CONTACT:
Ben Weintraub (212-675-8567)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Merit Software Introduces "Early Reading Booster" The Latest Addition To Its Award-Winning Reading Skills Software
Designed for students in grades 2 to 3, "Early Reading Booster" delivers essential reading skills in a structured and supportive format.

Website Link:
http://www.meritsoftware.com/software/early_reading_booster/index.php

New York, NY -- Merit Software, a leader in educational software for over fifteen years, is pleased to announce the newest addition to its award-winning line of reading comprehension titles, "Early Reading Booster." "Early Reading Booster" provides a structured and supportive environment that helps beginning readers in grades 2 to 3 develop lifelong reading skills.

"Early Reading Booster" contains 64 illustrated passages and 512 questions. Concepts covered include vocabulary-in-context, main idea, detail, sequence and inference. The software is self-paced and students advance as they demonstrate readiness.

"Early Reading Booster" features three levels of increasing difficulty, with three main sections in each level: Tryout, where students can test their existing skills; Workout, where a tutor introduces each skill and students practice the skills by using a variety of vocabulary, reading comprehension and word association activities; and Finals, where students are tested on new passages. The Teacher Program Manager allows teachers, tutors and parents to evaluate each student's progress, monitor time-on-task, and add comments to their individual instruction.

"Early Reading Booster" is based on Merit Software's pedagogy that has been proven -- through rigorous, scientific based research -- to improve student reading skills. The program will help students develop confidence as readers. Skills gained transfer to offline work. Students receive immediate feedback to their answers and advance at their own pace.

System requirements for the software are a computer running Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/2003/XP with at least 10 MB of RAM and 40 MB of hard disk space. A minimum screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels is also required.

Early Reading Booster is available in several configurations. A 1 Station version, which includes multiple student tracking, is available for $129.00. A Home version, which holds records for two names, is available for $39.00. Network, multi-station, and site licenses are also offered.

ABOUT MERIT SOFTWARE:

Since 1983, Merit Software (www.meritsoftware.com) has been producing educational software that addresses the core competencies that students require to succeed. The emphasis is on strengthening students' ability to read, analyze data and communicate their ideas.

Merit Software's programs are known throughout the industry for providing context-sensitive tutorials for students and convenient record management features to aid teachers, tutors and parents.

Visit www.meritsoftware.com to examine the company's library of educational applications currently being used in thousands of educational facilities worldwide.

Merit's educational software has been the subject of rigorous, independent, scientific-based research. These studies have concluded that Merit's software provides an effective supplement to everyday instruction. Research findings are available on www.meritsoftware.com/research.

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