Upgrade Offers Young Learners New Features for Using the Power of Pictures to Improve Early Literacy Skills
PORTLAND, OR — Jan. 20, 2004
Kidspiration® 2, the newest version of the leading visual learning software for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, debuted today. Developed by Inspiration Software®, Inc., Kidspiration 2 offers more ways for students to improve early literacy skills by expressing themselves visually and recognizing the connections between pictures, words and meanings. Also launched to support the new features in Kidspiration 2 were a lesson plan book, "Kidspiration in the Classroom" and a training CD, "Exploring Kidspiration 2."
Kidspiration 2 now includes Symbol Maker®, for drawing, unlimited SuperGrouper® images, the ability to create a Venn diagram, the option to see symbols displayed next to words in Writing View and one click transfer to word processors. The 75 ready-made activities and expanded management tools in the new version of this graphic organizer software make it easier for teachers to develop standards-based lessons and streamline classroom management.
The first version of Kidspiration, released in January 2001, is used today by more than three million elementary students worldwide. Kidspiration 2 joins Inspiration® 7, the company's flagship product for grade six through adult.
"Three years ago when we launched Kidspiration, elementary educators immediately embraced the power of using graphic organizers to help young learners build thinking, writing and comprehension skills," said Mona Westhaver, president and co-founder, Inspiration Software. "Based on feedback from our users and research into the ways that visual learning improves achievement, we added new capabilities to Kidspiration 2 that allow elementary students to use the power of pictures to understand new concepts and creatively express and share their thoughts."
Key new capabilities in Kidspiration 2 give students the ability to:
- Draw to express thoughts. To support emerging writers, Kidspiration 2 now includes the powerful Symbol Maker drawing tool. Using a simple interface, students draw and paint their own symbols. With one click of the mouse, they add these personalized symbols to their graphic organizers extending the ways they can communicate meaning and relationships visually.
- Add more visual meaning to groups. Two new SuperGrouper capabilities offer additional ways to categorize ideas. Students can turn any symbol into a shape that designates a group. For example, a student might place items for "school" into a backpack, rather than a plain circle or box, making the learning activity more engaging and meaningful. Students can also build a Venn diagram to illustrate similarities and differences.
- Pair words and symbols to make the literacy connection. When students switch to Writing View, they now see symbols displayed next to their labels, reinforcing the relationship between words and images. Then they can use the Listen tool to hear the words.
New Resources for Integrating Kidspiration 2 into the Curriculum
Two new resources designed to help elementary teachers use visual learning to meet instructional strategies across the curriculum are now available. A new cross-curricular lesson plan book, "Kidspiration in the Classroom," offers engaging lessons plans for integrating visual learning into the curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. "Exploring Kidspiration 2," an interactive CD-ROM, provides step-by-step tutorials to guide educators in using Kidspiration 2 effectively to improve achievement across the curriculum.
Single copies of "Kidspiration in the Classroom" are $29.95. Volume licenses are available in an easy-to-share, electronic format. Individual school licenses are $199 and district-wide licenses are $139 per school, with discounts available for multiple title purchases. "Exploring Kidspiration" is available at $24.95 for a single copy with volume pricing available as well.
Purchasing and Upgrading to Kidspiration 2 Through a special introductory offer available until June 30, 2004, schools or districts that upgrade five or more computers to Kidspiration 2 can save up to 10 percent. Single upgrades are $39.95. Kidspiration users who purchased their software after Nov. 15, 2003 are eligible for a free upgrade.
Single copies of Kidspiration 2 are $69; five-computer licenses are $310; 10-computer licenses are $550; 20 computer licenses are $895 and discounts are available for larger volume purchases. For a free 30-day trial of Kidspiration 2, visit www.inspiration.com/freetrial. More information about purchasing Kidspiration 2 and its complementary teacher resources is available at www.inspiration.com/order/index.cfm or by calling 800-877-4292 to find a local education dealer.
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 10 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.
