Scholastic Keys

“Unlock the Kid power in Microsoft Office!”

What is Scholastic Keys?

• Scholastic Keys is a powerful program designed to run overtop of Microsoft Office.

• Easy to use buttons and icons, along with built in activities and lessons, make using Office Programs both easier and more productive for elementary age students.

Where is it located?

• Installed in most Elementary School computer labs, the four scholastic keys programs will be found on the Application Menu under the “Productivity” folder. For the exact location of this program in your school, please contact your Tech Coordinator.

How does it work?

• When students open a Scholastic Keys program, the Microsoft Office counterpart will open first, and then the Scholastic Keys menu and tool bars will open over the Office icons.

Activities and Lesson Plans—pre-made templates and lessons

Reading Feature • Parrot reads any text back to students in

Max Write and Show– Great for proofreading and editing– One-to-one recognition of word and sound– Can be adjusted to read faster/slower

• Parrot does not read Word Art or words in pictures or images

Max Write

Microsoft Word Documents

Paint and draw

• make illustrations to match writing

• 350 stamps

• drawing tools

• clipart gallery includes over 800 images – Import from Microsoft Word– upload your own

Adding Backgrounds

• Over 70 backgrounds

• Click on a background and then in the blank space to insert

• Create changes with Max Paint icon

Max Show

Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation

Voice Recorder

• Records student voice for narration of slideshows in Max Recorder

• Save and then Attach Sound

Insert Sound

• Attach Sound to add to slides

Run Slideshow with Sound• Parrot will read all of text during slideshow

Max Count

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

Excel but easier

• Toolbar is simple

• Great pre-made activities

• Click on fx yellow arrow icon to see formulas appear

Max Data

Microsoft Access Database

Difference to Other Max Programs

• Won’t open in Access or Excel

• It is like a hybrid of both programs, but Excel is the “engine”

3 Levels

• Green (easy and basic)

• Red (saves)

• Blue (highest level)