MATHOSAURUS I

Math Readiness Skills For Grades Pre K - 1

Mathosaurus I is English/Spanish bi-lingual. When Spanish is selected in the Options menu, the dinosaurs speak in Spanish, and all screen directions are in Spanish. Mathosaurus I also has been awarded the 2004 Teachers' Choice Award For the Family by Learning Magazine.

Activity 1 finds Sally needing help counting bubbles. Sally's friends, Toni, Orlando, and Dawn, are nearby watching. When students have trouble helping Sally, Orlando enthusiastically provides assistance. Options are used to set the activity for up to 5, 10, or 20 bubbles. Answers can be selected either from numerals or number words. Problems are presented in groups of 10, and the record keeping system keeps track of student performance.

In Activity 2 students help Mr. Freeze serve scoops of ice cream to Molly and Spike. When matching sets, students count the number of scoops of ice cream that Spike has, and serve Molly the same number of scoops. When creating sets, children listen to the directions from Mr. Freeze, and serve a specified number of scoops to Molly or Spike. The record keeping system tracks student performance.

Activity 3 gives practice in comparing sets. Lefty and Big Red each have a group of balloons. Larry wants to know "Who has more?" or "Who has less?" Teachers can select groups of up to 5 or up to 10 ballons to be compared. Three comparisons or five comparisons can be presented before Lefty and Big Red float away.

Each program activity features a custom Reward Certificate which can be given to a student to take home to show Mom or Dad. The teacher may sign the certificate or have a Mathosaurus character do so.

In Activity 4 students work to master counting by steps. They fill in the number missing from the center egg in a sequence of numbers stepped by 1's, 2's, 5's, or 10's. Numbers can be in a range from 1 to 20 or from 1 to 100. Each correct answer results in a crack in the center egg. Five correct answers hatches a baby dinosaur or two. Students can decide which of the babies is their favorite hatchling.

A detailed look at student work is available on the Summary page. Scores are provided in nine categories over seven number ranges. Records show how each student has performed in his/her latest session, last five sessions, and cumulatively to date. Scores can be displayed as problems right over problems attempted, as a percentage, as a letter grade, or in a star chart. Stars earned correspond to a grading scale which can be adjusted by the teacher. Class totals also are recorded in all categories.

At left is the printout selection box with which the teacher determines what kind of printout will be made. A wide variety of records are available to be printed.