Reading Recovery has life long impact on students
In 1999, Jack, a student in Yukon, was at the lowest reading level in his class in Grade 1. His parents were shocked to receive this news, but when offered the opportunity to have him participate in Reading Recovery, they gratefully accepted this offer of support.
Jack when he was a Reading Recovery Student
Following just a few weeks of the Reading Recovery literacy intervention in his school, Jack’s reading level improved dramatically. He finished his Grade 2 year at the highest reading level in his class.
Jack’s teachers referred to him as the “perfect Reading Recovery student”. He was able to accelerate
his learning and quickly catch up to his peers.
Jack enjoyed his time in Reading Recovery so much that he turned up at the Reading Recovery
room at the beginning of Grade 3 ready to continue his work with Ms. Marie!
The short term intervention of Reading Recovery has made a difference for Jack. Throughout elementary school and high school, Jack was an avid reader and an above average student. In 2011 Jack graduated from high school with honours. Currently, Jack is finishing his Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree at UVic and achieving A’s in his program. He is also an excellent writer and a voracious reader of global politics, biographies, and fiction anchored in history and travel adventures.
Jack has come a long way since his beginnings as the lowest achieving reader in his Grade 1 class! Without the Reading Recovery intervention it is possible Jack would struggle with reading, writing and academic achievement throughout his education and into adulthood. The short time he spent with Ms. Marie in Reading Recovery has made all the difference for Jack.
Parents of children who are struggling to read and write often wonder what they can do to help their children be better readers and writer. There are many things parents can do which can help young children with reading – read to them, give them books to read, point out letters and words you see in public, let them see you reading, take them to the library.
Even with these activities some children will struggle to learn to read once they get into school. For these children Reading Recovery is an effective way, in a short amount of time to bring the kids who are struggling the most up to a level equal to the other readers in their grade. Not all schools have Reading Recovery though, so one of the ways parents can help is to advocate for the school board, division or district to implement Reading Recovery. Reading Recovery makes a life long impact!
Tags:Early Literacy, Impact, Reading Recovery