Reading is one of the most important skills students will learn in their lives. After the third grade, students who have mastered reading use it to learn just about everything else. Struggling readers, on the other hand, are unlikely to catch up and four times less likely<\/a> to graduate from high school. Unfortunately, 64 percent of fourth grade students<\/a> in the United States perform below the proficient level in reading.<\/p>\n Rivet is a new reading app from Area 120, Google\u2019s workshop for experimental projects, that addresses the most common barriers to effective reading practice through a free, easy-to-use reading experience optimized for kids. Evidence shows that one of the major differences between poor and strong readers is the amount of time spent reading, so we’re introducing Rivet to make high-quality reading practice available to all.<\/p>\n With a rapidly growing digital library of over 2,000 free books, Rivet makes it easy to find interesting reading material at the right level. There are engaging books covering a wide array of topics, from planets in outer space to Harriet Tubman. Every book in our library is carefully reviewed and leveled by content quality experts to ensure young readers are shown appropriate content at the right level of difficulty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Rivet uses advanced speech technology to provide support on every word and give kids feedback on their reading, so they can practice independently without getting stuck. Here are a few Rivet features you can try out during reading practice:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n It takes hard work and plenty of patience to master reading. Rivet rewards dedication with points and badges, and personalizes the experience with avatars, themes and recommended books based on each reader\u2019s level and interests. Surprises designed to encourage more practice, energizing games and a playful interface keep kids engaged in the reading experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Our goal is to deliver high-quality reading practice to children everywhere, along with peace of mind for the busy parents accompanying them on their reading journey. In the upcoming months, we\u2019ll introduce features to support reading practice in classrooms, add new content for a wider range of reading levels and expand to more countries around the world.<\/p>\n Rivet is now available on Android smartphones, tablets, iPads, iPhones and Chromebooks in eleven countries<\/a> worldwide. If you know a little reader who could benefit from better reading practice, check us out in the Play Store<\/a> or App Store<\/a> today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Go to Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Improving access to books<\/h3>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA knowledgeable reading buddy<\/h3>\n
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![A screenshot showing the Definitions and Translations feature in Rivet, showing the word \"start\" defined and pronounced on the screen.](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod\/original_images\/word-help_4.gif\")
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod\/original_images\/listening_3.gif\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMotivation and encouragement<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/gweb-uniblog-publish-prod\/original_images\/rewards_celebration.gif\")
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