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Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County, Maryland
A suburb of Washington, DC, Montgomery County, Maryland, encompasses
a large geographic area with diverse demographics. Reading Recovery
is currently implemented in 30 schools most heavily impacted by
poverty and language. Over 95% of children served are members of
minority groups, most receive free or reduced meals, and 80% are
English language learners (ELLs).
Spanish is the dominant language of ELLs served, but a variety of
other languages are spoken as well. Notwithstanding the high
percentage of ELLs served, many of whom enter with very limited
English proficiency, the site has consistently achieved an annual
success rate that approximates or exceeds the Reading Recovery
national average. Parents are encouraged to observe Reading Recovery
lessons, and a number have reported that they learn English
themselves as their children read to them at home.
Since Montgomery County Public Schools first implemented Reading
Recovery in 1997, the site has trained 95 Reading Recovery teachers
and served over 4,000 children. There are currently 32 Reading
Recovery teachers, and new teachers are being trained in the
2009-2010 school year.
Initially established with two teacher leaders, the site has been
served for the past 7 years by one teacher leader (Linda Randall)
who reports to a site coordinator (Ann Bedford).
All schools have implemented Reading Recovery school teams which
meet monthly to review student data and discuss early literacy
topics to strengthen classroom instruction for all students. Reading
Recovery teachers report student data weekly throughout the school
year and also complete a monthly report that shows student progress
in Reading Recovery, in the classroom, and on county reading
assessments. These reports have proven useful to school
administrators, and the teacher leader uses this data on an ongoing
basis to monitor student progress and to target teacher support.
Following his appointment as superintendent in 1999, Dr. Jerry D.
Weast incorporated Reading Recovery into the district’s
comprehensive strategic plan. Reading Recovery has since served as a
primary intervention for the county’s neediest first graders.
Reading Recovery teachers Melissa
Kauffman (left)
and James Bryant (right) discuss a topic for an
upcoming Broad Acres school team meeting with
teacher leader Linda Randall.
Linda Randall listens as Meheret reads
her story.
Meheret was a Reading Recovery student who
enrolled at Broad Acres Elementary School in
Silver Spring, MD shortly after her arrival from
Ethiopia. After her series of lessons ended in
June 2009, she wrote "I am a great reader!
I read many books. I went from Level 2 to
Level 20 in Reading Recovery. I am not coming
anymore because I am ready for second grade!"
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