Remedial Reading Chatboard

Question about reading recovery

by Christine

Jul 13, 2012

Maria On 7/13/12, Christine wrote: > Can someone explain Reading Recovery levels? I teach middle > school special ed. and I am confused because my district > seems like it has suddenly gotten very into Reading > Recovery. My confusion is because I thought it was only for > first graders.

Christine, I taught Reading Recovery for 15...See MoreOn 7/13/12, Christine wrote: > Can someone explain Reading Recovery levels? I teach middle > school special ed. and I am confused because my district > seems like it has suddenly gotten very into Reading > Recovery. My confusion is because I thought it was only for > first graders.

Christine, I taught Reading Recovery for 15 years. It is a reading intervention for first grade students who are at risk for reading difficulties. It is designed to help students make accelerated progress, in other words, bring the student to where he belongs...on par with the rest of his class. It is a daily, 30-minute, one-on-one intervention. It is very structured as each lesson has several components including reading, working with words (word work), and writing. The intervention usually takes from 12 to 20 weeks to complete. If the student hasn't reached the average level of his class after 20 weeks in Reading Recovery he is placed in a literacy group for additional remedial services. Each student receives individualized instruction based on keen observation by the teacher. Reading Recovery was created for first graders although the components could certainly be used with any student in any grade level whose reading is significantly below grade level or if a student cannot read at all. Although you may instruct your students in the components of Reading Recovery it is not "officially" Reading Recovery unless it is taught by a trained, certified Reading Recovery teacher. There are loads of guidelines that must be followed as well as much record-keeping and reporting to the Reading Recovery powers that be. Reading Recovery teachers also have to participate in professional development sessions every other month to keep their teaching skills sharp. So...you can't tell parents that their child is receiving Reading Recovery unless you have been trained and the student is officially entered into the system. First graders are carefully screened using Reading Recovery materials before being selected for Reading Recovery. If they are reading (in September) below level 3/C they are selected to receive the intervention. If they make accelerated progress and move up to the average level of their class they successfully discontinue from the intervention. So, yes, it's possible to use the components of Reading Recovery with middle school students. I have seen a handful of first graders who had received Reading Recovery reading at level 30/U (which is fifth grade level)at the end of the year. Hope this helped.

Jul 14, 2012

Classroom Management/Behavior

by Marie

Aug 4, 2012

Does anyone have a good system for small group behavior? I am looking for ideas to use with my Title I groups. The colored card/clothespin clip seemed to work; however, it was a pain because I had to make up a separate chart for each of my groups. At the beginning of their half an hour class, I would need to make certain that I set out their chart,...See More

Common Core

by Worried Teacher

Aug 5, 2012

How many of you believe that with Common Core we will be seeing a tremendous increase in students needing remedial reading?

Mark Pennington On 8/05/12, Worried Teacher wrote: > How many of you believe that with Common Core we will be > seeing a tremendous increase in students needing remedial > reading? The Common Core State Standards have no influence on increasing remedial readers, per se. In fact, the Addendum materials primate a solid program if explicit phonics and spelli...See More

Aug 25, 2012

creative thinking dyslexics

by judith jenkinson

Aug 12, 2012

I work with dyslexic adults and children...I work using visual methods, clay modeling, relaxation and focusing techniques...I need another teacher to work with me as I have an overload of students...I am based in Old Windsor Berkshire

Maria On 8/12/12, judith jenkinson wrote: > I work with dyslexic adults and children...I work using > visual methods, clay modeling, relaxation and focusing > techniques...I need another teacher to work with me as I > have an overload of students...I am based in Old Windsor > Berkshire

Boy, I sure do wish I lived close to your are...See More

Aug 12, 2012

Dyslexia intervention class for 5th and 6th grade.

by Gilda

Aug 12, 2012

I'm interested in how others schedule students for dyslexia interventions at the 5th and 6th grade level?

I am a licensed dyslexia therapist and I teach at an intermediate school. It is difficult to schedule interventions because first, teachers don't want students leaving their classes for interventions, and second, students are extremel...See More

Jenn Hello ~ I've worked with 5th and 6th graders most of my career. All my students are on IEP's and almost all receive pull-out for reading support. My caseload is small enough that I can see students pretty much 1-1 for either a half-hour or an hour. The hour students often have someone else overlapping their time at some point. The first week of sch...See MoreHello ~ I've worked with 5th and 6th graders most of my career. All my students are on IEP's and almost all receive pull-out for reading support. My caseload is small enough that I can see students pretty much 1-1 for either a half-hour or an hour. The hour students often have someone else overlapping their time at some point. The first week of school I sit with the classroom teachers - they have a copy of the IEP and know how many hours the students need to get pulled. I will pull from reading/LA time so they are not missing other subjects they hopefully are stronger in. It's a mutual decision - the teachers know these services aren't optional, but I work with them and respect their wishes when they want the child in the classroom for a particular time. There are definitely time I compromise and times they do. However, if a teacher out and out refused and I had to, I would simply say, sorry, it's in their IEP, that's when they need to come; call a PPT if you are not happy. If teachers are refusing to let their students leave to get the services you are mandated to provide you need to speak to your supervisor, principal, or whoever.

The intimidation factor is something bigger that has to be dealt with by all staff. The classroom teacher should have rules and consequences in place for that type of behavior, and in this day many schools have rules in their handbook. Are the students doing the intimidating being addressed? Is the staff taking measures so that all students understand that everyone is different and has different needs? What about the psychologist or social worker coming in to talk to all classes about being respectful, understanding of individual differences, etc? If that doesn't work than involve the principal. If your school has guidelines like many do about bullying this would fall under that behavior. What are the consequences?

Get the parents of your students involved. They can make plain to the classroom teachers and/or administration that these are services their children NEED, they (I'm assuming) WANT them to receive, and nothing should stand in the way.

Good luck! Jenn

On 8/12/12, Gilda wrote: > I'm interested in how others schedule students for dyslexia > interventions at the 5th and 6th grade level? > > I am a licensed dyslexia therapist and I teach at an > intermediate school. It is difficult to schedule > interventions because first, teachers don't want students > leaving their classes for interventions, and second, > students are extremely intimidated by other students when > they do leave class for interventions in reading. > > As a result I end up having 45 min. classes with 17 > students. The rest of my day is not utilized efficiently > and in my opinion, my talents are wasted. > > Any suggestions on scheduling so that I can make those > classes smaller? It is becoming more and more frustrating > every year because I know that I could reach more kids if I > had them in smaller groups and in groups that are leveled.

Aug 19, 2012