In the News - Reading Help for Older Students

This week the National Assessment of Educational Progress released reading and math results based on tests administered through the U.S. Department of Education. While reading scores improved for fourth graders, eighth grade pupils scored lower on reading than in 2002 when No Child Left Behind was implemented. These results highlight the need to seek new ways to improve reading instruction for middle and high school students.

Click here to read the press release

Perspective - Learning to Think in a Digital World

Students are learning in a digital age where blogs, e-mails and text messages shape how we read and communicate. Parents, teachers, and scholars are beginning to question how this increasingly digital world will shape the next generation's relationship to reading, learning, and to knowledge itself. In her recent article, "Learning to Think in a Digital World," Neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf examines the extraordinary development of the "reading brain" and considers the effect of technology on our capacity to understand and think beyond what we read.

Click here to view the article

Grants for Educators - NEA Foundation Books Across America

The NEA Foundation will make $1,000 awards to public schools serving economically disadvantaged students to purchase books for school libraries. The applicant must be a practicing pre K-12 school librarian, teacher, or education support professional in a U.S. public school. At least 70 percent of the students in the applicant’s school must be eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program.

http://www.neafoundation.org/programs/BAA_2007.htm

Student Challenge - ThinkQuest International 2008

ThinkQuest inspires students to think, connect, create, and share by working in teams to build innovative and educational websites. Students, ages 9-19, form a team and recruit a teacher to act as a coach. Once the coach enrolls the team, students work together to create an innovative website on any topic within a broad range of educational categories. Diverse teams and globally relevant themes are encouraged.

http://www.thinkquest.org/

Sign Up for a Live Demo

Merit is now offering demonstrations to show how our programs can work for you. The live demos take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. You will see step-by-step how Merit can improve student skills and enhance your teaching.

Click here to sign up for a live demo