Learn about your colleagues from across the country who do whatever it takes as part of the Reading Recovery Community! Stephanie is able to attend LitCon this year because of a generous financial award from the Tenyo Family Foundation. We encourage you to consider donating to the Foundation for Struggling Readers today during RRCNA’s Annual Appeal this Giving Tuesday. With your help, we can change the lives of struggling readers.

 

What is your favorite thing about Reading Recovery?

Reading Recovery is so powerful that it is hard to name only one thing that is my favorite. I love the challenge and individualized support that I can offer. I get to watch each student grow, but really I get to grow along with them. That’s my favorite thing about Reading Recovery. I get to be a life-long learner. I get to grow and develop new skills while supporting students during the most important years of their literacy journey. Reading Recovery takes my teaching to the next level, and I am constantly molding myself and my craft as a teacher. It’s very rewarding.

 

Share a favorite Reading Recovery memory.

My favorite Reading Recovery memory happened last year. As we came out of virtual learning and the pandemic, many students fell far behind. One mom was worried about her daughter, but then her daughter began coming to me for Reading Recovery. The mom who had once been so worried went to a school board meeting and told the board members how grateful she was for my position. She told the members that before Reading Recovery she was concerned that her child would never learn how to read, but then once she started working with me her reading began to take off. Being recognized is not why I do what I do, but it sure felt amazing. It confirmed that I was doing important work.

 

What insights do you expect to gain from attending LitCon?

This year at LitCon, I hope to learn more about how to foster student independence in this highly virtual world we live in today. I hope to collaborate on ideas and share learning from colleagues in similar roles to me from around the country. I hope to take (at least) one idea from every session that I attend that I can bring back home and try with my students here.

 

What is your favorite book?

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

 

What do you like to do for fun?

I love to write (I have two published picture books), travel, and I read lots of books. I have two boys, and we love being outside, going on family walks, and exploring.