Learning Express Library

Registering for the Learning Express Library was very easy and the site was very easy to navigate while just browsing the different levels and types of tests. The toolbar at the top was divided into the different sections: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College Preparations, College Students, GED Preparation, Job Search and Workplace Skills, Jobs and Careers, Skill Building for Adults, US Citizenship, and Recursos para Hispanohblantes.

Each tab was divided into different sub-sections such as reading writing, math, social studies etc. and then each of those sub-sections had either individual tests or were broken into more sections of tests. Some were general tests, practice tests, or preparation tests while others were specific to states or were a specific test such as the COOP High School Entrance Exam. By clicking on the titles, it gives a brief description of the test, the number of questions, and the approximate test duration.

I chose to take the 4^th Grade Math Practice: Number Sense and Operations

1 test. I chose this one because I have played “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” and let’s just say that this seemed a more appropriate level for me to start on.

It took me a minute to realize that you had to “Add to my Center” in order to take the test. Once I got started, it was just like any other multiple choice exam. Even though I only answered 5 questions before I chose “Score My Test” it asked me several times if that is what I wanted to do and the consequences for doing so. It also was very positive even though I left 15 items blank. Based on my performance, it listed other tests and practices that would be beneficial to me. I was glad to see that it also gave me the correct answers and explained why it was correct and why the others were wrong. The site also kept this record in “My Center” for future reference.

As evident by my inability to spell giraffe correctly in the first lesson, I am a horrible speller, so I wisely chose the Vocabulary and Spelling Course 1. There was a long description, and then the topic was broken into different lessons. They listed the how’s and why’s and then listed tricks and tips such as using index cards, having a study buddy, and coming up with lists of words you want to know. Then there was a self-analysis and a 3 step list for learning and remembering words. This all was introduced before the course actually started. At the beginning of the course, it listed the course outline on the left side where you were able to move from section to section without completing each one in order to get to the next one. The course gave a lengthy explanation, strategies, lists of words, and you were able to check the words that you knew. Even though it was a lot of reading at times which might discourage some reluctant readers, the course was very thorough and covered a lot of material.

I had a hard time finding my way back to the home page without starting over. Once I did, I clicked the list of ebooks in the lower right hand corner. The list was divided up by the same 11 tabs from the beginning. Although some of them had several ebooks to choose from, the elementary only had one: Getting Ready for the 4^th Grade Assessment Test. It consisted 198 pages of sections

on Math Practice, Open-ended Math questions, English/Language Arts Practice, Short and Extended Responses for English/Language Arts, and Scores Studies, Lists and More. These ebooks would be very helpful, especially to homeschooling families and children who are looking for a little more practice with basic skills.