Wright Group/McGraw-Hill's Gear Up! Guided Reading Series Debuts on mCLASS™: Reading Assessment Software from Wireless Generation

Wright Group/McGraw-Hill, a major provider of innovative literacy and mathematics programs for pre-K through Grade 8, and Wireless Generation, the leading developer of pre-K through Grade 12 observational assessment software, today announced that Wright Group's popular Gear Up! Guided Reading Series is now available on mCLASS™:Reading software. By using the software and the reading series, teachers can quickly assess students' reading ability using a handheld computer. Wright Group is Wireless Generation's lead publishing partner for mCLASS:Reading software, offering a broad range of its most acclaimed, most popular leveled readers to users of this technology.

Wright Group's Guided Reading Series supports K-2 students at the early stages of reading development. The 112 leveled books, including 13 new titles by noted children's author Joy Cowley, were written to draw young readers into the text using compelling stories. Fiction and non-fiction texts are paired at each level, from Early Emergent to Early Fluency. A carefully balanced mix of genres and text styles works with lesson plans, which enable educators to deliver the most effective guided reading instruction. Explicit lesson plans, also available through Wright Group, are aligned with the Five Essential Elements of Reading as set forth by the National Reading Panel 2000, and provide support for English Language Learners.

"The Gear Up! series is a wonderful, welcome addition to the mCLASS:Reading Library. We are extremely selective about what we add to the Library, taking just those books that will be most beneficial to our customers. Wright Group recognized early on the potential of our technology to make the process of assessment easier and more valuable for teachers, and has consistently provided the highest quality content for our users," said Josh Reibel, chief operating officer of Wireless Generation.

"Research shows that children who read well in the early grades are far more successful in later years," said Wright Group executive vice president Jim McNeely. "Through the Wright Group's proven reading series and the outstanding instructional technology provided by Wireless Generation, we are providing teachers with the tools that will help children succeed, regardless of their reading skill level."

Users of mCLASS:Reading software can now download the text of any Gear Up! title from the mCLASS:Reading Online Library to their handhelds, following along while a student reads from the actual books, and noting errors according to reading record protocols. The handheld instantly calculates the reading accuracy rate, and provides information about the student's reading ability. When the handheld is "synced" to an Internet-connected computer, student data is immediately transferred to a secure Web site where additional reports are available for further analysis and instructional decision-making.

About Wright Group/McGraw-Hill

Wright Group/McGraw-Hill produces innovative, alternative core and supplemental literacy and mathematics programs for differentiated instruction and professional development in grades pre-K through Grade 8. The approach is anchored in real-world applications and is based on the assessed needs of students, combining developmentally appropriate materials with explicit outcomes. For more information on Gear Up! and other Wright Group's products, call 1-800-648-2970 or visit http://www.wrightgroup.com/.

About McGraw-Hill Education

Wright Group is a part of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of electronic and print products that enhance teaching and learning in the pre-K through Grade 12, higher education and professional markets. It is a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's and BusinessWeek. Founded in 1888, the corporation has more than 280 offices in 37 countries. Sales in 2004 were $5.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com/ and http://www.wrightgroup.com/.

About Wireless Generation

Wireless Generation is a privately held company, founded on the belief that teachers and school administrators would benefit from a new generation of highly mobile, easy-to-use software that supports their assessment and information management needs. The company offers a wide range of handheld observational assessment tools, and is conducting new product development based on its mission of maximizing the educational value of every teacher- student interaction. Located in New York City, Wireless Generation can be reached at (212) 213-8177 and on the Web at http://www.wirelessgeneration.com/.

SOURCE: Wright Group/McGraw-Hill

CONTACT: Andrea Reibel
Wireless Generation
212-213-8177 ext. 2007
areibel@wgen.net
Tom Stanton
McGraw-Hill Education
(212) 904-3214
tom_stanton@mcgraw-hill.com

Web site: http://www.mheducation.com/
http://www.wrightgroup.com/
http://www.wirelessgeneration.com/