Reading Blaster Ages 7-8

by Vivendi Universal

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00005KB3A
• Item model number: 71301
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 10, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,850 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Catch the crooks and bag the books. There's trouble on planet Islandia, where pesky Mumblers are stealing all the books. Join the Blaster gang to crack the mystery as you race down ski slopes, escape a volcano before it blows, and steady your aim to plug steaming geysers. Make it past all these obstacles, and you can solve the case of "whodunit." Get ready, get set, and start clicking.

Reading Blaster is part of the Blaster Learning System, an integrated line of game-based learning software. Blaster Learning System missions use gameplay to teach fundamental math and reading skills to kids ages 5 to 9. After mastering the essentials, kids move on to Cross Terrain Challenge, created to sharpen critical-thinking skills through extreme game adventures.

Reading Blaster's unique motivational learning system recognizes each child's achievement with points that can be redeemed for rewards. The Blaster Learning System goes the extra step with SmartPoints to provide an incentive to play, practice, and learn.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Parent's Review, September 29, 2004

By 

Sam A. Mawn-Mahlau (Winchester, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Reading Blaster Ages 7-8 (CD-ROM)

I confess. I am an educational software program junkie, and my children have been using a wide variety of different programs from a relatively early age.

This program has been one of my children's favorites, and has seen very heavy use. This program has been age appropriate for most kids at 7-8, but not beyond their reach at 6. The program also doesn't lose interest at 9 (or even 10 - my 10 year old will work with my 7 year old on this program and enjoy it).

In terms of learning, this program is solid, as good as its competitors or better. At the same time, this is not the kind of educational work-out they'd get from more heavily supervised teaching, and the program has limits, since there is an urge to repeat what they are successful at over and over. In my view, some significant repeitition is useful, and increases a child's fluency and confidence, but the program is sufficiently addictive so that they keep using it long after they've gotten most of what they can from it. It would be useful to build a cleaner bridge to the next Reading Blaster (which they have not enjoyed as much) to help with this issue.

Used with supervision, I think this is one of the best products out there. Highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars READING IS A BLAST, November 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Reading Blaster Ages 7-8 (CD-ROM)

ANYTHING TO GET CHILDREN TO READ IS WONDERFUL, AND THSES ARE THE TOP OF THE LINE