Unfortunately, children making only some progress will always be behind their class. Only acceleration can help a child catch up to the average of his peers and allow participation in the regular class program. Reading Recovery serves the lowest achieving children. The lowest achieving children in first grade, without exception, are selected to receive the program. Reading Recovery is effective with diverse populations.
Children develop a self-extending system of learning to read and write.
Children learn the skills to be independent learners who will just need the support of regular classroom instruction rather than remedial programs. Student outcomes are sustained over time. Research on students after program completion has demonstrated continued growth in reading and writing without continued Reading Recovery support or other specific interventions. Reading Recovery teachers serve children as part of their training. Teachers in the program learn by doing and use the Reading Recovery lesson framework throughout their training year.