Improving Reading & Writing Instruction With Literature
New report helps educators teach reading and writing more effectively with well known books.
New York, NY (Issues Wire / PRWEB) June 4, 2008 -- Merit Software has released a new report with detailed tips and suggestions to help educators teach reading and writing using popular literature. The "Top 63 Tips to Improve Literature Instruction with Software" draws on Merit's extensive experience crafting educational software that engages students in reading and writing.
The Top 63 Tips report was created in response to the difficulties that students and teachers face with reading and writing instruction. Students often struggle with comprehension, vocabulary and writing basic paragraphs. They even have trouble asking for help. Teachers, also, have difficulty finding constructive reading and writing activities that engage their students.
Using authentic literature to teach reading improves students' interest and motivation to learn. Technology tools designed to complement these literary texts can enhance teachers' lessons and immerse students in reading and writing about the books they have read.
The Top 63 Tips report is general and not geared towards any particular product or technology platform. However, Merit's newest response to literature program, Book Punch, incorporates the suggestions in the report and provides a structured curriculum for implementing these suggestions in your classroom.
Book Punch helps students to connect to books more personally and to think critically about what they have read. The program provides interactive writing prompts about books commonly taught in schools today. It takes students through the steps of thinking and writing about well-known upper-elementary core literature. Hundreds of built-in supports and tips guide students step by step as they work through the program.
Further, Merit has provided free lesson plans for all books in the Book Punch series. These lesson plans, like the Top 63 Tips, are designed to be used with or without the Book Punch program.
Merit's Top 63 Tips, Book Punch, and free lesson plans will enrich reading activities and supplement writing instruction. These resources complement and support state and local curriculum standards for reading and writing at a time when schools are struggling to meet strict standards and proficiency targets.
The "Top 63 Tips to Improve Literature Instruction with Software" can be downloaded at: http://top63tips.meritsoftware.com/.
Merit's Book Punch program can be played at: http://bookpunch.com/.
Free lesson plans for all books in the Book Punch series can be downloaded from: http://www.bookpunch.com/books.php.
About Merit Software
Since 1983, Merit Software 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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