Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Introduces First and Only Blended Education Reading Program to Texas

Texas Journeys and Texas Senderos provide unique print and digital resources to struggling readers

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt today announced the introduction of its Texas Journeys and Spanish language Texas Senderos reading programs across the lone star state. Texas Journeys and Texas Senderos are the first and only blended education solution tailored to the needs of Texas students, teachers and families.

“Texas Journeys and Texas Senderos not only provide research-based reading instruction, but also promote student engagement with unique print and digital resources.”

Texas Journeys and Texas Senderos, aligned with the Texas Education Agency's Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), improves both the teaching and learning experience by supporting a range of needs for the 2010 classroom and beyond. Texas Journeys and Texas Senderos provide online and print intervention support through Write in Readers, which help struggling children reach grade-level competencies. Elements of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's acclaimed Destination Reading program also provide integrated and motivating core content online to teachers and students.

"The introduction of Texas Journeys and Texas Senderos is a major step for the students of Texas," said Mike Lavelle, K–12 president, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. "Texas Journeys and Texas Senderos not only provide research-based reading instruction, but also promote student engagement with unique print and digital resources."

Real-life application of skills comes with the programs' innovative Adventure Unit feature, which helps students retain and improve reading comprehension skills at higher grade levels. The unit's magazines give students in grades 3–6 opportunities to apply learned material to "real-world" situations, bridging in-classroom and real-life reading. The unit can also incorporate acclaimed trade books as an additional resource for students.

Irene Fountas, guided-reading leader and consulting author on Texas Journeys and Texas Senderos, has applied her trusted leveling system and innovative support plans to more than 600 electronic and print leveled reading selections. Fountas's work is proven to be essential to strengthening the element of small-group instruction. To further support whole-group instruction with the same enthusiasm and expertise, Fountas has also created the Comprehensive Language and Literacy Guide. The guide provides teachers with interactive plans for each core selection as well as support for genre instruction that is critical in both Texas and nationwide.

As the Company launches Journeys and Senderos across the country, scheduled author workshops will take place through summer 2010. Journeys and Senderos workshops will include presentations by Fountas as well as trusted authors Shane Templeton, Jack Pikulski, Mary Ellen Vogt, Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy.

For more information about Texas Journeys and Texas Senderos, visit www.hmheducation.com/tx/journeys.

To learn more about the Journeys and Senderos national offering, visit www.hmheducation.com/journeys.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company is a global education leader and the world's largest publisher of educational materials for pre-K–12 schools. The Company publishes a comprehensive set of best-in-class educational solutions, ranging from research-based textbook programs to instructional technology to standards-based assessments for students and educators. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. With origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. To learn more about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, visit www.hmhpub.com.