Question 1: What is your professional background in education?

I have taught elementary children with learning difficulties for 20 years, and as well I taught computers in the classroom for five years. My formal training includes a Masters in Special Education.

Question 2: How does your past experience as a teacher improve your software?

I taught basic literacy skills to children for many years using traditional methods and workbooks. With the advent of computers the opportunity arose to use these powerful tools to supplement and reinforce basic skills. We have created programs that reinforce and generalize the learning of these basic skills based on traditional teaching practices that work. Our programs provide motivation and ensure success through the individualization of the learning experience.

Question 3: What have your software users found when using Essential Skills learning programs?

The programs deliver basic skills practice in a way that motivates students yet are not time wasters or ‘gamey’. They are easy to use allowing children to work independently at their own level and pace of learning. The skills are delivered sequentially, with lots of practice and reinforcement to engage students and allow them to meet with success each step of the way. These programs are better in many ways than traditional instructional methods for basic skills. They provide consistant delivery, reliable reinforcement schedules and the tracking and recording of all scores and activities.

Question 4: What are they key benefits of engaging Essential Skills software?

Essential Skills provides affordable, easy to use supplemental software that frees-up teacher time from the repetitive teach-review-test-cycle for the basic skills, allowing the teacher to focus their time on other matters.

All programs utilize a balance of auditory, visual and tactile activities making them effective for all learning styles. For many students they offer a more engaging way to learn. The wide range of skills covered in each program and the ability to adjust student entry levels makes them ideal for providing individualized instruction.

Essential Skills programs can be installed in minutes and require no training. Clear verbal instructions allow students to work independently and at their own pace. The programs keep track of student progress and provide an objective day to day view of how each student is doing. Progress reports can be printed quickly and easily for sharing with parents and staff Best of all, there are hundreds of reports from teachers that the students really enjoy using our programs and that the programs produce measurable results.

Question 5: Who is uses your software?

Our programs are sequentially skill based so students at all ability levels and ages from Pre K up to and including adult learners are able to use them at their individual learning level The bulk of our market is K-6 both regular classroom as well as a large number of Special Education users.

Question 6: Do you have any new software we can look forward to?

In Sept 09 we released six new junior math programs and a Map and Globe skills program.
We also have three other Geography programs in development for release in February.

Thanks for reading!
www.essentialskills.net

Readers,

Here is our 8th and final step to “Effective Teaching”

8. Success is the greatest motivator.

Success is its own reward. Nothing builds motivation and academic self-confidence like a positive learning experience. Children love Essential Skills software because they can be successful each step of the way and know that they are actually learning skills as opposed to just being entertained.

Using Essential Skills Software will benefit you the teacher in 3 ways:

Your time will be freed up from the repetitive teach, review, test cycle for the basic skills.

This will give you the space to identify student needs and place them in programs suited to their learning levels and abilities.

You will feel satisfied because your students will become motivated and successful learners.

Thanks for Reading!

www.essentialskills.net

6. Individualize or Personalize the curriculum for each student. Each of our programs can be adapted to meet the unique ability level and learning style of each student.

7. Provide programs that allow students to be independent learners. Essential Skills Software programs are structured to allow independent learning which fosters self confidence. The programs are easy to install, no training is required for teachers or students. Students can begin working immediately at their own level and pace and the program automatically tracks their progress.

Hope everyone has been enjoying our blog posts about Effective Teaching!

Next post we will list Step 8.

Thanks for Reading!

3. Teach skills gradually and sequentially. In Reading, Spelling, Grammar and Math there is a hierarchy of basic skills that can and should be taught sequentially.

Essential Skills programs are designed such that each skill builds upon a previous skill with lots or practice and review to reinforce the learning.

4. Skills should be taught in bite size pieces. The activities in each program are generally short, simple and fun with lots of variety.

5. Identify your students’ learning styles. All of the programs from Essential Skills offer a wide variety of visual, auditory and tactile approaches so that regardless of their learning styles each child can achieve success.

Keep coming back for our Effective Teaching Steps.

Thanks for Reading!

www.essentialskills.net

2. Reward and reinforce learning often. Students love to hear praise and receive tangible rewards for their efforts. Each of our programs have several hundred auditory and visual rewards. Each correct answer is rewarded and the completion and mastery of each activity is rewarded separately.

Thanks for Reading our blog please check back for our next step to Effective Teaching.

Essential Skills

www.essentialskills.net

The teachers working for Essential Skills share a common set of beliefs or principles when designing and developing programs for children. Our core belief that every child can be successful.

We use a skills based curriculum approach in the development of all of our programs:

Eight Steps to Effective Teaching: Step 1

1. Start your students with what they already know. When teaching new concepts start your children at a point where they can be immediately successful. Students can start at their own level in the program and the program will return them to where they left off.

Please check back in a few days for the next step.

Thanks for Reading!

www.essentialskills.net

A comprehensive introduction to the major features of the political and natural geography of Canada.  Students are introduced to these concepts through a series of compelling activities and colorful graphics.

In the program, students learn the locations, features and proper spellings of:

• The 10 Provinces and 3 Territories
• Provincial and Territorial Capitals
• Major Cities
• Major Bodies of Water
• Physical Regions
• Biomes
• Time Zones
• Natural Landmarks
• Human Landmarks

Keep checking back for more product updates.

Thanks for Reading!

Comprehensive introduction to the major features of the political and natural geography of the United States. Students are introduced to these concepts through a series of compelling activities and colorful graphics.

In the program, students learn the locations, features and proper spellings of:

• The 50 States
• State Capitals
• Major Cities
• Major Bodies of Water
• Physical Regions
• Biomes
• Time Zones
• Natural Landmarks
• Human Landmarks

Thanks for Reading!

World Geography offers a comprehensive introduction to the major features of global political and physical geography to students in grades 3 to 6. The program teaches and tests students on the world’s hemispheres, continents, oceans, bodies of water, land forms, countries, national capitals, cities and geographical landmarks. Hundreds of colorful maps and compelling photos motivate students.

• Hemispheres
• Continents
• Oceans
• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Asia
• Africa
• Oceania
• Natural Landmarks
• Human Landmarks

Thanks for Reading!

Designed for students in grade 3 to 6, Map and Globe Skills introduces students to the basic concepts of maps and map reading.

Topics covered include:

• Maps and Globes
• Types of Maps
• Map Scales
• Locating  co-ordinates
• Cardinal Directions
• Intermediate Directions
• Latitude
• Longitude
• Latitude and Longitude
• Forms of Land and Water

Please keep checking our program page of product updates.

Thanks for Reading!