Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math Products - An Overview
Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math programs are extremely effective because they motivate students to do an incredible amount of math practice in a short period of time with very focused topics.
Topics: Grades K-9
Users: Grades K-12
Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math
The award winning format is...
- self-competitive
- able to detect the smallest improvements and give positive reinforcement
- non-intimidating and non-age-specific
- appropriate for both genders
- as effective for students with special needs as it is for accelerated students
- perfect for kindergartners and adults
Seven Programs for Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math
BarnumSoftware The Quarter Mile MATH Level 1 (Grades K-3)
BarnumSoftware The Quarter Mile MATH Level 2 (Grades 4-6)
BarnumSoftware The Quarter Mile MATH Level 3 (Grades 6-9)
BarnumSoftware The Quarter Mile MATH Levels 1 and 2 Bundle (Grades K-6)
BarnumSoftware The Quarter Mile MATH Levels 2 and 3 Bundle (Grades 4-9)
BarnumSoftware The Quarter Mile MATH Levels 1, 2, and 3 Bundle (Grades K-9)
BarnumSoftware The Quarter Mile MATH Cross-Section of Topics (Grades K-9)
Who uses the Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math products?
These award-winning programs are used by the broadest range of students:
On grade level Review / remediation Special ed. / Special needs Gifted/Accelerated Title 1 At Risk
How the Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math Programs Work
Format.
Problems appear one at a time. Your goal is to answer them as fast as you can. Each time you enter the answer correctly, your dragster or horse will go faster. You race against your five previous best races which are replayed on screen-six lanes with six dragsters or six riderless horses in all. The sooner you reach the finish line, the better your score will be. (You can switch between riderless horses and dragsters between races.)
Scores.
Your score is your "elapsed time" for the race. It's based on how quickly you answer the problems AND how many you answer. The more you race, the faster you'll be able to answer the problems. We've found that players can ALWAYS improve! And as you do, your elapsed time will become shorter. (Races last between thirty seconds and 2 1/2 minutes depending on the difficulty of the topic.)
Comparing and saving scores.
The program displays your "top five average" elapsed time. This is the number to watch! You can compare your current "top five average" with your previous top five averages from previous racing sessions (and print that list out). If you wish, you can compare yourself with others playing in that topic. (That's why this program is tailor-made for tournaments! ) There are additional saving options and many more features.
The programs meet the needs of the broadest range of students.
And that, in turn, meets the needs of teachers and districts alike.
Benefits of Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math
1. Students' computer time is highly productive with this program; they will do a lot of math in a short period of time in very focused topics! The students' only job is to accelerate their car or horse by answering math problems as fast as they can. They are not required to do anything that would divert their attention such as steering the dragster or horse.
2. Students learn at their maximum rate with this highly motivating format. No other program enables students to do as much math per minute for such extended periods of time. After each race, the student checks his or her score. The student is in control as to when the next race starts. (Students normally start the next race as soon as possible.) This balance of answering problems and resting between races keeps them refreshed, enabling them to play, often for hours at a time.
3. Uniquely effective for the broadest range of students: special ed.; gifted; on grade level; Title 1; etc. (even adults!).
- General population. Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math is in wide use by students of ALL levels-from the math lovers to "I hate math" kids.
- Remediation for elementary school, middle school, high school and adult students. As mentioned before, the format is appropriate for all ages.
- GATE. When the student answers a problem correctly, the next one appears instantly. Students never get bored waiting for the computer to catch up to them. In some cases, our programs provide the first opportunity for accelerated students to be truly "challenged."
4. Builds confidence quickly. This is so important in doing math. This confidence and knowledge of math-from the simplest facts on up-is a necessary preparation for higher-order thinking skills. Just as music students must practice their scales before they can play compositions, likewise, students must have a basic knowledge of math facts and concepts and a level of confidence to help them develop strong higher-order thinking skills. Unlike doing scales, however, kids "beg" to use Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math programs!
Features of Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math
1. Self-competitive, non-intimidating format is an award-winner.
It combines the fun of a race with the most challenging yet non-intimidating format possible-racing against your own previous best five races. This challenge motivates students to keep racing. They solve an amazing amount of math problems given the time spent on the computer.
2. "Student Scores" review screen speeds tracking.*
Easily review (and print) scores from all topics at one screen.
* Network and Internet-Portal versions only.
3. Design integrates all major learning modalities-visual, auditory, and tactile-simultaneously in a meaningful, educational way.
While all software programs use audio and visual stimuli, in Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math format, every sound effect, every graphic feature, every answer entered, and every score given addresses these learning modalities effectively. Nothing is extraneous.
4. Both teachers and students can see measurable, quantifiable improvement race after race.
Because players are doing so many math problems in such a short period of time, they become conscious of their improvement. (A format that requires students to wait between problems makes this far less apparent.) Students naturally begin to set their own goals and then work to achieve them. They begin to expect constant improvement. This expectation is a big motivator.
