INTELLITOOLS TO PREVIEW READING PROGRAM
FOR OLDER STUDENTS AT IRA CONFERENCE

For Immediate Release

Petaluma, California, April 19, 2004 - IntelliTools®, Inc. (www.intellitools.com), for over 20 years the pioneer in learning solutions for preK-8 classrooms, is pleased to announce that it will be offering two sessions at the upcoming International Reading Assn. Conference on its new software program for older struggling readers, at grade four and above. The IRA conference will be held May 2-6, in Reno, Nev.  

Lucinda Ray, IntelliTools’ Director of Curriculum Development, will conduct five sessions on IntelliTools’ reading programs at the IRA conference, including sessions on the newest IntelliTools supplemental reading software program for students in fourth through eighth grade who have not progressed into the intermediate stages of reading ability. IRA Session titles:

• “Help for Older Readers Who Struggle”
• “New: Reading Support for Both Primary and Upper Elementary Grades”  

“As we know, from kindergarten through the third grade, students learn to read. From fourth grade on, they read to learn,” notes Ray. “Yet millions of students have reading skills that stagnate at a level somewhere between the middle of second grade and the end of third. These students have not crossed the threshold into the ability to read chapter books and informational text at grade level. They have difficulty reading to learn.”  

The computer, if used properly, can be a powerful literacy-building tool. The new reading program from IntelliTools will enhance the reading performance of many students who are challenged in reading. It will also increase accessibility to literacy for students with disabilities. Using the power of the computer and elegant software design, the product is providing teacher-like help to guide students in reading comprehension, word study, writing, and listening comprehension.  

IntelliTools’ IRA sessions will present the research design and the results of the trial site research for the new reading program. The study combined qualitative case study methods with quantitative measures. In addition, sample units from the developing software will be shown.  

About IntelliTools, Inc.

IntelliTools®, Inc., a pioneer in learning solutions for preK-8 classrooms, has been producing award-winning software and adaptive hardware products for over 20 years. Its IntelliTools® Classroom Suite is comprised of three fully integrated software programs – IntelliPics® Studio 3, IntelliMathics® 3,and IntelliTalk® 3, providing a network-ready, cross-curricular platform for classroom activities, creativity tools, and student performance tracking and assessment. IntelliTools® Reading: Balanced Literacy, winner of the Technology & Learning Awards in two categories, is a nine-unit supplementary program providing a full year of literacy instruction at a first-grade skill level. All IntelliTools software products are fully accessible for standard keyboard and mouse users as well as its IntelliKeys® adaptive keyboard and switch users.  

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For more information contact:   

Paula Irons, Director, Marketing Communications, IntelliTools, Inc.
1720 Corporate Circle, Petaluma, CA 94954
(800) 899-6687; pirons@intellitools.com