Wordsearch Studio

Reviewed by Sharon Mehl
Published by Nordic Software

Age Group: Age 8 and Up, Adults
Type: Thinking Games, Worksheet Creation
Price: $40

PC version requires:
Windows, 386 or greater, 4 MB RAM, Mouse, SVGA, Sound Card, CD-ROM or diskette

Mac version requires:
Color Mac, System 6.0.7, CD-ROM or diskette

Description:

Wordsearch Studio is an excellent way to help improve spelling skills. Puzzles can be printed out for classroom distribution, or can be solved on the computer. Wordsearch Studio also gives you the ability to publish your puzzles in magazines or newsletters.

Features:

  • Design your own puzzles
  • Print feature for puzzle and solution
  • Solve online
  • Improves spelling
  • Add artwork, color and sound
  • Customize the puzzle layout
  • Grades K-Adult

Technical Aspects:

Installation was simple, no problems here. The only feature enhancement I would desire would be the ability to import sound and graphics directly into the program. As the program is designed, you must have the graphic or sound already on the clipboard to be able to bring it into a puzzle.

The Version I own is 2.0.3A and I have been advised that there has been a version 3.0 released. This version provides 100 curriculum specific puzzles in the program, covering elementary, middle, and high school. Also included are colored fonts, and a few more features.

Technical Support for Nordic Software has always been prompt and courteous. I have yet to have a long wait period on hold waiting for assistance. The toll-free number for support is a big plus in this age where technical support is achieved with a long distance call charged to your phone bill, and sometimes even a charge for "support".

Report and Conclusions:

Wordsearch Studio has been in use at our home for over 3 years and has been the most heavily used program between the months of September through May. I have volunteered each year to take the spelling lists from my son's teacher and turn them into Crossword Studio and Wordsearch Studio puzzles. The teachers generally have me alternate the two software programs each week so the children have a variety of ways to help them with their spelling and vocabulary. The Wordsearch Studio has been a great tool for another way to practice their new spelling words. The ability to adjust the way the words show up in the puzzle is helpful for the younger children who may have difficulty finding words that are backwards or diagonal.

Why do I volunteer what may seem like a lot of work? The Crossword Studio and the Wordsearch Studio provide me with a screen to fill in the words and/or vocabulary words with definitions and it does the rest! The teachers have been so pleased with the printouts and the fact that the solution has been printed out to aid them with grading papers. The puzzles are also fun to solve in the program, and provide hints if the option is turned on.




Warning: main(kidsdomain.inc) [function.main]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /data/sites/network/public_html/omniture/omnitureTag.inc on line 20

Warning: main() [function.include]: Failed opening 'kidsdomain.inc' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php:/www/sites/kaboose/php:/www/sites/kaboose/php/include') in /data/sites/network/public_html/omniture/omnitureTag.inc on line 20