Headsprout Celebrates 600,000 Readers in 10 Years

SEATTLE, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Headsprout, now part of DYMO/Mimio, announced today that its adaptive online literacy education programs have helped develop more than 600,000 capable, confident readers in homes and classrooms in the U.S. and around the world since their initial availability 10 years ago this week. Headsprout continues to strive toward its goal of helping to eliminate childhood illiteracy through its two programs, Headsprout Early Reading and Headsprout Reading Comprehension. Each program is uniquely designed to provide individualized instruction that delivers proficiency in basic and advanced reading skills upon satisfactory completion of each program.

In October 2001, Headsprout launched its initial research-based, user-tested program: Headsprout Early Reading, aimed at learners in grades K–2. The program was first introduced for home use, with classroom implementations following a year later. Headsprout Reading Comprehension—a breakthrough, first-of-its-kind analytical thinking program that teaches students in grades 3–5 to understand the text they read using four main reading strategies—was launched in schools in October 2009 and made available for home use in January 2010. Accolades garnered by the programs include a 2008-2009 Education.com A+ Award for Headsprout Early Reading and a 2010 CODiE Award for “Best Online Instructional Solution” for Headsprout Reading Comprehension.

“One of the biggest challenges facing educators both 10 years ago and today is the skills gap among students entering classrooms at the beginning of each year,” said Joe Layng, DYMO/Mimio – Headsprout Director and Learning Scientist. “Recognizing that, we set out to create a flexible, thoroughly tested program that could be used in disparate environments to meet a wide range of learner development needs. Our goal was to provide baseline reading proficiency for all users upon completion of the full program. I am pleased that we accomplished this goal.”

Both programs are now used in thousands of homes, as well as public, private and charter school classrooms and are successfully implemented across a broad spectrum of scenarios — including pre-school preparation and early reading acceleration, core curriculum for all students, and intervention for struggling readers and English Language Learners. School systems using one or both programs include Chicago Public Schools, the Coweta County School System (Georgia), the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (Alaska) and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.

“I love the excitement I see bubbling from my son, who I consider a reluctant reader, every time he does his Headsprout lessons,” said Surella Scott, a former Seattle-area public school teacher now working as a private tutor and education consultant in Texas. “As someone who’s used Headsprout programs both in the classroom and at home, I believe their effectiveness comes from the way they teach essential reading skills and concepts through creative and engaging presentations that appeal to students at all elementary-age levels. The programs are easy to use, and the performance tracking accuracy and individual accountability they provide are critical.”

While the programs have evolved and increased in length — with Headsprout Early Reading growing from 10 episodes to 80 and Headsprout Reading Comprehension doubling from 25 to 50 lessons — the focus on content that adjusts to individual learners' pace and performance remains the foundation of both programs. Headsprout also provides extensive technical and instructional support and professional development for teachers who use the programs.

“We are immensely proud of the achievements made and lives touched by Headsprout’s online adaptive programs during the last 10 years and believe they are a key tool in the battle to eliminate childhood illiteracy, a mission we continue to aggressively pursue,” said Layng. “As 21st-century teaching tools are increasingly embraced, we look forward to providing more parents and teachers with the rich, effective, and proven content that’s needed to make a meaningful impact on children’s literacy skills development.”

To learn more about Headsprout, visit www.headsprout.com, follow @Headsprout on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or check out our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/Headsprout).

About Headsprout

Based in Seattle, Washington, Headsprout® (www.headsprout.com), now part of Newell Rubbermaid’s DYMO™ / Mimio® Interactive Teaching Technologies portfolio, is a leader in the development and implementation of online instruction that adjusts automatically to each student’s needs. Its research-based, adaptive software programs—Headsprout® Early Reading and Headsprout® Reading Comprehension—are used in thousands of classrooms, learning labs, and homes in the U.S. and all over the world.

About Newell Rubbermaid Global Business and Technology Solutions

DYMO is the master brand name for the Newell Rubbermaid Global Technology Solutions portfolio. In a world that demands greater productivity and measures it at every opportunity, DYMO provides businesses, educational institutions and consumers with innovative and easy ways to share, manage and organize information with improved efficiency and satisfaction.

Our DYMO global technology brands are organized into four solutions:

• DYMO® / Labeling Identification Solutions include DYMO hand-held label makers, PC connected label and postage printers, plus Industrial labeling tools (www.dymo.com).
• DYMO™ / CardScan® Contact Management Solutions include CardScan business card scanners and contact management software (www.cardscan.com).
• DYMO™ / Endicia® Postage Technologies include Endicia online shipping and mailing services (www.endicia.com), as well as customized postage (www.pictureitpostage.com).  
• DYMO™ / Mimio® ITT (Interactive Teaching Technologies) include Mimio interactive whiteboard technology, digital ink recorders, document cameras, student response systems and engaging lesson plan content (www.mimio.dymo.com).

These global technology brands complement Newell Rubbermaid’s strong portfolio of leading global brands, which also includes Rubbermaid®, Sharpie®, Graco®, Calphalon®, Irwin®, Lenox®, Levolor®, Paper Mate®, Waterman®, Parker®, Goody®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products® and Aprica®.

Media Contact:
LAUREN BARBIER, KETCHUM
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SOURCE Headsprout, part of DYMO/Mimio