Hello again, blog readers.

In last week’s blog, I mentioned our Facebook and Twitter accounts, and we’ve noticed a significant increase in hits to both of those pages, so thank you to anyone who clicked on those links.  If you didn’t, then I’m shamelessly plugging them again as you can see, so you’ve got no excuse for avoiding them this time!  In all seriousness, we are trying to find new ways to communicate with our customers, and communication is a two-way street, so if you’d like to write on our Facebook wall, comment on this blog post, or get in contact with us any other way, we’d love to hear from you.  We’re just trying to give you more ways to see what’s happening in Wishtrac and give us your input too.  (By the way, we also have a YouTube channel… ok, that’s the last plug, I promise!)

In other news, we’ve started getting feedback from schools that’ve been using the snazzy new version of Booster Phonics I talked about last week.  The feedback has been very positive, with teachers reporting that the admin area is much easier to navigate, and that the program is generally brighter, more colourful and friendlier than it was in its previous carnation.  Feedback like that is great to hear, but we’re also keen to hear of any possible improvements that you think could make the program even better, so if you (or your pupils/children) come up with any, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

This blog will be updated most Thursdays from now on, so please check back next Thursday to read about the latest happenings in Wishtrac.

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend!

As this is the first blog post written by myself, I’ll introduce myself.  I’m Jamie Major, and my main role within Wishtrac is to develop the software (or ‘make it look nice’ as I like to think) and create the product videos.

For most of the year, besides attending the occasional trade show, we’ve been hard at work creating the brand spanking new version of Booster Phonics, which we’ve imaginatively titled Booster Phonics Version 2.  Using feedback gathered from schools, we’ve made a number of improvements to Booster Phonics, including network functionality and adding a female voice to the software, which took a fair while.

We’ve currently got a number of schools who’ve agreed to perform a case study with Booster Phonics to measure how much it can improve pupil’s reading ages over this term.  When we get the results back from those schools in July, we’ll put them up on the site for you all to have a look at.  If you’re a school who own Booster Phonics version 1 and you want version 2, don’t worry – we’ll be sending out the new version to schools over the next few months.  If you’d like to have a sneak preview of what to expect, check out the video right below this text!

Next up for us on the software front is Ben & Lexi’s Early Keyboard and Mouse Skills, which will contain plenty of fun activities which will help young learners take their first steps towards learning to use a keyboard and mouse.  Also, keep your eyes peeled for some new free resources on the site soon.

We’re going to be updating this blog, and our Facebook and Twitter accounts regularly from now on (we may even put some discount codes up…) so stay tuned for more info from us.  Oh, and happy St. George’s Day!

Looking ahead to BETT, here’s what some of the National Press have to say about Wishtrac……

Literacy
On stand S51, Wishtrac launches its brand new literacy software for primary schools branded ‘Keywords for Literacy’. The new program simplifies the assessment and tracking of pupils’ ability to read and spell high and medium frequency words. Designed for use in primary schools, Keywords for Literacy also supports SEN pupils at secondary level.

Education Business (click here)

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Meanwhile, Wishtrac is launching Keywords for Literacy……..Laura Bratherton, a year 5 teacher at Liscard primary school in Wallasey, Merseyside, says: “Keywords for Literacy reduces marking and administration for teachers and special educational needs coordinators. It is invaluable for tracking data and monitoring progress over time.”

Special Needs Education, The Guardian (Click here)

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Literacy

For teachers involved in literacy, specialist educational software company Wishtrac on stand S51 is worth a visit. Launching a brand new programme for teachers and pupils called Keywords for Literacy, Wishtrac’s new programme makes its first appearance at BETT 2010.

Literacy-focused visitors can see how the resource has been designed to help simplify the assessment and tracking of pupils’ ability to read and spell high and medium frequency words.  The new software is designed for use in primary schools, as well as supporting SEN pupils at secondary level.

BETT 2010 Curriculum Focus (click here)

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Those looking for a contrasting locality for KS2 may be interested in Wishtrac’s CD resource on Llandudno (single user licence £29.99, site licence £69.99). It features lesson plans and video resources.

Think Global, Act Local, The Guardian (click here)

Our Creative Department have just completed overview videos for both of these products.  Whilst Booster Phonics is a very popular member of our portfolio, Keywords for Literacy is brand new, and due for an official launch at BETT 2010, where we are exhibiting on Stand S51.  Both products are ideal for SENCOs and class teachers, and will help raise attainment in pupils, especially those with SEN.

The Booster Phonics video can be viewed by clicking here, and the Keywords for Literacy video by clicking here.

About four inches of snow fell yesterday in Wirral, making it look like one of those pictures that you get on a card at Christmas.  If I hadn’t already completed it, I could have used some of the pictures in an interactive whiteboard advent calendar.  Talking of which, between Christmases 2008 and 2009, we had over 11,000 downloads of the free advent calendars that we made available for schools.

Now as a bit of a break from finalising everything for the BETT exhibition at Olympia next week, we’re thinking about our next topical free resource for schools.  We’ve come up with an idea related to the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa, and if anyone else has any ideas of what we could put into a freely downloadable resource for schools, feel free to post a comment – all suitable suggestions are welcomed!

Talking of BETT, our plan was to drive down on Tuesday to set up the stand, but this now involves staring into a crystal ball to see what the weather has in store for us next week.  It’s no joke, with the amount of equipment and free resources we’re taking down to our stand at Olympia, along with our lower case keyboards, infant mice, Booster Phonics and Keywords for Literacy disks, as well as free single user copies of our popular Times tables Testing software.  I think the vans are already groaning in anticipation!

Anyway, it’s back to thinking about the free resources for Primary schools, as well as checking that everything has finally been added to the new Wishtrac.com web site.  I hope you like it, and if you’re visiting the 2010 BETT exhibition, I look forward to seeing you on the Wishtrac stand, which is stand S51 on the Grand Gallery.

Wishtrac House Limited is delighted to announce the release of version 2 of the popular ‘Times Tables Testing’ software.

Former Deputy Headmaster and Director of Wishtrac House Paul Strongman said, “Our times table software is used in over 2,000 schools throughout the UK. The tests enable teachers to personalise lessons to the needs of each child, allowing children to progress at a rate they are comfortable with.”

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Take advantage of our special ‘Web Launch’ offer.  Anything you buy (or order on approval) from the web site will be reduced by 10% automatically!  Special offer runs until 29th January 2010.

Exhibitions

We exhibit at a number of exhibitions and ICT events throughout the country.  Why not visit our stand at one of our upcoming events to try out our products? If you are arranging an exhibition for your authority, we’d be delighted to attend to demonstrate our software – get in touch if interested.

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WISHTRAC LAUNCHES BRAND NEW LITERACY SOFTWARE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Specialist educational software company Wishtrac is launching a brand new program for teachers and pupils called Keywords for Literacy. The new program will make its first appearance at the BETT exhibition in January and will dramatically simplify the assessment and tracking of pupils’ ability to read and spell high and medium frequency words.

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WISHTRAC LAUNCHES BOOSTER PHONICS UPGRADE

In a series of new product launches specialist educational software company Wishtrac has updated its    signature Booster Phonics program to coincide with the BETT exhibition in January 2010.

The synthetic phonics software is designed to help pupils who don’t develop their phonological skills as quickly as their peers, and is regularly used by pupils from Key Stage 1 right through to Key Stage 4. This new release is also supported by the launch of a new version of Wishtrac’s Times Table Testing, and the brand new Keywords for Literacy package.

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