Greetings! Congratulations on being selected by your school for Reading Recovery training. Enclosed are the forms needed to complete the application process: 1. The Program Requirements highlight teacher selection, teacher training, school implementation, collaboration, and continuing professional development. 2. The Teacher Information Form and Teacher Commitment Form, are to be completed and returned to your teacher leader and a copy should be sent to: Dr. Janet Behrend, UALR Center for Literacy University of Arkansas at Little Rock 2801 S. University Ave. Little Rock, AR 72204 (501) 569-3097 FAX (501) 569-8516 3. Application to the Graduate School includes information on Application for Admission, Transcript request, and Immunization for the UALR Graduate School. Once a student is admitted to the Graduate School, a PIN number will be assigned and the student will be able to register for the fall semester course, following instructor approval: READ 7342 Principles of Literacy and Cognition I Payment is due upon registration. To verify your admission status, you may call the Graduate Admissions office at 501-569-8662. 4. Books and Materials If you are an i3 teacher, moost of your books and materials will be ordered for you and shipped to the teacher leader. An additional $350.00 will also be available for ordering approved materials and supplies. If you are not an i3 teacher, please contact your teacher leader for information on ordering. Additional information regarding the dates and times for the Assessment Workshops and training classes will be communicated to you by your teacher leader. Please contact me or your teacher leader if you have any questions. Janet Behrend, EdD Reading Recovery Teacher Leader Trainer University of Arkansas at Little Rock 2801 S. University Ave. Little Rock, AR 72204 (501) 569-3097
READING RECOVERY Program Requirements Teacher Selection: Teachers selected for Reading Recovery training must be highly motivated and competent in their present position, and be willing to be trained and perform the duties of a Reading Recovery teacher. The selected teacher must be eligible for admission to the Graduate School of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, which requires a 2.75 minimum undergraduate GPA. 1. Teachers must hold teacher certification. It is recommended that the teacher hold state licensure in the area of Reading, or be willing to complete a program of study to receive this licensure. 2. It is recommended that the applicants have a minimum of three years of recent experience as an early childhood or primary teacher. 3. Certification as a Reading Recovery teacher is renewed annually with continued employment as a Reading Recovery teacher, participation in Continuing Contact, and adherence to the Standards and Guidelines of the Reading Recovery Council of North America. Teachers that have been previously trained but are not currently serving as a Reading Recovery Teacher must contact the Teacher Leader to initiate a plan for updating their training and to renew their certification. 4. A Reading Recovery Teacher Leader must be included in the selection process of i3 Reading Recovery Teachers. Teacher Training: 1. The training will require the teacher to work with a minimum of four children every school day, with each child receiving a 30-minute lesson. This requires preparing individual lessons and evaluating each child s progress daily. 2. The Reading Recovery teacher will attend a 3-5 day workshop on the administration of the Observation Survey and the selection of children for the program. This is preliminary to the weekly three-hour fall semester course and will occur prior to the fall semester. 3. The Reading Recovery teacher will enroll in a year-long graduate course of study (six credit hours). Attendance in all classes is required. During the year, the teacher in training will teach demonstration lessons with a student behind the glass at least three times a year. This involves contacting parents, obtaining permission and arranging transportation. The principal will facilitate the transportation of children to the training site when Reading Recovery teachers take their turns to teach lessons behind the glass during the training year. 4. Teachers will be required to receive at least 4 school visits from the teacher leader during the training year. The visits will include teaching children for observation and feedback.
5. Teachers will be required to complete the course work with at least a B average to continue on as a Reading Recovery teacher. School Implementation: 1. The teacher and school will uphold the Standards and Guidelines of Reading Recovery Council in the United States. 2. Full implementation of Reading Recovery is critical to the success of the program. One Reading Recovery teacher should serve the children who need Reading Recovery across two first grade classrooms. (Additional classrooms should be served by additional Reading Recovery teachers). 3. Selection of children is based on the administration of Observation Survey to identify those first graders most in need of services. Reading Recovery children should come from a heterogeneously grouped classroom; therefore, children in developmental classes, transition classes, children who have been retained in first grade, and children who have been identified with a reading disability are not selected for Reading Recovery. 4. In Arkansas, Reading Recovery teachers are trained in a comprehensive intervention model that includes Reading Recovery for the lowest achieving first grade students and small group interventions for low achieving students in grades K-4. In this model, the Reading Recovery teacher works with 4 Reading Recovery students for part of the day and small group interventions for the rest of the day. Training for the model consists of 2 additional graduate level courses following the year of Reading Recovery training (the i3 grant does not include the cost of this training). 5. Teachers should be provided a quiet area (with minimal distractions) equipped with appropriate furniture (rectangular table, book shelves, chairs) and materials and books as found in the book/materials list. 6. Teachers maintain and submit records as required by the training site, the International Data Evaluation Center, and grant evaluators. Collaboration: 1. Teachers communicate the Reading Recovery program and expectations to parents, administrators and staff. 2. Teachers maintain communication with classroom teachers regarding the program and progress of the children informally and in intervention team meetings. 3. Teachers offer awareness sessions to faculty and other interested groups. 4. Teacher Leaders will visit teachers in the school on a regular basis during the training year for technical assistance, guidance and discussion. The Teacher Leader will also observe the teacher while s/he is teaching.
