Reading Recovery never failed to make a difference to a child in our district, but it was not cost effective and the gains did not live up to expectation. Our testing showed similar results--some short term gains and a tendency for children to fall short of grade level expectations with consistency through upper grades. At the risk of offending, I would say that that failure cannot be placed only on the shoulders of the reading recovery program. The ability to teach reading is not a given among classroom teachers and in my former community, the consistency of support outside of the walls of the classroom was rife. We also saw Reading Recovery misused, and again, this is my opinion, in that children who clearly were struggling across the board and would otherwise have been referred to a more holistic and long term support system were instead placed into RR in hopes of salvation. These children always made some sort of improvement but their needs were clearly going to be ongoing. I believe this often prevented the 'ideal candidates' from being services or relegated them to second round servicing. Try as they might (our RR teachers were a WONDERFUL group), second round kiddos seldom got the full benefits of the intervention. Another issue was continuing contact. Most of our schools overburdened the RR teachers so that the discontinued child was simply thrown back into the sea and expected to swim solo.
Lori Jackson M.Ed.Reading Specialist Broken Bow, NE EMAILING FOR THE GREATER GOOD Join me > Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:28:04 -0700 > From: susannelee...@yahoo.com > To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Reading Recovery > > I didn't say it was a waste of money. I said it was an expensive program. > I did work with first graders who made great gains, but after they finished > the "program" gains were made at a much slower pace (of course, no more one > on one). I am glad for the training because I am a much better teacher in > my guided reading groups as to what to look for, strategies, to use, etc..... > The 3 students that did not make gains are due to the fact that they have > learning disabilities. That is the one part I did not like about RR. I do > not want to be a special ed teacher. I witnessed other RR teachers making > their children cry when they could not read and forcing them to continue. I > do not agree with that method.............. RR has its positives, it is just > not for me, at least not now..... I missed too many things in the classroom. > > --- On Thu, 9/24/09, Jeanne Crider <jeann...@charter.net> wrote: > > > From: Jeanne Crider <jeann...@charter.net> > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Reading Recovery > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" > <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> > Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009, 9:20 PM > > > I am a Reading Recovery teacher. Do you really think that helping the most > struggling 1st graders is a waste of money? Do you think that these students > would make greater gains being in a small group or remaining in the classroom > alone? Children in Reading Recovery have a program specifically designed for > them. It looks at their strengths and builds on them. In the classroom, > teachers don't have time to focus on one child with such intensity. They > don't have the time to spend helping the child learn in the way that is best > for them. Classroom teachers have too many other kids who each have their > own needs. Untangling the most confused 1st graders is certainly worth it in > my opinion. By the way, I see more students in a day than any of the first > grade classroom teachers have in their classroom. I work hard each and every > day to meet the needs of my students. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I > guess it was a good idea that you > left if you don't believe in the philosophy. Maybe you should examine your > own teaching if the 3 students made no gains in your 2nd grade classroom. > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susanne Lee" <susannelee...@yahoo.com> > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" > <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> > Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 8:01 PM > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Reading Recovery > > > I did reading recovery for one year. I agree, it is a very expensive program > to serve just a few children. We did find gains, but I also noticed that when > they went to 2nd grade (I went to 2nd grade also), they did plateau. In fact, > last year, I had 3 of my reading recovery kids and none of them gained a > reading level during the year. I didn't believe in the philosophy of the > program and that is why I left after one year. I also felt in the second half > of the year when i did reading recovery, I was more of a special ed teacher > than anything else. I am not a huge advocate of the program, as you can > see........ > > --- On Wed, 9/23/09, swalte...@san.rr.com <swalte...@san.rr.com> wrote: > > > From: swalte...@san.rr.com <swalte...@san.rr.com> > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Reading Recovery > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" > <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> > Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 8:10 PM > > > > We have two reading recovery teachers. Many of us feel that they do not > service enough kids. > Meeting kids one on one is not the best use of man power for our needy school, > > We find that many of the kids that are exited plateau in 2nd grade. > > ---- Hillary Marchel <march...@hawthorn73.org> wrote: >>> What are your feelings about Reading Recovery? Thanks, I know your >>> all busy. Hillary >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Mosaic mailing list >>> Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org >>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org >>> . >>> >>> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Mosaic mailing list >> Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. >> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. 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