Reading program offers ‘second chance’

While most children begin to learn to read and write without any problems, some struggle. And that’s where the new “Reading Recovery” program comes in.
Phillip Whitefish, a grade one student in Helen Mose’s class at Donald Young School here in Emo, is in the program. He loves animals, and recently completed a diorama on hippos of which he’s very proud.
“Reading Recovery,” an early intervention program designed by Marie M. Clay, is aimed to enable those like Whitefish to catch up with others in their grade by becoming self-improving readers and writers.
Children not taking reading and writing through regular instruction receive a short-term, individually-designed program of instruction that allows them to succeed before they enter a cycle of failure.
The program is designed to move children, in just 12-20 weeks, from the bottom of their class to the average level, where they can benefit from regular classroom instruction again.
The Canadian Institute of Reading Recovery (CIRR) is a national organization formed by a unique partnership between a school board and a university. Its purpose is to ensure access to “Reading Recovery” for all children in Canada who need it.
CIRR is responsible for providing training for teacher leaders, who then train teachers in their own school systems to work with children.
The CIRR’s mission is to raise literacy levels in Canada by training teachers to provide leadership in school systems for the delivery of “Reading Recovery.”
It believes early literacy is the foundation for learning.