Reading Recovery

Reading Recovery is a research based early intervention program for first grade children who are experiencing difficulty in their reading instruction. Reading Recovery is a short term (12 to 20 weeks) intervention whose goal is to help a child make accelerated progress. The immediate goal is to assist children to read at or above the average level of their first grade peers. The long-term goal is that children continue to improve with their regular class instruction and their independent reading.

Reading Recovery was developed in the mid 1970's by New Zealand educator and researcher Dr. Marie Clay. Since its beginning in New Hampshire in the 1990-91 school year, New Hampshire Reading Recovery has helped over 9,000 students become capable readers and writers. Research studies in NH and other states and countries show that the effects of Reading Recovery last well beyond first grade.

The course which prepares New Hampshire teachers for this very skillful teaching is both theoretical and clinical. Only experienced teachers of reading are accepted. After their training year, Reading Recovery teachers continue to receive professional development monthly and are supported on site by one of our NH Reading Recovery Teacher Leaders. Because of this ongoing professional development, Reading Recovery teachers maintain and improve their instructional expertise, their skills, and are up-to-date with the most recent research. All of this training and instructional expertise is provided to NH teachers at no cost to them or their district.

Reading Recovery: Scaling Up What Works is a five year $54.7 million project funded through an Investing in Innovations federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education and private matching funds to improve outcomes for unprecedented numbers of students in low performing schools. Lesley University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will receive over $4 million of the funds to train 250 teachers in schools in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and parts of upstate New York.

In each year of the grant, Lesley will recruit and oversee training of 50 Reading Recovery teachers in its five-state area. In addition, an experienced literacy educator will be selected from an area that serves underrepresented high-needs schools to be trained to deliver the teacher professional development during and after the project ends, helping to expand and sustain the impact of the project.

Schools chosen to join the project will receive full funding for the training, materials and support required to teach students using the program. NH schools that are interested in participating in this opportunity to train more Reading Recovery teachers are asked to contact Wendy Mattson, NH Teacher Leader at wendymattson@nhreadingrecovery.org.

More information on Reading Recovery, including NH data, how to apply, and videos of lessons can be found www.nhreadingrecovery.org.

• 2008 NECAP Research Report
• 2008-2009 Reading Recovery Accountability Data
  • Site Report for New Hampshire
  • Site Report Summary

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