Grammar Quest
Fun with Grammar

by Elyse Schwartz

Grammar Quest from Gepeto Software is a creative program that covers many basic grammar topics, such as Fragments and Run-On Sentences, Parts of Speech and Singular vs. Plural. There are ten main topics, each divided into four subtopic lessons and a review lesson. Each of these 50 lessons contains 20 sentences. The learner is asked either to highlight certain words in the sentence or to select the correct answer to fill in the blank. Instant feedback tells whether the answer is right or wrong. However, I found a few instances where the feedback was incorrect. The learner can first go through these lessons using the Grammar Review option. If more help is needed, a Grammar Glossary provides a detailed explanation with examples for each lesson. Once a topic has been mastered, the learner can try a “Quest” for that topic. Each of the ten Quests is set in an exotic location, such as the desert, ocean or a haunted house, with sound effects to match. There are 20 treasure chests to be opened, one for each of the 20 sentences. These sentences are the same as those in the Grammar Review. For each correct answer, the learner receives $10,000. If the answer is incorrect, the chest is “empty”. At the end of the Quest, the learner receives a total score in money and a count of how many chests were lost. You can go back to the Main Screen at any time while doing a Grammar Review, but I couldn’t find a way to exit an incomplete Quest without exiting the program.

The Teacher Toolbox has a record-keeping system that allows the teacher to keep track of individual and class scores and progress. The teacher can also generate printable worksheets with an answer key for each lesson. Lesson Pack add-ons are available for additional topics and lessons.

For those who enjoy computer games, Grammar Quest offers an entertaining component to the practice of grammar, which can sometimes be a tedious undertaking.

The Employment Highway CD

by Diane McCargar

Kingston Literacy, with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the National Literacy Secretariat, has produced a CD of Internet resources for use with literacy learners wanting to enter the workforce. The CD focuses on seven entry-level positions: Fast Food Server, Retail Clerk, Cashier, Truck Driver, Call Centre Representative, Construction Labourer and Janitor/Custodian.

The CD begins with lists of reading, writing and math skill sets for each of the jobs. The main portion of the CD contains lists of websites on the following topics: Forms, Text, Math and Job Skills. Not all of these sites are work-related. Each topic also contains a sample demonstration for each job. Although the organization of the information can be confusing, this CD contains many websites of interest to instructors providing workplace preparation for the jobs listed here.

For more information, contact Kingston Literacy at 613-547-2012 or www.kingstonliteracy.com. The CD costs $20 plus shipping and handling.