 x	E                                                                  N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N  SCHOOL DAZE

                          by WIZARD'S LAIR
 
 
Another GREAT educational package from Wizard's Lair.  I sure hope they continue to develop more software of this quality.  SCHOOL DAZE is a math skills program.  You can choose between MATH DRILLS and MATH CLIMBER. 
 
MATH DRILLS gives you the choice of practicing Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, or Division tables.  This drill is fully documented on disk and can be read on screen by selecting "Instructions" on the main menu.  Smart keys are used extensively in this program, making it very easy to use.  After choosing the type of drill you wish to practice, you choose which math table you wish to work with (from 0 to 12).  To move between math tables you press Smart Key I to increase, Smart Key II to decrease, or Smart Key III to accept current math table.  Next, you can choose your text screen color by pressing the appropriate Smart Key.  The drill screen is divided into four areas.  On the left are happy and sad faces which react in response to the answers you enter.  In the middle of the screen are the four math signs.  The math table you chose to work with will be displayed on the left side of the math sign (+,-,*, or /) that you selected.  On the right side will be the number (0 to 12) that you must add, subtract, etc, to the current math table number.  On the right of the screen is information, such as how to quit.  Below these sections is the scoring area.  It will be necessary to explain the younger children how to skip division and fraction problems and how to type the negative numbers sometimes needed in the subtraction problems. 
 
These drills are attractive and very well done.  They are not anywhere as difficult as the instructions sound.  They are just what my oldest son needs to practice on for fourth grade.  My preschooler and first grader have had a lot of fun with the addition and have had some success with the subtraction. 
 
MATH CLIMBER is the entertaining part of the program.  It is by far the most popular around my house.  It is also documented in the "Instruction" selection on the main menu.  The graphics are great.  The player must correctly answer math problems to climb the ladder up the castle wall.  It takes 16 steps to climb the wall.  For every correct answer, you move up one step.  For each incorrect answer you move down one step.  After five incorrect answers, the game is over.  
 
As in MATH DRILLS, you can choose the text screen color.  You can also skip division or quit as in Drills.  If you quit, you can select the appropriate Smart Key to reload the main menu, continue the game from where you are, or restart the game.  At the bottom of the screen is the talley of the high score, your score, number right, number wrong, and percentage correct.  The sound effects and music used in the program enhance it as do the the colors, sprites, and graphics. 
 
Also included on the disk and accessible from the main menu is a database of ADAM Support.  This can be viewed on screen or printed out.  It is an extensive list of Adam companies and User Groups including their addresses and phone numbers. 

I feel this is a must buy program as it has something for everyone.  Even I really enjoyed climbing the castle wall.  Thanks Wizard's Lair for another superbly done educational package. 
nswer you move down one step.  After five incorrect answers, the game is over.  
 
As in MATH
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