Title: Reader Rabbit's Math 1
Overall Rating: A
Source: The learning Company
Playing Time: 45 to an hour, player may stop playing and continue later using the save option.
Date: 3/20/99
Cost: $ 29.95 http://www.learningco.com/
Number of Players: 1 person or players can play in groups
Special Equipment/Facilities Needed:
I.  Windows version runs on:
A. IBM PC and compatibles 486DX/33 MHz or better
B. With:
1. 8MB memory (RAM)
2. Hard disk with 40Kfree disk space
3. Double-speed or higher CD-ROM drive
4. 256-color SVGA monitor
5. DOS 5.0 or higher, window 3.1 or higher (including Windows 95)
6. Windows ?compatible sound card
7. Mouse.
II.  Macintosh version runs on:
A.  Macintosh computers-68030/25MHz or better, including the following models: LCII or greater; I Iic or greater; Centris series; Quadra series; Quadra AV series; Power Macintosh series; Performa 410 or greater; Powerbook 145 or greater.
B. With:
1.  8MB memory (RAM)
2.  Hard disk with 40K free disk space
3.  Double -speed or higher CD-ROM drive
4.  14 inch or larger 256-color monitor with 640x 480 screen resolution
5.  System 7.0.1 or higher
6.  Mouse
Subject Area: Students ages 4-7 or grades Pre K- 1
Objectives:   Reader Rabbit’s Math 1 builds early math skills and encourages children to discover higher-level math concepts and to develop an awareness of mathematical relationships.
1. Enhances a child’s appreciation for numbers
2. Children explore basic number concepts by playing a series of imaginative games
3. Children develop skills in counting
4. Children develop skills in addition
5. Children develop skills in subtraction
6.  Children learn to recognize number relationships and pattern
Brief Description: Reader Rabbit’s setting is the Circus of Numbers.  The Circus of Numbers has five attractions to visit- four math activities (the Calliope Counting Game, the Tightrope Show, the Sea Lion Show, and the Balloon Matching Game) and a Prize Center.  As you play the activities, you’ll earn prize tickets that you can use at the Prize Center.
Entry Capabilities Required:  The player must have the skills and knowledge to manouver the mouse to the correct location.  The skill needed increase with the level.  The player will need to be able to identify numbers and recognizes simple number relationships at the lowest level.  The matching of objects to target numbers is also at the lower levels.  At the higher levels the player will need to less than and greater than, associate numbers with their written names, adding and subtracting numbers from 0-99, and adding and subtracting two-digit numbers.
 
 

Rating: (1-5)

Strong Points:  This program reinforces the student for the right answer.  The element of luck or/and guessing the answer is replaced by immediate feedback.  The children receive visual and auditory feedback as they practice and learn to identify, add, subtract, and build basic math skills.  Another strong point of this program is the use of positive reinforcement for the right answer.  The use of prize tickets gives the player the motivation to work on answering the question correct and also completing the stage of the game.  The player receive prize tickets for completing one stage of the game.  The player is then able to spend the prize tickets at the prize center.  The prize center has a variety of prize so the player have larger prize to work for along with small prize for early satisfaction.
Weak Points: The program in my eyes is very strong in all areas.  One area that I though could have been improved was the scenery.  Not the animation but the screen do not change from level to level at each game.  I thought if the screen had changed to a higher tightrope or smaller balloon would have influenced and emphasized the change in difficulties.
Reviewer: Anita Bessette
Position: Graduate Student
Date: 3/23/99
Computer System Reviewed on: Macintosh PowerPC 6500/250, 32mb ram.