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With a new school year, we welcome new students into Reading Recovery! During the first ten lessons spent Roaming Around the Known, emphasize simplicity and personalization as you introduce them to all parts of a Reading Recovery lesson, build a relationship, and observe what the child can do. They may surprise you! As Clay says, “Confidence, ease, flexibility and, with luck, discovery are the keynotes of this period…” (Clay, 2005, p. 32). ‘ 

 “I find that… students who qualify for Reading Recovery already feel defeated. They recognize that they are behind their peers and that literacy learning does not come easy to them. This awareness is hard to overcome but, brilliantly, Dr. Clay designed this special Roaming time to help us show them that, yes, they can be successful.” 

Read more on the blog What is Beautiful about Roaming? 

Prioritize Simplicity and Student-Centered Learning 

Don’t stress! One of the key principles in the first few weeks of roaming is to keep things simple. Focus on the processes outlined by Clay and adapt your approach based on each child’s needs and interests. As they familiarize themselves with concepts about print, gather insights about each child’s abilities and create a scaffolded approach to guide them gently forward.  

Build Supportive Relationships 

Make Reading Recovery a success by building a relationship with the child. Use your sessions to model positive reading and writing behaviors by following their lead. Read aloud funny or interesting books and engage them in interactive writing activities. For read-alouds, set out several books and let the child choose what book they want to read! Creating a supportive and enjoyable environment builds trust and encourages a positive attitude towards learning. 

 Integrate Students’ Interests 

Reading and writing become more engaging when they reflect a child’s interests. Start by discovering what excites your students —playground activities, favorite animals, or special events. Create personalized books with them. For example, you might take photos of a child on the playground and write a book together about their activities. You could also have a child bring their favorite toy, take pictures around the school, and write a little book about the toy’s big day. When the child knows you really “see” them, your relationship will grow. 

 Embrace the Power of a Name 

Almost all students can read and write their own name!  Meet the child where they are and start with their name. Read Nancy’s blog about the power of a name here. “Make RATK fun and joyful! Capitalize on the child’s strengths by using their known information about their name in teaching, learning to look at print, CAP concepts, reading and writing. Kids love to know they are capable and valued and when you observe carefully, use what the child knows, and place the child at the center of the lesson then you can expertly tailor their literacy learning journey.”  

Incorporate Writing Throughout 

Writing is a crucial component of literacy development! Find ways to incorporate writing during roaming: 

• After reading level one and two books, allow students to add their final page to the book, or add in speech bubbles. Cut paper to fit the books and attach it with correction tape for easy removal later. When you send the book home, the child can proudly say they are an author too. These books are special to return to in later weeks. 

• Write postcards home to parents. 

• Write about the child’s favorite stories or topics. 

• Get creative by incorporating writing with shaving cream, chalk, or wet paintbrushes on the sidewalk or chalkboard.  

• One teacher shared that her trick is to utilize small packs of stickers. Some children love crafting stories based on the characters in the packets; they can then take home their creations and extra stickers to share with family. 

These tips encourage children to contribute ideas and details while incorporating a writing component. 

 Focus on Letter Recognition and Word Building 

Incorporate activities that reinforce letter recognition and word building.  

• Use magnetic letters for sorting and building words.   

• Use a fly swatter to “swat” or bounce a small ball onto known letters or words on the floor 

• Play memory games with letter cards.  

• Engage in simple games, such as sorting colored items or picture cards to enhance skills in a fun way. 

Repetition with known letters and words helps build automaticity and confidence. 

Emphasize Familiar Texts and Routine 

By the end of your roaming sessions, you will have built a collection of familiar texts for each child. These should include both personalized books and those with repeated readings. Familiar texts build confidence and fluency, making reading a more enjoyable experience. Additionally, you should establish good habits early on, such as proper pencil grip and a love for books, which will benefit students long after they have left Reading Recovery. 

Use Diverse and Interactive Strategies 

Incorporate a variety of strategies to keep sessions engaging and comprehensive. This can include reading aloud, clapping words and syllables, playing language games, or any of the strategies listed above. Each of these activities addresses different aspects of literacy while keeping students interested and involved. 

 Continuously Assess and Adapt 

Keep track of each child’s progress and adapt your methods as needed. By focusing on what the student already knows and building from there, you ensure each lesson is tailored to their current level and needs as you begin your journey in Reading Recovery.  

By embracing these strategies, you can create a personalized and dynamic Reading Recovery intervention that not only improves literacy skills but also fosters a love of reading and writing. Keep things simple, stay student-centered, and make learning a joyful experience for your students!