Reading Recovery Program
Saving "At Risk" Readers
by Maureen Warner
October 09, 2006
Reading Recovery is a remedial reading program that has been in the United States since the late 1970's. The program was created by Marie Clay, a school psychologist in New Zealand. The philosophy differs from most traditional reading programs as it is based on involved brain research. The thrust of instruction is driven by observing and recording information that the student already knows and "connecting" onto those meager pieces of knowledge to create new brain "connections".
Reading Recovery teachers initially earn 8 hours of graduate reading credit to become fully trained in reading instruction. The teachers participate in "continuing contact" classes throughout their tenure in the program. I attend classes once a month and during the summer to become informed of new and current changes in the teaching of reading.
A typical lesson involves a thirty minute instructional session where the student works individually with the reading teacher. The lessons are comprised of specific reading components: 1) familiar reading of previous texts 2) a running record book which is used to determine reading level and progress 3 ) writing a sentence and reconstructing it to make a cohesive story 4) making and breaking words and letters into parts 5) introduction of a new book which will become the running record book the next day.
This approach to reading instruction has proven to be very successful. The gains students make are maintained over time and children become much more confident, fluent readers. The program targets first graders but the strategies can be easily modified for older students.
