Review from Practical Homeschooling Magazine

November/December 2001

by Katherine Von Duyke

Copyright 2001 Home Life, Inc.  Used by Permission.

Mary Pride - Publisher
                      

Capture a Montessori teacher for your classroom!  Always patient and always present, this program is the most elegant and effective educational computer program I have ever used.  Without the typical flashing lights and video cartoon clips so typical of educational software, the MECS Software programs steadily build your child's understanding and skills in a number of subjects.

Created by Carol Parker, a Montessori teacher with over 30 years of experience, the principles of good instruction are incorporated within each MECS program.  This means focused lessons with no distractions and no reward system to cheapen your child's learning.  The reward is the skill gained itself.  Throughout, you will hear Carol's calm, encouraging voice as she teaches your children.

 Montessori education stresses the "big picture" (framework) and essential topics for each subject, while eliminating excessive information.  Details are filled in through research.  That's why some of the programs listed below include a research component.  Of course, library books and writing experiences will be part of the rest of your child's homeschool experience.

Each lesson is presented in the Montessori three-period format.  First period presents the nomenclature for several items one at a time as the child looks at the example on the screen.  For instance, Carol's pleasant voice might say, "This is Texas ."  The child repeats, " Texas ," while viewing a picture of the state of Texas .  Then two or three more states are introduced.

Second-period lessons cement this information by giving multiple choices and asking, "Point to Texas ."  In this example, five states might be shown on the screen, with a list of state names down the side that have to be moved from the side of the screen to under the picture.  

The third period is where most programs begin: quizzing children for information by asking, "What is this?" while showing a picture of a state. So, Texas might be flashed on the screen and a label is then picked from a large group of names.

These programs invite "over learning," repeating a concept until it is second nature, a needed component for long-term retention.  Each program continues to work through one period until the child can complete the lesson to perfection.  Students may work a program as long as they like, and some programs include a certificate that can be printed at the completion of the program.  My son Timmy, at age 7, worked through the United States map and regions.  He found a great deal of quiet satisfaction working through the three period lessons to mastery, and enjoyed displaying his newfound knowledge to me.

Phonics the Montessori Way:

The MECS Phonetic Reading Program described below, is probably the most powerful program for teaching  phonics to young children on the market.  Materials are color-coded  from simple to complex and brief animations highlight the many visual  memory aids.  Carol has discovered that children remember best when  moving colored pictures and sound are enhanced by their own speech.  So children are asked to repeat the letter sounds after the computer.  Later, letters are presented kinesthetically so that all senses are eventually involved.

I presented an "animated alphabet" lesson to three preschoolers only this morning, and they were fascinated with the simple story sequence used in presenting each letter and its sound.  This is essential to retention, as the brain was not created to retain facts but stories.

                          Reading Module 1: Reading Module 1 contains:

These four exercises build "phonemic awareness," the ability to hear each individual sound in a word.  Three consonants are mastered at a time.

                          On-screen teaching assistant "Monty Sory" (get it?) demonstrates clapping the sounds within three-letter words to refine the child's exact speechand enable him to hear each sound.  Monty's mouth motions show exactly how each sound is made.

Reading Module 2:  

The method continues to teach with its "see, hear, say, move, say as you move" approach.  Children advance to four-letter words and complete the second reading hurdle of blending two consonants.  Digraphs are introduced with animations, and silent letters are illustrated.

Reading Module 3:  

In this module a terrific animated writing program leads your children through the steps of correct letter formation.  Oh, how I hate to teach printing!  This one is really my friend!  The long vowels sounds are introduced, as are the final silent e and silent letter digraphs.  Children continue building words with the on-screen moveable alphabet, which now includes these additional word parts.  A word list is added at the end of the module to promote quick reading.

Reading Module 4: 

R-controlled vowels are introduced through key animated stories, and these new phonograms are now included in the movable alphabet.  Vowel diphthongs such as ew, oo, ou, ue are introduced and tested, and then later presented in the animated word lists in a way that organizes all the spellings under one sound.  In fact the same 70 phonograms used by Spalding's Writing Road to Reading are incorporated at this level.  A great benefit for students to see how many different spellings can create the same sounds.  As a terrific bonus, the screens can be printed out so that you can make materials and handouts for your children.

Reading Module 5:
(Spelling/Typing)  

This module reinforces and extends all the previous reading modules

Reading Module 6: 

Diphthongs are presented just as in module 4.  Students read the animated stories in chorus with children's voices on the CD-ROM.  As before, printable word lists are provided for hands-on practice, and words can be read and organized under headings for each diphthong.

Geography, Earth Science, & More!

Speed is often not emphasized in the Montessori approach, but MECS teaches concepts in the same relaxed math-anxiety-preventing way and then adds a little mental zip.

