| Finding quality educational software for your children | | | | source, is a math-based program in which students are |
| requires a bit of research. A myriad of sites with | | | | playing a video game. They must answer math |
| educational games are available. These games range | | | | questions correctly to be able to shoot targets. |
| from early counting games to more complex games | | | | GCompris is a program for younger children to learn |
| teaching the use of fractions and decimals. On the | | | | shapes and numbers. These programs are only two |
| reading spectrum, educational software includes letter | | | | of the hundreds available. |
| recognition and phonics all the way to writing your own | | | | Freeware has a number of benefits for educators. |
| story and answering questions about reading | | | | Parents who are homeschooling often find themselves |
| passages. Educational software exists on any subject, | | | | bombarded with the need to purchase everything |
| teaching children everything from foreign languages to | | | | from notebooks and pencils to supplies for science |
| beginner music lessons. | | | | projects. By using free software and free educational |
| Many of these software programs are expensive. | | | | websites, home schooling parents can educate their |
| The designers, writers, and educators who work on | | | | children for free. Even for non-home schooling parents, |
| the programs can make for pricy overhead. Websites | | | | freeware is a way to keep children having fun while |
| are the same. Many websites allow you to pay a | | | | they're learning. Students can play games on the |
| monthly fee and then to log on to play the games. The | | | | weekends or in the evenings. These games are very |
| monthly fees vary from a couple of dollars to $20 or | | | | effective in helping children learn concepts, and with |
| more per month. Other sites are free. is one of the | | | | freeware they're much less expensive than using |
| most commonly used websites for children's | | | | tutors or paid software programs. |
| educational games. includes games that teach | | | | Freeware also works well in schools. Because these |
| preschoolers basic concepts, and many children can | | | | programs aren't available for home use only in most |
| play these games with minimal adult supervision. | | | | cases, teachers in financially squeezed school districts |
| Another option is to look for completely free software | | | | can look for free programs to help keep their students |
| downloads, however. This type of software, called | | | | interested and occupied. Teachers simply can |
| "freeware" in Internet lexicon, means anyone can use | | | | download these programs for free and put them as |
| this software without paying any type of licensing fee. | | | | desktop links. Letting students play on computers when |
| Some of these programs are open source, which | | | | they're done with their work is a great incentive for |
| means interested people can alter the code of the | | | | students to complete their work. Teachers also use |
| software to make them better or more complicated. | | | | these programs for students as group-learning |
| Two examples of free downloadable titles are | | | | projects. |
| TuxMath and GCompris. TuxMath, which is open | | | | |