Article: Educational software now receiving higher marks

Seven-year-old Ryan Ballas, a student at E.R. Taylor elementary school, patiently explained the "game" on his Apple II to a hopelessly dense visitor.

"See, you're supposed to pick out all the words with a `U' in the middle," the second-grader said. "You let the other words drop into the trash can. Here, I'll show you."

Concentrating closely as words flashed onto his screen, Ryan let HAM and BEG go by but hit the space bar to select HUT, HUM, BUN, SUN and BUG. After five correct selections, Ryan reaped his reward: A rabbit materialized on the screen and danced a jig as the computer played a little ditty.

All around Ryan, children at computers squealed happily as Reader Rabbit hopped ...

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