Reading Recovery is a proven early literacy intervention for 1st graders.

Developed by renowned New Zealand scholar and researcher Marie Clay, Reading Recovery is a short-term, school-based literacy intervention for first-grade students who have difficulty learning to read and write. 

In Reading Recovery, specially trained teachers work with students individually for 30-minute lessons each school day for 12 to 20 weeks. Reading Recovery is grounded in the five essential components of reading instruction—phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. 

If you’d like to train a Reading Recovery teacher or set up a new Reading Recovery teacher training site in your area, our Center team would like to partner with you and provide our ongoing support. 

Reading Recovery Works

• More than 25 years of documented success with more than two million students
• Reading Recovery greatly reduces or closes opportunity gaps
• Most Reading Recovery students catch up with their peers within 12-20 weeks
• Reading Recovery is proven to work with English Language Learners
• The majority of Reading Recovery children sustain their learning gains over time
• By intervening early, Reading Recovery reduces referrals and placements in special education, limits retention, and has lasting effects
• The long-term benefits of literacy achievement outweigh the short-term cost of instruction and teacher preparation
• View Reading Recovery research by the Institute of Education Sciences: What Works Clearinghouse
• View the 4-Year Evaluation of Reading Recovery Expansion Finds Strong Gains in Student Reading Achievement

How Does It Work?

The key to Reading Recovery’s success is in a layered approach to professional development that is intensive and ongoing. Reading Recovery teacher training is transformative, allowing teachers to engage in real, continuous learning and improvement within a supportive context facilitated by a specially trained teacher leader. Teacher leaders are, in turn, supported by university trainers who specialize in Reading Recovery. University trainers across the country work together to ensure that the model is as effective as possible for all learners.

Learn more about Reading Recovery Council of North America here >

Reading Recovery Teacher Leader Training at Lesley University

Lesley University provides graduate-level training for Reading Recovery Teachers and Teacher Leaders. We train Reading Recovery Teacher Leaders, who in turn train and support Reading Recovery teachers at regional training sites.

How Do I Bring Reading Recovery to My School or District?

Lesley University is a University Training Center for Reading Recovery. We train Teacher Leaders, who in turn, train and support Reading Recovery teachers in schools. 

Some considerations for bringing Reading Recovery to your school or district include having access to a regional Reading Recovery training site; a commitment to implementing as a first grade literacy intervention; and available staffing for a half time Reading Recovery teacher. Contact the regional training site nearest you for more information. A list of regional training sites is provided below.

Reading Recovery Sites That We Currently Support: