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Rhyme and Analogy Activity Software is a triple format CD from Sherston Software. It is based upon the Oxford University Press Rhyme and Analogy Series. The 18 exercises develop a child’s phonological awareness by focussing on rhyme and alliteration in spoken words. It follows on from Rhyme and Analogy Volume A and fits in closely with literacy hour requirements in early Key Stage 1.
System specification and guidance
The minimum specification is an A3020, 4Mb of memory, a double-speed CD and an RGB monitor. The recommended specification is an A7000 with 8Mb of memory and an SVGA/multisync monitor. I had no problems in running the software on an A5000 with 8Mb of memory. The program can be installed to hard disc or run directly from the CD. Choosing the latter option means that the record-keeping activities are not available.
An A5, 40-page instruction book is provided. This covers installing and using the software, setting up the record-keeping screen, configuring the software to present the activities required and details about the six books and the activities included with them.
The guidance is clear and comprehensive and should enable even an IT novice to approach the computer with confidence.
Content
There are six books: That's Nothing; Rockpool Rap; The King's Socks; Gran, Gran; How to Kick-start a Dragon and My Home. Each book has a listening activity, a reading and recognising activity and a reading and writing activity. The difficulty of the exercises increases. The software is icon driven which makes it possible for children to work independently so long as they are shown what the icons mean and encouraged to click on the icons to get help rather than ask the teacher.
From the main menu, which asks the child to click on a book, the three graded activities are provided. The child progresses through the three exercises in sequence unless the teacher has chosen to exclude them. At the end of the exercises, they are taken back to the menu screen to select another book.
Criticism
I have the same criticism of Volume B as I had of Volume A which is that some of the illustrations seem ambiguous. I appreciate that the help icon does speak the name attached to each illustration but I also think that a child should be able to complete exercises without having to ask for help to interpret illustrations. Some children do appreciate being able to do something all by themselves.
Conclusion
In terms of providing graded phonological awareness activities, this software succeeds. It is also attractively illustrated and easy to operate and should hold the attention of young children who are given visual rewards for success and gentle explanations of errors. The reinforcing explanations which follow a correct answer labour the point for children who understand. In a class situation, the program needs using sympathetically.
I think it is debatable how much benefit a child with good literacy skills would get from working through all the exercises. For children who need encouragement and reinforcement, the program is ideal and it will certainly find a market amongst schools which already use this reading scheme. For schools who are looking for something new, this is certainly worth investigating further.
A licence for one computer costs 40ukp + VAT from Sherston Software. Prices for multi-licences are available on application and work out considerably cheaper than a single licence.
Denise Bates, Staleybridge
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