25 Ways to Build Positive Relationships with Students

As literacy specialists, we often work with a student or students who have some "tricky" behaviors that interfere with learning.  It is important to build positive relationships with all of the students we work especially those students who have particularly challenging behaviors. Relationship building should be worked on diligently from the earliest interactions. These students …

The Struggles of a Reading Teacher

We, as reading teacher's, have the most of amazing job of helping struggling students become readers.  Helping to shape the literacy lives of our students is a special task.  As much as I love being a reading teacher there are some very real struggles that come with the job.  The following is a list of …

Predictions of Progress: We Can Do it!

Before we dig into predictions of progress I just wanted to put a little plug in here for the Reading Recovery Council of North America.  If you are not already a member I highly recommend that you consider signing up (today!). Whenever I'm stuck in my teaching, need something for parents or administrators, or want …

Collaborating With the Classroom Teacher

There are many things that can get in the way of on-going collaboration between the reading teacher and the classroom teacher.  In my experience, the number one obstacle is time.  When it is a struggle to schedule collaboration times it may be necessary to think outside the box. Shared Document The reading teacher can share …

Literacy Interventionists: 7 Tips for Navigating the Parent-Teacher Conference

Written by Gen Communicating with families, particularly face-to-face, is an art that I have been developing for a long time. In the beginning, as a novice literacy specialist trying to find my place in, what is essentially, the classroom teacher’s show, I did a lot of things wrong. I’d like to think that I do …