FLEXIBLE PETS

This month CRASH Course winds its educational way over the latest offerings from two of the smaller software houses. Now it's over to that media megastar of The Highlands, the one and only Rosetta McLeod...

Teachers Pet Software originally started as a mail order supplier in May 1987. They drew their inspiration from ideas suggested to them from the schools in their area. TPS make a point of writing all their programs in BASIC - allowing their products to be examined and modified for specific uses. All the software is available on cassette or microdrive cartridge and each program costs £3.50, or £15.00 for a pack of five (a media conversion service is also available). Teacher's Pet are keen to hear from teachers or parents who have suggestions of subjects for new programs. You can contact Teachers Pet Software at 175 Craigton Road, Aberdeen AB1 7UA.

WORD LIKENESS

Many, many words, although sounding the same in pronunciation, are spelt differently. In this program, the pupil has to identify the correct spelling of a word in a given context. A sentence appears on the screen: 'Umbrellas are used in rain/reign'. The pupil then has to type out the chosen alternative. If correct, a relevant picture appears on the screen and a tune is played - in this case an umbrella is shown and we hear a few bars of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head! The graphics and sound make this an enjoyable program and the children who tried it out for me had fun predicting what picture and tune would follow their correct response. Pupils in the 9-12 age range should enjoy and benefit from Word Likeness.