Houghton Mifflin Co. News Release - September 29, 2005

McDougal Littell and WeatherBug Partner to Enhance Classroom Curriculum via WeatherBug Achieve

EVANSTON, Ill. and Germantown, Md. — September 29, 2005 — McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company, and WeatherBug^®, the leading provider of live, local weather information services, today announced a distribution partnership of WeatherBug Achieve interactive online educational software to middle schools (grades 6–8) in New York and Florida.

WeatherBug Achieve is a powerful program that teaches students science, math, geography and technology through real-time weather video and interactive lesson plans that bring spontaneity and excitement to standards-based learning. The program aligns with national and state education standards, including Florida’s Sunshine State Standards and New York State’s Learning Standards. 

Studies show that students of all backgrounds benefit personally and academically from the use of WeatherBug Achieve when incorporated into a comprehensive, project-based science curriculum. Given the heightened interest in weather and hurricanes, the partnership between McDougal Littell and WeatherBug brings an important new educational tool to thousands of classrooms.   

"McDougal Littell Science uses 'Big Ideas' and hands-on inquiry to emphasize learning, so incorporating WeatherBug Achieve into our program is a natural extension for us. The combination of our state-of-the-art program with WeatherBug's real-time video and weather data provides tremendous additional value for schools at no additional cost," said David Pieklo, corporate vice president and director of marketing at McDougal Littell.

"Graphing and interpretation of data, a critical component of WeatherBug, is exactly what is required to succeed on key year-end tests, such as Florida’s FCAT and New York’s Regent Exams. We are very excited about this important addition to our instructional materials," he added.

"We are excited to join forces with McDougal Littell in bringing a unique and highly effective teaching tool to the states of Florida and New York,” said Bob Marshall, WeatherBug president and CEO. “With hurricane season upon us, both teachers and students will find that the new program cannot only educate, but can also help students understand and prepare for weather conditions relevant in their areas as well as across the United States."

About Houghton Mifflin
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Company is one of the leading educational publishers in the United States, with over $1 billion in sales. Houghton Mifflin publishes textbooks, instructional technology, assessments and other educational materials for elementary and secondary schools and colleges. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers. Additionally, Houghton Mifflin offers computer-administered testing programs and services for the professional and certification markets. With its origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. The Company's Web site can be found at www.hmco.com.

About McDougal Littell
McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Mifflin Company, is among the fastest growing publishers in the United States, recognized for its innovation, dedication and responsiveness to the needs of educators. Based in Evanston, Illinois, the Company publishes print and technology materials for science, language arts, mathematics, social studies and world languages for grades 6 through 12. The Company’s Web site can be found at www.mcdougallittell.com.

About WeatherBug^®
WeatherBug (weatherbug.com) ensures that individuals, schools, businesses and government agencies receive the most precise live weather conditions, the most relevant reports, and the earliest weather warnings to safeguard their property, lives and to plan with confidence. With 8,000 WeatherBug Tracking Stations and over 1,000 cameras primarily based at neighborhood schools and public safety facilities across the U.S., WeatherBug maintains the largest exclusive weather network in the world. The live, local weather conditions are delivered to millions of consumers via the Internet and mobile devices, more than 100 state and local government agencies including the National Weather Service, and to broadcast television stations, schools, and businesses. WeatherBug’s data is unique as it is the only live, neighborhood weather available anywhere. WeatherBug is a brand of AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. www.aws.com.

About WeatherBug Achieve
WeatherBug Achieve (www.weatherbugachieve.com) brings live conditions into the classroom with a tool that is fun and easy for teachers and students to use at all levels. The data is unique, as it is relative to the school and features current, local weather conditions across the country. Under this innovative, hands-on program, student interest level and scores consistently rise along with student and teacher morale. Teachers and administrators credit the program for adding tremendous value to their curriculum and boosting student self-confidence. In the 2004–2005 school year, over 250,000 students and teachers logged in to WeatherBug Achieve to learn with real live data and to plan interactive lessons where students experience hands on learning.