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May 5, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Sandy Fash
C. Blohm & Associates, Inc.
(608) 839-9804
sandy@cblohm.com
NOW FREE FOR TITLE I 3RD-5TH GRADE CLASSROOMS, IN2BOOKS® BUILDS STUDENTS' LITERACY SKILLS THROUGH AUTHENTIC READING, WRITING AND THINKING OPPORTUNITIES
ePals' Research-Based e-Mentoring Program Increases Reading Comprehension and Writing Skills
HERNDON, VA, May 5, 2008 —ePals, Inc's. research-based e-mentoring program, In2Books®, which embeds literacy across the curriculum, will be available to Title I schools at no cost beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. Fully digital, In2Books demonstrates how online collaborative technology can help educators, reading coaches, and specialists create curious independent learners with strong literacy skills.
Students participating in In2Books select and read age-appropriate, high-quality books from a list compiled by a team of children's literature experts. The students are matched with carefully screened adult pen pals who read the same books as the students. After reading each book, students and their pen pals exchange thoughts about the important issues in the book via online letters. Teachers reinforce these activities in the classroom with related lessons and discussion. Teachers are supported through a dedicated web site, Teacher Place®, which includes detailed lesson plans and instructional tips and forums linking them to other educators implementing In2Books in their classrooms.
New to the 2008-2009 classroom edition, In2Books now features Student Place - a dedicated website that helps students be self-directed and make intelligent choices about books they would like to read based on genre, sampling passages from the book, trying out the readability, and exploring the author's style. In addition, the website offers a scaffolded writing environment and literacy tips to help students enhance their reading and writing skills.
"Technology enables ePals to bring adult role models, an authentic, rigorous curriculum and high quality teacher resources into economically disadvantaged classrooms everywhere, for free," said Nina Zolt, Founder of In2Books and Co-Founder of ePals, Inc. "These learning opportunities help all students build the foundational comprehension and communication skills necessary for 21st century success and increase their motivation and aspirations."
In an independent research study conducted in 2003-2004, it was reported that thousands of In2Books students significantly outscored their peers on standardized tests. It is an especially efficient program that helps students concurrently enhance their understanding of genre, build strong reading comprehension and writing skills, and learn subject matter required under the content standards. By corresponding via online letters with their adult pen pals, students learn about different points of view, see what thoughtful analysis looks like and are challenged to reach higher by responding to thought-provoking questions.
Reading comprehension, critical thinking and written and oral communication skills are among the skills required for success in the 21st century. In2Books and the other tools offered through the ePals' Global Learning Community offer students the opportunity and the support to build these vital skills.
For more information about In2Books, visit www.In2Books.com or about ePals, visit www.ePalsCorp.com.
About ePals, Inc.
Founded in 1996 and merged with In2Books in 2006, ePals offers K-12 students and educators around the world a safe environment for building and exchanging knowledge, based on protected connectivity tools, evidence-based curricula and authentic, collaborative learning experiences. The ePals' Global Learning Community™, is the largest online community of K-12 learners, reaching more than 13 million educators and students across 200 countries and territories. The company's overarching mission is to support meaningful learning through collaborative online experiences that empower and inspire. ePals is especially committed to providing educational opportunities in under resourced environments worldwide through the ePals Foundation - developer of In2Books, the company's flagship literacy mentoring program.
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