Word Wizard

Publisher: Macroworks Pty Ltd

Genre: Literacy

Topics: Spelling and vocabulary

Ages: 5 to adult learners

System Requirements

	VISTA, XP, 2003, 2000, Me, NT, 98; Pentium III 666 MHz (minimum); 64 MB RAM; 640x480 (16 bit colour); Quad Speed CD-ROM; Sound Card; 160 MB of available disc space.
	OS 9.x, OS X.x; Power PC 666 MHz (minimum); 64 MB RAM; 640x480 (16 bit colour); Quad Speed CD-ROM; Sound Card; 160 MB of available disc space.

Snapshot

* 20 interactive learning games * 196 graded word lists * 3000+ words * 7 skill levels * over 2,700 list-game combinations * fully narrated * printable certificates * achievement tests * compile custom lists * higly motivational

Suitability

This software is suitable for students of all ages and ability, particularly those with learning difficulties and reading problems. It is particularly helpful to students who are dyslexic, or who have ADD, ADHD, or short-term memory problems.

Overview

Word Wizard is a comprehensive, Australian spelling and vocabulary program that uses proven teaching techniques in educationally sound, learning activities. It is recommended by parents, teachers, tutors, speech therapists and child psychologists because "it works and kids just love it".

Designed as a phonetic developmental program, it can accomodate students of all levels from Year 1 to Year 7 in the same program. Difficulty levels can be adjusted to suit all students. For untrained users there is a placement test to help find where students need to commence work.

It can be used for whole classes, small groups, individuals, home and school use. Word Wizard can also be used as a whole school spelling program or it can be used to add interest to most other programs. It is especially useful for students with learning difficulties, as well as for mainstream and extension work. Importantly, the software incorporates two essential components for success; it is fun to use, and it is work based.

Word Wizard uses sound (Australian voices), text and visual cues to teach and reinforce spelling and vocabulary skills including phonics, homophones, plurals, prefixes, suffixes and much more.

Over 3,000 words, across 196 word lists, using Dr Bevé Hornsby’s Alpha to Omega grouping, are incorporated into 20 fully interactive learning games with full narration. In all, there are more than 2,700 learning activities for students to attempt.

Key features include; placement testing, assessment testing, student record keeping, easy navigation, non-distractive animation and sound, real-time feedback, achievement recognition, printable certificates and highest scores recorded.

Users are able to access a complete word-index of more than 4,000 words from which custom word lists can be compiled.

Narrated sentences for every word are also available to give the student an understanding of how an individual word is used in context.

In the school edition, teachers are able to allocate class groups within the login section of the program, and assign global or individual user settings. All assessment and configuration settings are adjustable, providing the opportunity for customisation of the program to suit individual student needs. Teachers are also able to control sound effects and other program features.

[The author Jan Polkinghorne is a tutor and specialist in computer based education, and an educational-software consultant to SPELD (SA) INC. She also lectures and advises parents, educators and schools on the use of computer based programs to help students with specific learning difficulties.]

Screenshots

Screen shots and information on each game.
Activity 1 Activity 2 Activity 3 Activity 4 Activity 5	Activity 6 Activity 7 Activity 8 Activity 9 Activity 10	Activity 11 Activity 12 Activity 13 Activity 14 Activity 15	Activity 16 Activity 17 Activity 18 Activity 19 Activity 20

Product Feedback

- P Bell (Parent/Educator)
"I'm totally impressed. In fact, from our perspective Word Wizard is BRILLIANT! This program really does work."

- A Bayetto (Educator)
"I've been tutoring an 11 year old boy with dyslexia who has had a frustrating time with teachers trying lots of strategies with no apparent improvement. I suggested we start him on Word Wizard and Reading Freedom. While progress has been measured there is quite evident improvement and the school is feeling positive about his progress. He enjoys the predictability of the programs and the mapping of his progress."

- S Maitland (Tutor)
"This program is a terrific help. Jack enjoys the games and he is able to use the program at home on his own. Quickly now his recognition and remembrance of words has improved. He loves to get the gold cups and will repeat the games until he does. He also watches his time reduction for the games as he loves to succeed."

- M Wadsworth (Parent)
"Our children consider it a treat to play Word Wizard on the weekends. Your programs are the best I have found for teaching kids!"

- T Williams (Parent)
"The program is fantastic and my son loves it!"

- G Phillips (Parent)
"Our son was having difficulty reading, he was having trouble recognizing and pronouncing common words. We offered him a reward if he completed every "Activity 6" on every level. This particular activity helped him to recognize common words and how they sounded. He used the "Game Results" page so he could easily work his way through the exercises. I feel that jumping to different activities from the "Games Results" page is an excellent way of using Word Wizard. His reading improved greatly after completing all of the activities."

Printable fact sheet

click here to download

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