What Is the Reading Recovery Program?
Reading Recovery is a structured reading program for first-grade students who are struggling with beginning reading and writing skills. The program was developed by Marie Clay, writer and educator, in 1984 in the United States. Prior to 1984, the program was used in New Zealand. Reading Recovery is designed as a intensive reading program using one-on-one instruction with the lowest 20 percent of the first grade for a 12- to 20-week period.
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Professional Development
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Professional development for the Reading Recovery teacher is the key component to organizing and implementing the reading program. Teachers are trained in specific methodologies for assessment, running records, a phonics component and writing lessons. Each individual is provided a reading and writing lesson according to the student's ability. Every following lesson is built upon the previous one.
Reading Lesson
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An individual reading lesson for each first grade student who participates in Reading Recovery is a 30-minute session. This lesson includes the following components: reading familiar books as well as new books, running records that record errors, magnetic letters, framing letters and sounds, reading comprehension and writing stories.
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Phonemic Awareness through Writing
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Phonemic awareness is taught to the first-grade students through writing stories. An intervention using boxes and markers for the letter and sound relationships is used to learn the words accurately. Words for this exercise are taken from the student's writing. Markers are slid from one letter box to another sounding out the word. Eventually the markers and boxes are eliminated, and the word is learned.
Benefits for the Child
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A first-grade student who has participated in this program experiences beginning reading success. According to Reading Recovery Council of North America, this experience has a proven success rate of 75 percent or higher. Children perform higher on standardized tests and in classroom performance therefore they possess a higher confidence level.
Financial Benefits
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The Reading Recovery Council of North America states in its research that by implementing the Reading Recovery program, schools have shown thousands of dollars savings over time. Students successfully completing the reading program no longer need additional special education or Title I services. Retention is not longer a necessary option.
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