Continuing Professional Development After Training Year: 1. The trained Reading Recovery teacher will attend a minimum of six Continuing Contact sessions annually. These occur during the school day under the direction of the Teacher Leader, and release time is required. The principal will facilitate the transportation of children to the training site when the Reading Recovery teacher takes her turn to teach lessons behind the glass during Continuing Contact. 2. The teacher will consult with the Teacher Leader during at least one site visit per year, and as needed for other concerns and decisions. 3. The teacher may assist other trained teachers with end-of-program testing. 4. The teacher should make and receive one colleague visit per year, to view and discuss lessons. 5. The teacher should attend an approved Reading Recovery conference each year. 6. The teacher maintains and submits records as required by the training site and the International Data Evaluation Center.
READING RECOVERY Teacher Information Form Teacher s Name District School Principal s Name School Address City Zip Code School Phone ( ) Fax ( ) Home Phone ( ) Email Certification Areas: Do you hold a Licensure in Reading? Teaching Experience: Current Position: Total Years Teaching Experience (list grades taught & dates): Academic Background: Highest Academic Degree: Year Awarded: Major Field of Study: Graduate Coursework in Reading: Are you admitted, or eligible to be admitted, to the Graduate School of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2.75 minimum GPA)?
I3 READING RECOVERY TEACHER COMMITMENT FORM (to be completed by all i3 teachers) I accept the opportunity to participate in the Arkansas Reading Recovery i3 Scaling Up What Works Project. I understand that this is a three-year commitment to Reading Recovery during which time I will receive training and professional development, materials and support for implementation. I agree to adhere to the following assurances: 1. I will adhere to the Standards and Guidelines of Reading Recovery Council in the United States regarding teaching four children daily, training and continuing professional development, school implementation and collaboration, and maintaining annual certification as a Reading Recovery teacher. 2. I will attend all professional development and training sessions and meet all requirements to ensure successful implementation of Reading Recovery. The training and professional development schedule is as follows: Training year: Three - five days summer training in assessment Two semesters of graduate level coursework (release time required) Second year: Two additional graduate level courses in the Comprehensive Intervention model for small group instruction Six 3-hour Continuing Contact sessions during the school year (release time required) Subsequent years: Six 3-hour Continuing Contact sessions during the school year 3. I will complete necessary records and submit data to the training center, International Data Evaluation Center, and grant evaluators as required. 4. I am qualified to be admitted to the Graduate School of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Teacher Signature Principal Signature I,, certify that I participated (Teacher Leader) in the selection process of this teacher.. Teacher Leader Signature
READING RECOVERY TEACHER COMMITMENT FORM (For teachers who are not in the i3 grant) I accept the opportunity to participate in Reading Recovery training. I understand that this is a three-year commitment to Reading Recovery during which time I will receive training and professional development and support for implementation. I agree to adhere to the following assurances: 3. I will adhere to the Standards and Guidelines of Reading Recovery Council in the United States regarding teaching four children daily, training and continuing professional development, school implementation and collaboration, and maintaining annual certification as a Reading Recovery teacher. 4. I will attend all professional development and training sessions and meet all requirements to ensure successful implementation of Reading Recovery. The training and professional development schedule is as follows: Training year: Three - five days summer training in assessment Two semesters of graduate level coursework (release time required) Second year: Two additional graduate level courses in the Comprehensive Intervention model for small group instruction Six 3-hour Continuing Contact sessions during the school year (release time required) Subsequent years: Six 3-hour Continuing Contact sessions during the school year 3. I will complete necessary records and submit data to the training center and the International Data Evaluation Center as required. 4. I am qualified to be admitted to the Graduate School of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Teacher Signature Principal Signature I,, certify that I participated (Teacher Leader) in the selection process of this teacher.. Teacher Leader Signature
UALR Graduate School Admissions Admission to a graduate program in the UALR Graduate School requires a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with substantially the same undergraduate program as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. A 2.7 undergraduate grade point average (GPA) (4.0 scale) on the last 60 hours is the minimum for some programs. Most programs require a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours or a 2.7 GPA on all undergraduate hours. Admission to an educational specialist or doctoral program usually requires a masters degree from an accredited institution. Official transcripts, which are sent directly from the college or university that issued the degree, are required. Students must satisfy requirements of the program to which they seek admission as well as of the Graduate School. Admission to all graduate programs in Reading require a valid and current teaching license. Applicants who do not meet all minimum admission criteria may, in rare instances, be admitted conditionally. Immunizations UALR interprets an Arkansas state law to require of all applicants proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella for applicants born on or after January 1, 1957. Forms are available in the Graduate School and must be returned with proof of immunization. The vaccination is administered at the Office of Health Services on campus for no charge. The Application Process Applicants must apply online to the Graduate School and make arrangements for official transcripts to be sent as specified by the program. Apply at the UALR Graduate School web site at http://www.ualr.edu/~graddept. Follow the links for the online application process. It is the applicant s responsibility to ensure that all admission documents are received in the Graduate School in a timely manner. All credentials submitted by or on behalf of an applicant become the property of the University and may be maintained for up to one semester. Material from applicants who do not submit all requested material will be shredded and discarded. Once an application has been submitted, applicants should notify the Graduate School of any change in plans regarding enrollment at UALR. Section 5-37-105 of the Arkansas Code makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment, "to present a transcript, diploma, or grade report from a post-secondary educational institution in a fraudulent manner." Withholding information or submitting inaccurate information may make people ineligible for admission and subject to dismissal from the Graduate School.
