can be set by the teacher, the game will not allow them to move on. The tasks are designed so that they are respectful to both genders; there are many stories in the reading part that are of interest to boys. The girls found a great deal of tasks in the math area that they find appealing. In my experience, I have not always found this to be true with software. Many reading based programs seem bent toward girsl and math software seems designed for boys. By using this software I am showing that I am respectful to the the learning needs of my students.	This software does have an embedded assessment. Teachers can create tests and then set up the program to provide prescribed tasks.
Jefferson Lab	Jefferson Lab is a website that is set up to help students prepare for the SOL test. Students can click on a link to immediately see how they are doing. The teacher can instruct the student to target certain areas that the child may be weak in. During MARS, I found that the video game style of RiverDeep was distracting to some of my students, especially those that were extremely weak in math. They could read and answer the questions but were not quick enough to "score" on the game. I allowed them to work off of JLab. Students could move through on their own and had the luxury to work out problems on a piece of scratch paper. By using this in conjucntion with RiverDeep I was taking a students learning style into consideration.	This software is an assessment tool. Students have an option to click a link to see how they are progressing so far.
Paws in Typing Town	Paws in Typing Town is a software designed to teach typing skills to young students. I have also discovered that in addition to teaching typing skills, it is a great way to teach children to recognize letters in print. Students can choose a "sticker" to put on their work before printing it out. Students have tons of arcade type games to choose from to continue their practice. They are not allowed to advance to the next level until the previous level is complete.This software is engaging and keyboarding skills are important to students. Again, by using this software, I am showing that I am respectful to the needs of my learners.	This software does not have an actual assessment component except that it will not allow students to progress to the next level until the previous one is mastered..
Scholastic Reading Inventory	Scholastic Reading Inventory is a software that "tests" a student's reading level. If a student misses a certain amount of questions the software automatically adjusts and moves back a level . It continues to move back or forward until the child's level has been dtermined. At the end of the test, students can put in the genres they are interested in and the program provides a list of books that are on the student's level. By using SRI I am assessing the reading level of the student and I have an awareness of their interests from the books they were provided.	This software is an assessment tool and will provide immediate feedback to students.
Inspiration	I LOVE INSPIRATION. This is a wonderful tool that can be adapted for any grade level. I have used Inspiration in younger grades to create computer sorts. Many teachers use sorts but a couple of teachers complained to me that sorts were time consuming and frustating in younger classrooms, which is where they are needed the most. Children have difficulty with the cutting and pasting that teachers need them to do to turn them into portfolio pieces. By using Inspiration to do the sorts, students can actually concentrate on the sort itself. The teacher can then print it out for the portfolio. I have also used this to help struggling writers move from creating webs to making outlines. Inspiration has a text to speech component which is a benefit to students with reading difficulties. By using this software I am taking into consideration the needs of struggling learners.	This software does not have an embedded assessment.
KidPix	KidPix is a very simple "paint" and word processing program. I used it in my second grade to help students transition from hands on manipulatives to one diminsional graphics. It has a text to speech component which is a benefit to students with reading problems. By using this software I am demonstrating that I take the learning needs of my students into consideration. It is a wonderful program to use with students who not only have reading difficulties but students who are having difficulties will find this software helpful.	This software does not have an embedded assessment.
Scholastic Keys	Scholastic Keys is a wonderful way to transition a student into more advanced office programs such as PowerPoint, Word, or Excel. The font starts off enlarged and toolbar buttons are enlarges so that students with visual difficulties can more easily see them. It also can be used with text to speech so that auditory students can be targeted. By using this software I took not only the special needs such as visual difficulties into consideration but also the developmental needs such as transitioning from early grades into older ones.	This software does not have an embedded assessment.