1. How can I track student progress?
2. How many students can use the program?
3. What do school versions provide that home versions do not?
4. What are the system requirements?
5. What technical support is available?
6. What other curriculum improvement programs do you recommend?

Answers

1. How can I track student progress?

Reading Shape-Up, like all Merit Software products, integrates seamlessly into a proprietary database -- the Teacher Program Manager (TPM).

The TPM allows teachers to manage all student records in one place, monitor students' progress, and view and print details of individual students or classes.

The TPM is a free add-on for all Merit Software programs.

For more information go to http://www.meritsoftware.com/teacher_program_manager/

2. How many students can use the program?

The Home version keeps records for 2 users only. The 1 Station: Stand-alone version keeps records for 42 users. Network versions keep records for 1000 users.

3. What do school versions provide that home versions do not?

All versions of the software have the same instructional content. However, the 1 Station: Stand-alone and network versions (school versions) are designed for use in a multi-user environment. To accommodate schools' instructional and security needs, the database is more powerful and flexible.

In addition, school versions offer the following benefits:

· Teachers may block students from entering their own names in the database.
· Teachers may customize the password to the database.
· Teachers may import a text or Excel file of student names to the database.
· Network versions allow students to logon from any computer.
· Network versions allow teachers to retrieve scores from one location.

4. What are the system requirements?

Reading Shape-Up runs on the Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP operating systems. It requires 8 MB RAM and 32 MB hard disk space. This program also requires a minimum screen resolution of 800 by 600 pixels.

The network versions are complete client/server applications. Everything is installed on the server. Only shortcuts are placed on the clients. Network versions run on all commercially available network platforms.

5. What technical support is available?

Telephone and e-mail technical support is free. Minor updates and bug-fixes are free.

6. What other curriculum improvement programs do you recommend?

Recommended curriculum software programs may be found at:

algebra-software.com
grammar-software.com
math-word-problem-software.com
reading-comprehension-software.com
vocabulary-software.com
writing-skills-software.com