In the May 2003 issue:

• What's New - Essay Punch Honored by Media & Methods Magazine
• Customer Feedback - Developing Critical Thinking Skills for Effective Reading
• CrossCraze - Resource for Teachers
• Grants for US Educators  

Media & Methods Magazine names Merit Software's Essay Punch one of the best English and Language Arts resources of the year. Media & Methods Magazine chose "cream of the crop" products for its Awards Portfolio 2003 "based on comprehensiveness, versatility, ease of use, innovativeness, level of motivation, interest, strengths and weaknesses."

Essay Punch is a self-paced improvement program that helps students develop effective essay writing skills. The software, which is designed for students at a US seventh grade level or higher, is also suitable for adult learners enrolled in literacy and ESOL classes.

Learn more at: http://www.meritsoftware.com/software/essay_punch/

"The teachers like it quite a lot and the students can navigate through it easily. It has been helpful in what teachers are trying to accomplish in improving reading skills," says an educator at Greenville High School in Greenville, PA, about Merit Software's Developing Critical Thinking Skills for Effective Reading.

This program improves reading comprehension skills. Students learn how to identify main ideas and sequence, draw inferences and understand vocabulary words by using textual clues. Teachers may track student progress and create reports.

For a complete software description or to try the downloadable evaluation version of Developing Critical Thinking Skills, click here:

http://www.meritsoftware.com/software/developing_critical_thinking_skills/

CrossCraze - Resource for Teachers

ORT Software produces CrossCraze, a crossword puzzle program. Features include an easy drag and drop interface, fully ray-traced graphics and a 180,000-word vocabulary. Players compete in small groups or against the computer.

Go to: http://www.ortsoftware.com/cc.html

The RGK Foundation provides grants to non-profit organizations and schools. Grants, within the component areas of Education and Community, may include the purchase of software. Letters of inquiry are considered year-round but must be submitted online.

Find out more at: http://www.rgkfoundation.org/

We welcome any feedback you would like to offer. If there is something you would like to see covered here, please let us know!

Email us at: feedback@meritsoftware.com