Houghton Mifflin Co. News Release - August 13, 2009

Study Shows Multimedia Math Program May Hold Key to Mathematics Improvement for Struggling Students

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's iSUCCEED MATH™ generates dramatic improvement in Virginia math scores

BOSTON — August 13, 2009 — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt today announced the results of a recent Virginia study evaluating the instructional effectiveness of its iSUCCEED MATH™ program. The study reveals that iSUCCEED MATH not only improves students' mathematics problem-solving skills and strategy use, but enables struggling students to outperform higher-performing classmates.

"The results of this study continue to support innovative multimedia solutions for students who struggle with mathematics," said Mike Lavelle, K–12 president, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. "We are committed to equipping teachers and students with programs like iSUCCEED MATH that are proven to positively impact achievement by providing students with the necessary tools for success."

The study, performed by Educational Research Institute of America (ERIA) included two middle schools (students in grades 5–8) in a Virginia school district. Results of the math portions of state and local school assessments separated the students into high-performing and low-performing classroom groups, and only the low-performing group utilized the iSUCCEED MATH curriculum throughout the 2008-2009 school year. According to post-study test results, the iSUCCEED MATH students outperformed their peers — a particularly significant achievement considering that their pre-study test performance was statistically inferior.

Research shows that programs like iSUCCEED MATH, which focus on fundamental mathematics skills early on, can minimize and even prevent later math learning difficulties, allowing students to develop an affinity for math and achieve success in advanced courses. The iSUCCEED 5-Step Teaching Cycle guides instructors through diagnosing individual needs, prescribing appropriate lessons, directing practice and recapitulation opportunities and assessing student progress. 

The iSUCCEED MATH™ program is a premier data-driven math intervention solution for grade 3–8 students who struggle to master mathematics fundamentals. The program's age-appropriate, individualized instruction is specifically designed to close gaps in conceptual understanding. This innovative system combines technology and print material with multimedia, multisensory instruction, incorporating the best practices of teacher-directed group instruction, interactive courseware and active practice with games, fact fluency and one-on-one tutoring. Additionally, comprehensive courseware scaffolds systematic, "step-by-step" individualized instruction with skill building, problem solving and computational fluency building, and every lesson includes powerful assessments that correlate to state standards.

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.