The Red and Blue Rods.  These rods are used to introduce the  quantities 1 to 5 and 6 to 10.  They are the first Montessori math  materials presented to a student.  The rods are painted in alternating  patterns of red and blue. Students count and manipulate the on-screen  rods in the same three-period format used in presenting all materials.  I found that I needed to sit with my preschoolers because they couldn't quite answer fast enough on their own.  But I didn't mind spending the time with them to reinforce their learning.  I have plenty of counting activities in my classroom that are enhanced by this program.  This lesson is followed by a terrific yet simple introduction of numeral writing.  The child simply follows a ball moving about a numeral with his finger.  This ensures proper numeral formation and kinesthetic participation.

The Golden Bead materials.  These explore the decimal system and presents 1-10-100-1000's places.  The online teacher never gets tired of patiently presenting and counting with your child.  

The Multiplication Board.  This is a first multiplication lesson.  An equation appears.  The student places sets of beads on the board in rows to represent the equation.  He then counts and types his answer.  The "real world" versions of these boards are quite expensive, so here using the software provides a nice savings.

Multiplication Program.   The following lessons are incorporated in this program:

Addition Facts:  Addition tables are presented and practiced similar to multiplication. 

Telling Time:  This very complete program teaches children to tell time without the pressure of timed lessons.  In Period 1, the child  learns how the hour and minute hands make the time.  In Period 2, the computer speaks a time and the child picks from between three clocks for the correct time.  In Period 3, the child sees a clock and must  identify the correct time.  Subsequent lessons introduce the child to half hours, quarter hours, and so forth.  Fractions are introduced with the clock faces and are consistent with materials used in the math sections of the programs.  There is a final mixed random test at the end.

We now move on from math.  The following programs provide an excellent basis for Earth Science, Astronomy, and Geography for elementary students.

Even younger children can learn from and enjoy them.

Discovering the Solar System:  In Period 1, Mercury, Venus, Earth,  etc. are shown in order, labeled and placed in their orbits.  Always a  logical sequence and clutter-free presentation.  In Period 2, students label the planets with their correct names.  Errors are corrected and automatically retested.  In Period 3, the student must label planets by picking from a list of planet names (harder than focusing on one name at a time).  This module also includes the following activities:

Jurassic Earth.  Every child loves dinosaurs!  In the initial lessons, students learn the names, sizes, and supposed evolutionary eras in which each dinosaur lived.  In the research component, the student builds knowledge about each type of dinosaur.  In the puzzle section, he puts the pieces together to help imprint the physical features of each species.

~ These programs do not in any way violate Christian principles! ~

Geography.  Montessori puzzle maps are wonderful.  Where else can you  find children's puzzle maps of all the countries of Africa , for instance?  And the cost of actual puzzles would be enormous for all the countries and their flags.  This part of the software is an incredible bargain.

Discover North America.  In these lessons, the student learns the flags of each country and their capital cities.  Territories/provinces  of Canada are included, as well as cities and flags from Central  America .

Name the U.S. Capitols, Countries of Europe, Flags of Europe , Countries of S. America , Flags of S. America, Countries of Africa , and States/Territories of Australia.  All are taught in the same quiet, systematic way.

Anatomy of the Horse:  In this early presentation of zoology, the exterior anatomical nomenclature of the horse, an animal fascinating to most children, is taught.  The student is also introduced to breeds of horses, and a short research section reviews fun facts about horses and the meanings of color names.

More Goodies:

RM 6 Spelling/Typing: This module promotes mastery through combining speech, reading, spelling, and typing skills.  Spelling patterns are color-coded, and auditory analysis continues through clapping sounds.  The program notes student errors, and assignments keep pace with the student's ability.

Puzzle Words/Typing II:  A continuation of reading practice, typing skills, and auditory analysis of words.

I look forward to each new program Carol Parker develops.  So far, each of her programs has been very productive for my children's learning and a great aid to my teaching.  The reading program makes a great starting point for the many writing activities and hands-on materials with which I enhance it.  I found the math programs teach the basics well and aid in computation speed, so I have added them to my normal workbooks.  The earth science, geography, astronomy, and horse programs nearly stand alone for younger children, and have been very useful and vivid introductions to these topics for my upper elementary children.

I found I needed to assist my preschool children with the mouse, reinforcing and pointing and clicking for them until they built computer skills.  This only requires intermittent attention, because the online teacher keeps teaching, though I am often distracted!   

MECS also offers a catalog of hands-on materials that coordinate with their software.  And if you own or are thinking of purchasing traditional Montessori equipment from them or any other supplier, all of the pictures and colors in the MECS software programs will coordinate with those materials.

You will find that the MECS software delivers exactly what is promised, and if you have questions or need help, Carol herself has phone hours available to gently assist and encourage you in your homeschool teaching.

Very highly recommended.   YYYYY

                          MARY PRIDE SAYS:   All these programs until recently were only sold as individual modules, at a much higher price.  I talked the people at MECS into letting PHS readers have them as reviewed above, at greatly reduced prices, to see if a reasonably large number of homeschoolers would want this software if it were more affordable.  So if these programs sound good to you, I strongly suggest that now is the time to purchase them, as I have no idea how long this special offer will last.

NOTE:  The owner and founder of MECS Software was recently interviewed by Mary Pride after his product line being voted number one by the readers of Practical Homeschooling Magazine (May/June 2004).  See that interview here.