Inspiration Software and Zaner-Bloser Collaborate to Develop Visual Learning Tools That Strengthen Student Writing Skills

Custom Inspiration and Kidspiration Graphic Organizer Templates Support Zaner-Bloser "Strategies for Writers" Program

PORTLAND, OR & COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jan. 10, 2006
Inspiration Software® and Zaner-Bloser have teamed up to develop graphic organizer templates to help students strengthen their writing skills. Designed to support the writing process instruction in Zaner-Bloser's "Strategies for Writers," students can use the 72 Inspiration® and Kidspiration® templates to generate ideas and organize their writing. Combined with Zaner-Bloser's innovative approach to improving writing skills, the graphic organizers help students take writing to the next level by allowing them to systematically and confidently plan and communicate ideas.

"By combining Zaner-Bloser's proven program for building writing skills with the power of visual learning, teachers now have incredible tools for helping students build critical written communication skills," said Mona Westhaver, president and co-founder, Inspiration Software. "At Inspiration Software, we are committed to working with leading education companies, such as Zaner-Bloser, to ensure that educators have tools to use graphic organizers to support instruction across the curriculum."

With a set of graphic organizers developed for each textbook in "Strategies for Writers," teachers have easy-to-use tools for integrating visual learning into writing process instruction in grades 1-8. The graphic organizer templates for "Strategies for Writers," Levels A-E (Grades 1-5) were created in Kidspiration, the premier visual learning tool for younger students. Elementary students can build writing skills by expressing themselves visually and building connections among pictures, words and meanings.

Created in Inspiration, the leading visual learning software tool for grades 6 to adult, the graphic organizer templates for "Strategies for Writers," Level F-H (Grades 6-8) help students plan and improve their writing proficiency in four writing modes — narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive — and in test writing.

"Our 'Strategies for Writers' has been validated by two independent research studies and awarded 'Learning’ magazine's 'Teacher's Choice Award,' so its effectiveness in the classroom is proven," said Bob Page, president, Zaner-Bloser. "What's important is how much excitement and enthusiasm these programs create together. Students love to use Kidspiration and Inspiration as part of the writing process. It's really a simple way to reinforce the approach used in 'Strategies for Writers' and help students build solid writing skills."

Zaner-Bloser offers the templates on CD-ROM with the purchase of "Strategies for Writers." Existing "Strategies for Writers" customers will receive a complimentary CD-ROM. These templates can also be downloaded from www.inspiration.com/zanerbloser. To use the templates, Inspiration 7.6 or Kidspiration 2.0 or higher must be installed. Free 30-day trials of both visual learning software tools will be available on the CD-ROM and at www.inspiration.com/freetrial.

About Inspiration Software, Inc.
Recognized as the leader in visual thinking and learning, Inspiration Software, Inc. develops and publishes innovative software tools that inspire learners of all ages to brainstorm, organize, plan and create. With more than 15 million users worldwide, the company's award-winning software is revolutionizing visual learning in education — inspiring students to develop strong thinking and organizational skills and improve their academic performance. Founded by Donald Helfgott and Mona Westhaver, the company's mission is to support improvements in education and make a positive difference in students' lives by providing software tools that help students learn to think.

About Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers, Inc.
Zaner-Bloser is one of the premier publishers of research-based reading, writing, spelling, handwriting, and study skills programs. In addition to its award-winning "Strategies for Writers" program, the company also publishes the award-winning "Read for Real, Nonfiction Strategies for Reading Results." Recently, Zaner-Bloser launched "Voices Reading," the first program to combine systematic, comprehensive literacy with character education. Zaner-Bloser's mission is to make a significant contribution to the education of children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade by publishing materials of the highest quality. Its handwriting program has been a national institution for several generations.