This article is the part of a continuing series written by cardiologist and software developer, Dr. Jeffrey Weisman.

Learning Through Music
Music is often an integral part of the preschool and kindergarten child's school experience. But what happens in first grade and beyond? The increased focus on academic curriculum standards often makes it more challenging to integrate music into classroom lessons. But the benefits of music activities is important method of enhancing the learning experience and retaining academic skills - especially for children with autistic spectrum disorder. Luckily, with a little creative planning, music can actually serve as the method to teach selected curriculum units. Here are some practical suggestions:

3 Ways Teachers Can Ensure that Music Activities are not Detracting from "Academic" Time
1) As with games, worksheets, videos, and manipulatives, music activities can be considered just one of many types of instructional approaches.

2) The music activities used will directly carry the curriculum content that the student is to learn. For example, if the student is to add single digit numbers, the lyrics to the educational song or chant will deal directly with that target skill.

3) Research supports the use of music as a mnemonic device for the learning and recall of new information. Music also plays a role in focusing attention and providing a motivating environment for learning. In addition, educational research confirms that we learn and retain information better when we find it interesting and meaningful.

Software Built to Support Teaching With Music
The Ultimate Learning Sound Readers software for PCs was developed to help both parents and educators utilize music to better reach and involve children in the learning experience. Sound Readers uses repetition of words and lyrics, along with speed changes in the music to facilitate word recognition and concept comprehension. Music processing uses different part of the brain and is more likely to engage children in the learning process. With repeat usage, learning to read can be achieved via repetition and the traditional ABA techniques provided in the Sound Readers software.

Who Should Use Sound Readers...and Where?
Sound Readers was created as a fun tool for children ages 3 through 10 to help improve their word recognition and sentence building skills. The software has shown incredible benefits for special needs children and post-stroke adults as well.

Sound Readers is perfect for use at:

• Individual homes
• Pre-schools
• Schools
• Special needs classes
• Government agencies involved in education andlearning disabilities
• Early intervention programs
• Learning centers
• Therapy programs for all ages

The Ultimate Learning Sound Readers software is ideal for the classroom, working with small groups of children or individual sessions. This network ready software is compatible with any desktop computer running Windows 95 through XP. Available for only $49.95, Sound Readers is perfect for children between the ages of 3 and 10 years.

"Sound Readers" teaches children to read using music and familiar stories. Sound Reading utilizes breakthrough VoiceLink technology to help children develop sight word recognition skills that quickly builds into sentence reading. Inferential and factual reading comprehensions are also developed and communication skills are enhanced.

Click Here to Purchase Today

----

Dr. Jeffrey Weisman is a cardiologist from the Philadelphia suburb of Jenkintown, PA. Inspired by his daughter's diagnoses with autistic spectrum disorder, Dr. Weisman decided to focused his efforts on developing software that will engage and benefit all children - especially those with learning disabilities. From this very personal inspiration, Dr. Weisman and his talented team of programmers created a dynamic new computer software series called Ultimate Learning to enhance children's problem solving and social interaction skills by introducing them to thinking specific activities. Dr. Weisman continues to use his access to computer imagery and advancements to develop new technology-based methods to assist learning disabled children.

Other Products By Ultimate Learning

"Problem Solvers" inspires children of all learning abilities to apply themselves within a game-style environment, to improve their investigational language. This game-style environment, which has kids acting as junior sleuths, will keep kids focused for hours while improving their learning skills. By focusing specifically on a "wh" word line of questioning - who, what, why, where and when - Problem Solvers enables the child to gather discernable information and identify cause and effect relationships. Click Here Now To Purchase

"Fun with Feelings" presents visual and verbal clues and situational factors from which the user can deduce clues to better understand their own feelings and the feelings of those around them. Because it is presented in a game-style environment, children will enjoy every moment of this educational software experience. "Fun with Feelings" breaks down each emotion into its component parts. Children learn that people's actions, words and sounds, send out multiple signals that can add up to constitute a series will keep kids focused for hours, and because the program is divided into easy, medium and hard levels, it is an appropriate learning tool for children at all levels of language ability. Click Here Now To Purchase

You can find out more information or purchase any of the Ultimate Learning software products at: www.ultimatelearning.net