RATING:  4.8

SUBJECT AREA:	Reading and Writing
PUBLISHER:	Steck-Vaughn Co. P. O. Box 690789 Orlando, FL 32819-9998 (800) 531-5015 FAX: (800) 699-9459 e-mail: info@steck-vaughn.com http://www.steck-vaughn.com
COST:	$399.00 (Single station use - nine disks, user's manual and binder) $999.00 (Site License- multiple computers on-site)

USE:   Beginning Adult Readers
            Family Literacy
            Pre-GED

COMPUTER:  WIN

SPECIFIC SKILLS: Word recognition, phonics, word patterns, context clues, prefix/suffix patterns, root words, compound words, and spelling.

DESCRIPTION: Crossings provides a variety of reading and writing experiences for students, and many tools and options for teachers interested in customizing or personalizing student lessons. There are six options presented in the menu: Editor, Cloze Technique, Word Patterns, Sights & Symbols, Word Fragments, and the Timer Game. Most users start with the "Editor" option and type in a language experience story. By choosing the "Say" button, the story can then be read to the student through the built-in-text-to-speech processor at a fast or slow pace.(Speakers or headphones can be used.) Each word is highlighted as it is read. Their story can also be printed out. A list of articles from Steck-Vaughn books is also available. These readings are at beginning (2.0-4.4) and intermediate (4.5-6.0) levels and discuss topics in science, social studies, nonfiction, and life skills. Teachers and students can then move on to create cloze exercises in which sentences have a selected word that is replaced with a blank. When using the "Cloze Technique" option, students can have the computer read the sentence to them. In "Word Patterns" over ninety word patterns are available to create exercises using prefixes and suffixes, at progressive levels of difficulty.. "Sights and Sounds" provides 23 categories of colorful pictures and words that students can utilize for practice in spelling and word recognition. The voice option can be disabled at any time. Teachers can also create word lists, import scanned images, or add text from other word processors. The "Word Fragments" option requires the student to form a word using a syllable from each row. A clue or a sentence description is also provided. Forty activities are available at beginning and intermediate levels. The number of guesses in all lessons can be set by the teacher. The "Timer Game" provides spelling practice at beginner (15 seconds), intermediate(10 seconds), and advanced (5 seconds) levels. Students must key in a single letter in a word using the keyboard or the mouse. Letters are chosen randomly, so word sets should be repeated.

EVALUATION: Crossings offers many unique and unusual experiences for the teacher and the student as they write their own stories and create individual exercises and games. Teachers that were comfortable using Windows, felt it was very easy to develop exercises and games using student created material or the using stories that are provided with the program. However, I would not recommend using this program unless your computer has the sound capabilities (even though it runs without sound), because most lessons will lose their effectiveness. I also strongly encourage teachers and tutors to practice and familiarize themselves with the program before using it with your students. The ":Tutorial" found in the teacher's manual, provides an excellent introduction and description to the lessons and actually directs you through an on-line training experience. It's also important to read the "Teaching Tips" that follow the tutorial and avoid making some time consuming and frustrating mistakes. The only weaknesses that I found in the program are the "robotic" voice and the periodic corrections that must be made in the pronunciation.. If students have used the digital audio (human sound), then the "mechanical" sound in this program may be a little difficult to understand at first. However, my students really appreciated and benefited from the audio component that is available with most options.

This program offers interesting and educational lessons for literacy level students that are different from other programs on the market. It proved to be particularly effective with students with learning disabilities, because the student reads, write and hears the words and sentences. Many students were very proud of their writing and they enjoyed sharing their stories and lessons with other students. After an introduction and some practice with a teacher or tutor, many literacy level students can use this program independently.