SuccessMaker in the Classroom

In my experience with substitute teaching I have came across many types of software that teachers would have planned in lessons. It is important that software meets curriculum goals but also fits the classroom needs. I think that when the students are engaged in a program they have the ability to learn beyond what we can show them. They have the opportunity to go beyond their goal and learn at their own pace. When given the task of this assignment I immediately thought of SuccessMaker. SuccessMaker software is geared for grades K-8.

                SuccessMaker offers reading and math tools for grades kindergarden through 8^th grade. Reading activities stem from vowel learning to comprehension excercises. Math lessons also offer a variety of tools that can help students learn each step through math problems. SuccessMaker also offers teachers the ability to manage their students work and progress. This tool can offer SPED teachers a means for keeping data on students IEP goals.

                I am currently not a teacher but I have used SuccessMaker in the classroom as a substitute. One teacher used it as a center for his elementary students. Each student has their own username and password. This was used as both a reading center and a math center. Students were assigned a specific exercise during that center. In my future classroom I hope to use this as more than just a center. Most of the classrooms in my school district have Smartboards. I plan to use SuccessMaker on the SmartBoard as with whole group lessons. Students will have a chance to use the software as well as the Smartboard.  Successmaker has lessons in which books are read to the class. I will use Successmaker to introduce new concepts by having a group reading lesson in which we use the Smartboard. We will complete one activity from the book on the Smartboard as a group and then each individual student will complete another activity in center time later that day/week. This will help the students get started with each new lesson.

                Successmaker has demo on their website that will walk you through any grade level that you are interested in. There is a lesson for each grade and it will demonstrate how each lesson plays out. If you have a chance to check it out please do so at http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZk99