National Geographic Learning Transforms the K-5 Reading Market with Reach for Reading; a Common Core Reading Program that Helps Students Learn to Read, While Reading to Learn

Monterey, CA – December 11, 2012 – National Geographic Learning (NGL), part of Cengage Learning and a provider of quality educational materials for the PreK‐12, higher education, adult education and ELT markets, today announced the availability of Reach for Reading, a new, comprehensive K-5 Common Core reading program. This innovative program features authentic, multicultural literature paired with exclusive content from National Geographic and real-world accounts from the National Geographic Explorers. Reach for Reading was constructed by a team of industry-leading authors, including Nancy Frey, Patricia Edwards and Deborah Short, among others.

The program was built around Common Core Standards, which were implemented as a way to provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students across the country are expected to learn and were designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that young people need for success in college and careers.Reach for Reading goes above and beyond simple compliance of the standards and thoroughly applies the shifts of the Common Core to the program. It is built on three basic principles that will help each classroom achieve reading success. These principles include:

• Common Core State Standards – The implementation of Common Core Standards requires a shift in teaching practices to engage students. Reach for Reading addresses these necessary shifts by providing more informational text; shared responsibility for literacy across content areas; an emphasis on academic language and vocabulary; increased text complexity; text-dependent questions; and argumentation and text-based evidence.

• National Geographic Content – In addition to the National Geographic informational texts and the extensive research conducted by National Geographic explorers included in this program, students will also have access to exclusive National Geographic videos and a complete digital library with images from National Geographic. These world-renowned features from National Geographic will keep students engaged and interested in the material.