SRA/McGraw-Hill Announces New Research-Based Elementary Reading & Language Arts Program: Imagine It!

Reading instruction in a classroom full of students with a variety of different learning needs will be easier than ever with Imagine It! The new core Pre-K-6 reading and language arts curriculum from leading elementary educational publisher SRA/McGraw-Hill gives teachers everything needed to inform instruction and reach all students.

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"SRA's Imagine It! has a strong focus on Differentiated Instruction, giving teachers more opportunities to teach every student how to effectively read, write, and communicate," said Ruth Cochrane, SRA's vice president and publisher.

With Grades K-6 available in May 2007, SRA's Imagine It! combines the latest and most innovative knowledge about Differentiated Instruction with proven teaching approaches based on 45 years of research, field study, documented classroom success, and teacher input.

"The program is instructionally superior and comprehensive, yet it's easy for teachers to navigate, thanks to the substantial input we received from teachers across the country. And, it's colorful and fun for students to use," Cochrane added. "It advances reading instruction to the next level."

Most Comprehensive Literacy Tool

The heart of SRA's Imagine It! is the Teacher Edition, developed using teacher input to create an intuitive, teacher-friendly design that makes it easier to incorporate an array of Differentiated Instruction activities and tools into the classroom schedule.

For example, SRA Imagine It! lesson plans are completely integrated with the Differentiated Instruction Workshop activities that equip teachers with resources and opportunities for English-Language Learners (ELL), Challenge, Reteach, and Intervention. The program's Workshop Kit includes manipulatives and games students use to practice and refine their skills in a fun and engaging manner.

ELL students also benefit from the SRA Photo Library, which uses photography to teach vocabulary, and the Realia Kit, which includes physical examples of vocabulary words - such as a car or globe - that are needed to reinforce English and to transition from Spanish to English.

"SRA listened to teachers nationwide to refine this program so that it is empowering, explicit, and exciting. We've taken everything we know about effectively teaching students to read, using research-based practices, and made it relevant for today's classroom," Cochrane added.

Measure Your Impact with Strong Assessment Options

SRA's Imagine It! is the only core reading curriculum to contain assessment authored by the most recognized experts in the field, Drs. Doug and Lynn Fuchs, authors of tools such as Yearly ProgressPro™, CTB/McGraw-Hill's online progress monitoring system built on 25 years of research in the scientific methodology of Curriculum Based Measurement, which has been proven to be a highly effective method for improving student learning outcomes. The Fuchses' assessment expertise ensures that the needs of all learners are met through progress-monitoring opportunities in each Imagine It! unit. These authors also developed the program's thorough and effective benchmark assessments to help students succeed on state and other high-stakes tests.

The program contains an assessment plan for meeting Adequate Yearly Progress that will help close the gap for students through lesson assessments, diagnosis and differentiation, and benchmark assessments that provide a snapshot of each student's progress at any time.

Build Higher-Order Thinking Skills Through Inquiry

SRA's Imagine It! helps students develop the skills to think and investigate the answers to their own questions. The Concept/Question Board is used throughout each unit to keep students exploring and finding new dimensions to the unit theme. The strong Inquiry strand contains built-in tools in every unit that promote curiosity, investigation, and higher-order thinking. Each unit begins with student-led discussions that prompt questions and areas of investigation about the unit theme.

In addition to teacher feedback, SRA Imagine It! has an author team composed of 15 leading elementary language arts education and assessment experts across the country. The Pre-K level of the program will be available in fall 2007.

Visit ImagineItReading.com for a sneak peak at SRA's exciting new Imagine It!

About SRA/McGraw-Hill

SRA/McGraw-Hill is the top provider of specialized research-based educational programs and professional development for the elementary market. Leading programs include SRA Imagine It! reading program, Direct Instruction, Real Math, and additional core and supplemental programs. SRA is part of McGraw-Hill Education. For more information on SRA/McGraw-Hill's products, call 1-888-SRA-4543 and visit SRAonline.com.

About McGraw-Hill Education

McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is a leading global provider of instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 40 languages. Additional information is available at mheducation.com.

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SOURCE: SRA/McGraw-Hill

CONTACT: Sue Andrews
SRA/McGraw-Hill
(614) 750-7371
sue_andrews@mcgraw-hill.com
Melina Metzger
Paul Werth Associates
(614) 224-8114 Ext. 236
mmetzger@paulwerth.com

Web site: http://www.mheducation.com/
http://www.sraonline.com/