5. Topics meet students' individual needs.
The programs contain very specific topics tailored to meet each student's individual needs. Topics that contain multiple levels of difficulty adjust automatically as the student's response indicates he or she is ready to advance.
6. The program detects even the smallest improvements-improvements that wouldn't be detectable in any other software format.
Student improvement is rewarded with a better score. This gives the student tangible proof of progress. Results are displayed in a way that even the youngest players can understand and appreciate.
7. Appeals equally well to older and younger students.
High-schoolers and adults can do very low level topics in a motivating format free of embarrassing, childish features. Youngest students love it because they think of it as a "big-kid" format. They can easily understand the incredibly simple format.
8. Both girls and boys, teens and adults LOVE the format.
With both riderless horses and dragsters, the programs appeal to all students.
9. The following features make the format perfect for students who are working on grade level in addition to Title 1, remediation/review, special ed./special needs, and At Risk students:
Pace set by the player.
As the player types in the correct answer to the first problem, his car or horse takes off and the next problem appears. Then the game proceeds only as fast as the player is able to provide the answers-the program waits for the player.
Early rewards.
Because the initial competitors are designed to be very slow, the student usually wins his first races. These rewards motivate the student to continue.
Achievable progress.
One by one the slow opponents are replaced by the player's own previous best races. After five races, the player is racing only against himself-replays of his previous best five races. The competition increases but is never greater than the player's own best performances. Self-competition creates a comfort level that encourages the student to keep playing and improving his performance.
Focused practice and monitored progress.
The teacher can have a student work on a specific skill level by choosing a very focused, skill-specific topic. Then the teacher can track the student's progress day
by day.
Constant positive reinforcement.
Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math is filled with positive rewards - no penalties or other discouraging features. The cars or horses never slow down because of a wrong answer. The player is never told he "lost" a race. He can only win, come in second, third, etc., and he is praised or encouraged for his efforts.
Confidence and self-esteem built through achievement.
As mentioned above, the program registers even the smallest improvement which would be imperceptible if the student was using any other media. The player will come in first if he can beat his previous fastest race, even by the smallest time increment. These successes continue to build the confidence and self-esteem that is so important to his progress and healthy development.
Active learning with Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math
As the player works to win his next race and improve his scores, he is learning his math facts through concentrated drill, and he is enjoying the process.
Shared activity-individual pace and progress.
Inasmuch as each student plays independently, players of all skill levels can enjoy Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math side by side without feeling intimidated or influenced by each other.
Attention span and endurance.
Students can use it as long as they want. However, most races are short, usually less than one minute. So, the student can stop at any time and resume his work in a topic later, picking up right where he left off.
Stimulation control with Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math
Sound effects which enhance the activity for some can be too stimulating for others. These can be reduced or turned off.
Long term gains Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math
The continuous drill provided by Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math necessarily improves the player's retention of math facts. Thus, he is able to apply these improved skills and realize his maximum potential.
* Network and Internet-Portal versions only.
Other Features of Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math
Topics meet students' individual needs.
The programs contain very specific topics tailored to meet each student's individual needs. Those topics containing multiple levels of difficulty adjust automatically as the student's response indicates he or she is ready to advance.
Quick and easy to use.
Within seconds students can begin working on a topic. Kindergartners can easily understand the incredibly simple format.
Perfect for tournaments (especially the network version).
If students want to conduct a tournament (using Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math Tournament Handbook), they can save their race files in a single directory, which enables them to easily see their ranking during the competition. This really pumps up the excitement! Plus, they can print out a single ranking.
Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math contains many features.
- Record keeping, printing.
- Random problem selection
- Instant replay options.
- Adjustable sound level.
System requirements for Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math
Windows / Macintosh Hybrid CD Version
Windows: Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, ME XP 486 (minimum)
Macintosh: PowerMacs, iMacs, iBooks, G3s, G4s, eMacs, etc. 7.1 through OS X (OS X with System 9)
Network Versions
School network servers can be:
- Windows NT
- Windows 2000
- Windows 2003
- Macintosh (System 8.x to OS X)
- Novell
- Unix
Internet-Portal Version
The Internet-Portal version is identical to the network version except that instead of saving the students' scores to your school server, that data is automatically saved to Barnum Software's web site. The Internet-Portal version is an annual subscription.
Key benefits:
- Nothing is on the school server
- Free upgrades
- Students can continue working at home. They can even conduct school-wide tournaments with students competing from their homes and seeing their school-wide ranking updated race after race!
School workstations and home computers can be:
- Windows 98
- Windows ME
- Windows NT
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP
- Macintosh (System 8.x to OS X (OS X running Classic))
Barnum Software The Quarter Mile Math Products - An Overview
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