Reading Recovery Teacher Brochure

“I went back and
corrected that all
by myself. I’m a
good reader.
I read lots of
books.”
—Student
To become a Reading Recovery®
Teacher a candidate must:
• Successfully complete a year of graduate level training
• Teach four Reading Recovery®
children daily each round during his/her training year
• Keep careful records on the progress of students
• Communicate with parents regularly about their child’s progress
• Observe Reading Recovery® students in the regular classroom
• Help with Reading Recovery®
inservices
• Participate in continuing education training provided by Keystone AEA’s Reading Recovery® Teacher Leader
“Cody is making good progress. At
the beginning of the year we were
thinking about a referral, but now
the parents and I decided to wait to
see how Cody was doing when he
finished Reading Recovery®.”
—Teacher
Who can I contact at
Keystone AEA for more
information about Reading
Recovery®?
• Betty Gitz, Reading Recovery
Teacher Leader
800-632-5918, Ext. 1322
bgitz@aea1.k12.ia.us
• Sue Daker, Site Coordinator
800-632-5918, Ext. 1233
sdaker@aea1.k12.ia.us
The Reading
Recovery® Program
Keystone Area
Education Agency
Reading Recovery® is sponsored by
Keystone Area Education Agency.
Keystone Area Education Agency
1400 Second Street, NW
Elkader, IA 52043-9564
563-245-1480
800-632-5918
http://www.aea1.k12.ia.us
Because we
believe every
child deserves
a chance . . .
Reading Recovery® can Improve a Student’s Reading and Writing Ability
R
eading failure
is costly. Every
time a child fails first
grade, the school
community loses
over $6,327 (the
national yearly
average for educating one child in
2000).
Because reading and writing are crucial
skills for lifelong success, Keystone Area
Education Agency is offering the Reading
Recovery® program. This program helps
first grade students become independent
readers and writers.
The Reading Recovery® program was
developed by New Zealand educator and
psychologist, Dr. Marie Clay. It has been
used successfully in the United States
since 1984.
Given 16 to 20 weeks of extra help, the
majority of children reach average levels
of reading and writing in their classroom.
Most Reading Recovery® students maintain these levels well into their chosen
careers.
The key feature of this program is a
30-minute period of individual instruction
by a specially trained teacher. The teacher
is trained to observe and assess reading
and writing behaviors and then design
individual strategies for a child’s needs.
Commitment is the Key to Success
This is a program that partners administrators, Reading Recovery® teachers,
classroom teachers, and parents.
Commitment from all of these parties
is essential.
• Provide time for inservice during the year for faculty
• Allow time for classroom teachers to
observe students’ Reading Recovery®
lessons
What is expected of administrators?
What is expected of the classroom teacher?
• Promote a team atmosphere among school personnel
• Commit to funding the program
• Provide for released time and funds for long-term staff development required of the Reading Recovery® teacher
• Provide transportation for children
involved with the behind-the-glass
lessons at Keystone AEA
• Develop a partnership with the Reading Recovery® teacher
• Observe and discuss at least one Reading
Recovery® lesson
• Advise on the selection of children
• Advise on the release of children
• Support the Reading Recovery® child in the classroom
“Reading Recovery® has made such a
difference in my child’s life. She is a
different child . . . so much more selfconfident and successful in her
classroom.”
—Parent
Training of the teachers is conducted by
Keystone AEA’s Reading Recovery®
Teacher Leader, Betty Gitz. Service to
students begins at the same time teachers
are being trained. Participating teachers
work with four students as part of their
teaching assignment.
“Researchers have
shown us that by
increasing the
quality of instruction,
increasing the
quantity of reading
and writing, and by
becoming active in
one-on-one early
intervention, many
children’s reading
problems can be
solved. Reading
Recovery® is doing all
of these things
successfully.”
—Betty Gitz, Reading Recovery®
Teacher Leader