Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Students Rack Up Reading Passages on Voyager Ticket to Read Program

DALLAS, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Students using Ticket to Read(TM), the online reading program created by Voyager Expanded Learning(R), set a new record last week by reading one million reading passages in only 19 days. The previous record held was one million passages in 20 days. Students also reached a huge milestone and read the nine millionth reading passage. They are expected to hit 10 million sometime next week.

A record number of students log on to Ticket to Read each week because the highly motivating content helps them increase their reading skills in a fun and exciting way. Last week, more than 200,000 students logged on to the program and on Thursday alone, 97,000 students were using the program.

Louisiana second graders using Ticket to Read were so excited about the program they wrote to T.J. Ticket (the Ticket to Read reading mascot) and told him why they like the program.

        "I love Ticket to Read because it has quizzes."
        "I like Ticket to Read because it teaches you to read."
        "Ticket to Read teaches me how to read. Ticket to Read is awesome."
        "I like Ticket to Read so much I could do it all day."

Ticket to Read, is an easy-to-access and easy-to-use website designed to increase phonics skills, reading fluency, comprehension and vocabulary through increased practice at home and at school. Designed for all students, including struggling and proficient readers, the embedded reward system motivates students to spend more time reading.

Ticket to Read provides students with different options as they practice their reading skills. They can participate in phonics activities, read high-interest passages at increasing levels of difficulty, take passage quizzes and also earn points to use in building virtual toys and customizing their personal clubhouse. Students can independently practice important reading skills at school, home, library or anywhere there is Internet access. The program is targeted to students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

To request a free trial password or purchase Ticket to Read, visit: www.tickettoread.com.

Voyager Expanded Learning

Voyager Expanded Learning provides core, intervention, and supplemental reading programs, as well as math intervention and ongoing professional development programs, for school districts throughout the United States. Founded in 1994, Voyager has delivered extended-time reading and basic skills intervention programs, as well as large-scale reading and math programs, to more than 1,000 school districts in cities such as Buffalo, N.Y.; Miami; New York City; Richmond, Va.; El Paso, Texas; and Los Angeles, resulting in dramatically improved student performance. Voyager Expanded Learning, Inc. is a business unit of Voyager Learning Company (OTC: VLCY.PK) and based in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit www.voyagerlearning.com or call 1-888-399-1995.