| What
is Reading Recovery? |
| What
does a typical 30 minute lesson look like? |
| If
my child is selected, what can I do to help? |
| Reading
Recovery of North America |
|
What
is Reading Recovery? |
| Introduction |
| Reading
Recovery is a short-term, early intervention program serving first graders
needing a boost with the early stages of reading, before they go on to
develop significant problems. In addition to regular classroom
instruction, these children receive thirty minutes of individualized
tutoring in reading and writing every day. Each night a packet of little
books and a cut-up sentence are sent home for 10-15 minutes of practice
with a parent. |
| Is It
Effective? |
| Reading Recovery
data has been widely studied and reviewed by Reading Recovery
professionals as well as independent researchers over the last seventeen
years. There is substantial evidence of Reading Recovery's overall
effectiveness, and the literary gains of those served, as they move
through the higher grades. Over one million children in the U.S. alone
have participated in Reading Recovery. |
| What
Training Do Reading Recovery Teachers Receive? |
| Reading Recovery
Teacher Leaders train experienced, certified teachers in an intensive one
year graduate level course. In addition, Reading Recovery teachers have
frequent continuing education classes, and other opportunities to learn,
compare, reflect, and discuss ideas and new information. Reading Recovery
teachers are keen observers of their students, and are lifelong learners. |
| Who May
Participate In Reading Recovery? |
| Selection is
limited to four children per teacher per one half day (many Reading
Recovery teachers also teach one half day in another setting, such as
classroom, remedial reading , Title I, etc.). Student selection is based
on teacher recommendation, and the results of student tasks which include;
a child's use of oral language, knowledge of concepts about print, letter
recognition , common word recognition, writing vocabulary, hearing sounds
in words, and text reading.
|
|
What
Does a 30-minute Lesson Look Like? |
| Lessons |
During the first two weeks while Reading
Recovery students 
and their teacher are getting to know one another, the reading and writing
activities are based upon what the child knows. It helps the child to feel
secure and settled in. The teacher observes and records what the child
does. By discovering the child's strengths, the teacher is able to plan
how to build upon those strengths while increasing the processing speed of
the knowledge the child already has. After the first two weeks, lessons
begin. |
| Reading
Familiar Books |
| The child selects some
favorite books to practice making their reading sound like natural speech. |
| Rereading
The New Book From Yesterday. |
| The teacher writes notes
to record what the child reads. This helps with lesson planning and
knowing if the level of difficulty is a good fit. Following the reading,
the teacher points out something the child did well, then reinforces a
reading strategy that the child needs to use in becoming a more fluent
reader. |
| Letter
and /or Word Work: |
| The child does letter and
word work to help him or her become a better problem-solver when reading
and writing. |
| Composing
and Writing a Story: |
| This is
when a child may talk about and write a story sentence about something of
interest. As the child moves through their individualized program, they
receive less and less teacher assistance as they become able to write the
story on their own. |
| Cut
-Up Story Sentence: |
| The teacher writes the
child s story on sentence strip and cuts apart the phrases, words, or
possibly letters, that the teacher wants to call attention to. The child
assembles the story and reads it. |
| Reading
a New Book: |
| The teacher has picked a
new book that the student should be able to read without much difficulty,
and a bit of problem-solving. The teacher first introduces the book with
the pictures and any new text or language. The child reads, with the
teacher providing guidance as needed. Afterwards, a teaching point is
selected to help the child use their strengths to sort out a confusion, or
to reinforce good problem-solving. |
|
If
My Child Is Selected, What Can I Do To Help?
|
| Parents
are very important to their child's literacy development. If the child is
to receive maximum benefits from Reading Recovery, daily attendance is
strongly encouraged. Additional support is provided by parents nightly at
home. During this time the child practices their stories and does their
cut-up sentence. Beginning readers need lots of practice and encouragement
! |
Establish a regular time to listen to your child read their books, and
reassemble their cut-up story each day.
Be sure to send ALL the books that come home, back to school the next
morning for that day's lessons.
Visit a lesson to see your child's successes, and to view how a lesson
runs.
Read books and stories to your child so that they may hear how good
readers sound, learn new vocabulary, and develop broad background
knowledge. Generally, follow their interests. What kinds of books do they
enjoy ?
Look together at a book's pictures. Do they have a prediction about what
they think might happen ? Talk about what does happen, laugh together at
the funny parts, etc.
Encourage, support, and cheer all your child's efforts.
If your child needs help while reading, first allow them a little time to
think. Encourage them to go back and reread. You might say, "Think
about what would make sense?," or "Check the picture and give
the word a try."
You can further encourage writing by having them add to shopping lists,
write messages for you, and make their own cards, stories, and books as
gifts. Another possibility would be to keep a nightly journal or a diary.
You can further encourage reading by having your child read a simple
recipe while you make it together. Write your child notes for their
pillow, for in their school lunch, etc. Play word games, board games, and
other games they enjoy that involve some reading.
Find a special place, or decorate a box together, so that your child will
have their very own space for their books.
It's helpful for a child to also have opportunities to see their own
parent(s) read and write.
Continue to read together in the summertime. Regularly visit the library.
Consider joining a book bug club for fun. |
| Reading
Recovery Council of North America |
