November 15, 2006
TeachersAndFamilies Announces TogetheRead

Reston, VA (November 13, 2006) – NITV, Inc. the online learning innovator and creator of TeachersFirst andTeacherAndFamilies, has added TogetheRead, a family resource withmonthly themes and ideas that let families have fun together as they build stronger readers. A new addition to the TeacherAndFamilies site, TogetheRead (http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/open/tr/index.cfm ) provides annotated, age-appropriate reading lists and family activities each month, all around a common theme.

Libraries, schools, parent organizations, and teachers will find free downloadable TogetheRead materials to promote family reading time. TogetheRead books are grouped into "bands": preschool/picture books, early elementary, upper elementary to middle school, upper middle school to young adult, and mature teen to adult books. Interwoven into each theme are questions and activities based on proven reading strategies for effective readers. Additionally, the TogetheRead site includes specific activities to accompany each age group, and it allows participants to contribute their own activity suggestions to the site.

Parents and children of all ages can select books from the annotated lists, read together, and do related free or low-cost activities. Written in language understandable to parents and without education "jargon,” these themes will help any child become a better reader and enjoy sharing family time. TogetheRead includes an FAQ page to help parents get started and find ways to fit a TogetheRead theme into busy lifestyles.

The TogetheRead site includes ideas to help schools and organizations plan related activities to help the entire community enjoy reading together and build better readers. They can also sign up to receive advanced notice of upcoming themes in order to locate the books for their families.