Riverdeep® Extends Destination Reading® To Grades 4 -- 8 And Beyond; Three New Products Make Destination Success A Complete Reading and Math Solution for K-12

Riverdeep has announced three new products that extend its critically acclaimed Destination Reading courseware to grades 4 through 8 and beyond. The addition transforms the companys Destination Success offering into a complete, comprehensive reading and math solution for grades K-12.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (PRWEB) May 4, 2005 -- (IRA Booth #2565, Exhibit Hall D) - Riverdeep has announced three new products that extend its critically acclaimed Destination Reading courseware to grades 4 through 8 and beyond. The addition transforms the companys Destination Success offering into a complete, comprehensive reading and math solution for grades K-12.

Riverdeep unveiled the products at the 2005 International Reading Association Convention in San Antonio. The new products include Destination Reading Course III for grades 4-6, Course IV for grades 6-8, and Course V, which is a high-school-appropriate Proficiency Course for students who have not mastered the foundational reading skills.

Destination Reading lets teachers in elementary, middle and high school link their state standards to individualized instruction, producing stronger readers and improved standardized test scores.

The new offerings build on the success of Destination Reading for PreK-3, courseware that is based on the findings of the National Reading Panel and proven to be effective by scientific third-party research. Destination Reading courses engage all learners with individualized, media-rich content and cross-curricular connections.

From the time we introduced Destination Reading for PreK-3, schools told us they wished they could use the same interactive multimedia approach all the way up to high school," said Gail Elizabeth Pierson, Riverdeeps Chief Education Officer. Although third-grade literacy is a major goal, No Child Left Behind mandates reading achievement testing annually through middle school. Plus, studies have shown students with poor reading skills do not perform well on graduation tests and college entrance exams, but with the introduction of these new Destination Reading products this problem can hopefully begin to be a statistic of the past."

The success of Destination Reading has demonstrated that this kind of pedagogically sound, individualized instruction is critical for reaching a diverse population that includes disadvantaged students, English language learners and special needs students and gifted and talented students," Pierson said. Weve taken the same basic instructional approach and applied it to age-appropriate, curriculum-related reading for older students."

Meets NCLB Requirements

As a part of the Destination Success solution, Destination Reading combines content correlated to state standards with powerful learning management tools that allow educators to target each students individual learning needs. It is also supported with customized professional development offerings including on-site and online training, technical support, and funding services.

Each of the new Destination Reading courses support explicit instruction in standards-mandated skills and strategies with a strong focus on vocabulary and comprehension. Texts used in the courses cover a rich variety of fiction and non-fiction genres, including informational, persuasive and technical texts, as well as stories, plays, folk tales, poetry and songs. The courses allow students to apply their reading skills across the curriculum in subjects such as science, social studies, math, technology, art, and literature.

The courseware is based on the requirements outlined in the National Reading Panel and the Alliance for Excellent Educations Reading Next report. It was designed in consultation with experts such as Dr. Victoria Purcell-Gates, President-Elect of the National Reading Conference and the newest inductee to the Reading Hall of Fame.

About Destination Success

Destination Success is a critically needed solution for bringing a diverse student population to the same high level of academic achievement -- in as little as 90 days. The Destination Success solution consists of Riverdeeps award winning courseware, Destination Math and Destination Reading, learning management system and professional services. Destination Success empowers educators with both the tools and the training necessary to provide effective, standards-based instruction as well as assessment. Destination Success provides teachers with the tools they need to effectively individualize instruction in a real-world classroom.

About Riverdeep®

Riverdeep Inc., A Limited Liability Company, with offices in San Francisco, California, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dublin (Ireland) and Manchester (United Kingdom) is a leading publisher of interactive products focusing on education and personal productivity for the consumer and school markets. Riverdeep's rich portfolio of interactive award-winning products feature such well-known brands as the Destination Success solution, which includes Destination Math® and Destination Reading®; The Print Shop®; Reader Rabbit® and Kid Pix®.

For more information, call toll free 888-242-6747 or visit www.riverdeep.net.

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