Graduate School Admission Procedure for completing a request for admission to the Graduate School at UALR: 1. Go to www.ualr.edu home page. 2. Click on Prospective Students. 3. Click on Graduate School Admission. 4. Read the requirements for admission to the Graduate School at UALR. 5. Scroll to the bottom of the page. Click on Admission forms. 6. Complete the following forms: - Admission form for the Graduate School (You MUST declare a program either the Intervention Specialist Certificate Program, the Master s in Reading program or the EdS in Reading program if you already have a Master s degree. DO NOT DECLARE ANY OTHER PROGRAM.) - Biographical data form 7. Submit these forms electronically. 8. Print the Proof of Immunization, College of Education Reference and Transcript request forms. 9. Complete the immunization and transcript request forms. Secure a copy of your immunization record if you were born after January 1, 1957. Complete and mail any transcript request forms to the institutions from which you have received graduate credit or completed a degree. 10. Secure a copy of your Arkansas teaching certificate. 11. Mail your completed immunization form, a copy of your immunization record, and a copy of your teaching certificate to: UALR Graduate Admissions University of Arkansas at Little Rock 2801 S. University Little Rock, AR 72204 12. Request necessary transcripts from other colleges and/or universities. Have the transcript(s) mailed to the above address. Your admission to the Graduate School at UALR cannot be completed until all documents have been received and reviewed by the Graduate School, College of Education, and the Program Coordinator. The candidate will be notified in writing of the admission to the Graduate School at UALR prior to registration for coursework. It is the responsibility of the candidate to be sure that all required documents and other requests from the Graduate School are met. It you have any questions concerning admission, please call 501-569-8662 (Paula Baker, Graduate School, UALR).
Reading Recovery Supplies List Rectangular table set to child s height Large rectangular mirror mounted lengthwise behind table (optional, but recommended) Easel with white, magnetic dry erase board Chalkboard Eraser Magnetic Letters 1 to 1 ¾ size, multicolored, 2 sets lower case (at least), 1 set capitals Letter storage box 1 Post-it correction/cover-up tape Scissors Calculator Electronic Timer Counters or pennies Pencils Thin magic markers or Flair pens Dry erase markers Chalk Legal-size envelopes Sentence strips (1 inch) Folders or notebooks for each child s records Small laptop dry erase board Heavy paper (8 ½ X 11, unlined) for making books and journals, or commercially produced journals Plastic binding combs 1/2 & 1 Book boxes at least 20 Glue sticks (Post-It is great) Index cards 4x6 & 5x8 Reading Recovery book labels (optional) Resources for Reading has almost everything you will need, even a Reading Recovery kit that contains many of these items. The phone number is 1-800-278-7323. The website is www.abcstuff.com. Reimbursement for these items is available through the i3 grant.
Reading Recovery Room Arrangement Checklist 1. Work area should be quiet and free of distraction. 2. Books should be filed in containers with each level clearly marked on the front of the container. 3. Each book should be marked with text level and running words. 4. Table (preferably rectangular) should be adjusted to a height suitable for first grade children. 5. Table should be uncluttered and supplies within easy reach. 6. Child-size chair should be provided. 7. Each child should have a container box for storing records and materials. 8. Magnetic board should be near and arranged at an appropriate height for first grade children. 9. Magnetic letters should be organized and easily accessible for daily use.