Headsprout Showcases Award-Winning Literacy Programs at 2012 National Title I Conference

SEATTLE, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Headsprout, a leading provider of adaptive online reading software, will showcase its award-winning literacy programs – Headsprout Early Reading and Headsprout Reading Comprehension – along with DYMO/Mimio's MimioTeach and MimioClassroom interactive teaching technology solutions at this year's National Title I Conference in Seattle, January 21-24 at the Washington State Convention Center.

Headsprout has also partnered with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and St. Anthony's School of Milwaukee to highlight successful literacy education strategies, based on real Headsprout implementations that resulted in substantial achievement gains among students. The findings will be shared during daily presentations at the Headsprout booth, 529. Attendees also can meet with Joe Layng, Headsprout Co-Founder and Senior Learning Scientist, to discuss the proven, peer-reviewed research on language development and acquisition that forms the foundation for Headsprout programs.

The annual National Title I Conference is designed for administrators and educators from across the country who work with Title I schools, which use supplemental funding from the U.S. Department of Education to effectively design and implement curriculum and learning solutions that ensure disadvantaged children meet or exceed state academic standards.

Headsprout has a strong and lengthy heritage of working with Title I schools, such as those in the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools District, to improve basic and advanced literacy skills among elementary students and subsequently boost critical thinking skills in other core subject areas such as science and mathematics.

After elementary students attending MNPS failed to meet benchmarks for adequate yearly progress on their Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) exams, Brenda Steele, associate superintendent of elementary schools, along with her team, elected to trial Headsprout Reading Comprehension as a core curriculum component for all third and fourth grade students in 11 high priority schools. The unique online program actually teaches students how to understand and analyze the content they read in 50 lessons by providing each student with customized instruction based on individual pace and performance.

"We were seeking a solution that would allow students to focus on individual development needs while quickly boosting overall comprehension skills in preparation for our state exam," said Steele. "The Headsprout Reading Comprehension program did just that — while making learning an enjoyable experience for our students."

Over the course of spring 2011, more than 2,000 students from these 11 elementary schools completed episodes of Headsprout Reading Comprehension. By May 2011, the results were conclusive: the targeted schools showed significant gains on the fourth grade TCAP Reading/Language assessment with an average of 7.6 times the growth compared with students from the other 62 elementary schools in the district. In addition, 91 percent of the schools that implemented Headsprout showed improved fourth grade TCAP scores, up from only 18 percent the prior year, and compared to only 56 percent of the schools that did not use Headsprout.

"The impressive achievements at Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools are among the many success stories we've experienced in this past year alone," said Layng. "Headsprout programs are a proven solution for tackling the unique set of challenges faced by Title I schools, and for any administrators seeking to provide their teachers and students with a customized learning solution in the most efficient, engaging way possible."

As a result of the test score gains its students demonstrated, MNPS plans to expand its implementation of HeadsproutReading Comprehension to 17 additional elementary schools in 2012. Additionally, MNPS will begin trialing Headsprout Early Reading in 11 priority schools this year to assist with basic reading skills development among younger students.

Throughout the Title I show, Chad High, principal of Metropolitan Nashville Title I school Cole Elementary in Antioch, Tenn., will discuss keys to his district's success each morning on the main stage at the Headsprout booth, Saturday through Monday at 9:15 a.m.

About Headsprout
Based in Seattle, Washington, Headsprout® (www.headsprout.com), now part of Newell Rubbermaid's DYMO™ / Mimio® Interactive Teaching Technologies portfolio, is a leader in the development and implementation of online instruction that adjusts automatically to each student's needs. Its scientific, research-based, adaptive software programs — Headsprout® Early Reading and Headsprout® Reading Comprehension — are used in thousands of classrooms, learning labs and homes in the U.S. and all over the world. To learn more about Headsprout, follow @Headsprout on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or check out our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/Headsprout).

About Dymo
DYMO is the master brand name for the Newell Rubbermaid technology portfolio. In a world that demands greater productivity and measures it at every opportunity, DYMO provides businesses, educational institutions and consumers with innovative and easy ways to share, manage and organize information with improved efficiency and satisfaction.

Our DYMO brands are organized into four solutions:

• DYMO® / Labeling Identification Solutions include DYMO hand-held label makers, PC connected label and postage printers, plus Industrial labeling tools (www.dymo.com).
• DYMO™ / CardScan® Contact Management Solutions include CardScan business card scanners and contact management software (www.cardscan.com).
• DYMO™ / Endicia® Postage Technologies include Endicia online shipping and mailing services (www.endicia.com), as well as customized postage  (www.pictureitpostage.com).
• DYMO™ / Mimio® ITT (Interactive Teaching Technologies) include Mimio interactive whiteboard technology, digital ink recorders, document cameras, student response systems and engaging lesson plan content (www.mimio.dymo.com).

These complement Newell Rubbermaid's strong portfolio of leading global brands, which also includes Rubbermaid®, Sharpie®, Graco®, Calphalon®, Irwin®, Lenox®, Levolor®, Paper Mate®, Waterman®, Parker®, Goody®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products® and Aprica®.

Media Contact:
Lauren Barbier, Ketchum
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SOURCE Headsprout, part of DYMO/Mimio