Reading Recovery

Reading Recovery was developed by New Zealand educator and researcher Dr. Marie Clay. Reading Recovery is a highly effective short-term early literacy intervention designed for first grade students having difficulty learning to read and write. The intervention is most effective when it is available to all students who need it and is used as a supplement to good classroom teaching.

Reading Recovery Teacher, Rhonda Johnson

Reading Recovery students meet individually with a specially trained teacher for 30 minutes daily. The intensive instruction ranges from 12-20 weeks. As soon as students can read within the average range of their class and demonstrate that they can continue to achieve, their program is complete, and new students begin individual instruction.

The goal of Reading Recovery is to dramatically reduce the number of first-grade students who have extreme difficulty learning to read and write and to reduce the cost of these learners to educational systems. Since 1984 when Reading Recovery began in the United States, approximately 75% of students who complete the full 12- to 20-week intervention can meet grade-level expectations in reading and writing. Follow-up studies indicate that most Reading Recovery students also do well on standardized tests and maintain their gains in later years.

Reading Recovery Teacher, Linda Baker

Most children served by Reading Recovery make accelerated progress and meet grade level expectations in reading and writing. They develop effective reading and writing strategies that enable them to continue learning independently in the classroom. Reading Recovery can also serve as a pre-referral program for a small number of students who may need specialized longer-term help.

Source: Reading Recovery Council of Michigan and National Reading Recovery Council