Anderson School District Five
Anderson, South Carolina

District Five began initial implementation of Reading Recovery in 1989 by training seven Reading Recovery teachers. Implementation with the first teacher leader was established the following year.. Fifty Reading Recovery teachers have been trained within the district, and support for eight other school districts has been provided. This demonstrates commitment to ongoing program service.

Over 2,800 children have been served in Reading Recovery since 1989. During the 08-09 school year, Reading Recovery’s 15 teachers taught 190 first graders. Of those, 156 children (86%) successfully completed a full series of Reading Recovery lessons. At the end of 2008, 86% of the formerly lowest first graders met the standards for the South Carolina achievement test.

Reading Recovery teachers provide additional services to support best practices in the district’s comprehensive literacy plan. Working in other roles, Reading Recovery teachers saw an additional 234 students during the 2008-2009 school year. Teachers have also successfully implemented literacy groups in a “push-in” model for classrooms in grades K-3, facilitated staff development sessions, parent workshops, and summer programs.

There is strong school and administrative support throughout the district which models and mentors literacy instruction. This created a systemic change in affecting our schools’ literacy environment. Three elementary schools in District 5 have been awarded the Literacy Spot Award (sponsored by the South Carolina Reading Recovery Advisory Council, South Carolina State Department of Education, and the Clemson University Training Center) for outstanding, emergent literacy programs.

Professional development in Reading Recovery
includes observation and discussion of lessons
taught behind a one-way mirror (behind-the-
glass).

Reading Recovery students share a favorite
book.

Both writing and reading are part of daily Reading
Recovery lessons.