Everything I Need to Know I Learned From 

Marie Clay (and Beverley Randell)

 

Assume Nothing

In working with our hardest-to-teach children, we must regularly assess students to move them forward. One needs to assess, so that there is knowledge about what, how, and why students are learning and acting in certain ways. While concrete evidence is crucial, professional judgements are also profound. Use this evidence and overall teacher judgement to know precisely how to respond to students. 

Roam Around the Known

In life, while it is important to continue to push forward, it also extremely valuable to wade in what one feels confident in-there is a time and place for stretching oneself and there is a time and place for floating in what is comfortable.  In Reading Recovery this is called “Roaming Around the Known”. It is important for students to feel successful and confident. One way to create this is to review and focus on what a child can do, allow him or her to be successful and, at times, allow the activities to be easy. We all need it to be easy sometimes! 

Utilize Strengths

It is important to understand what students know, see these strengths, and build on their current knowledge. From the slightest strengths, a teacher can take small steps to build on learning. (“You know how to hold the book! Hooray! Now let’s think about turning the pages the right way!”).

If What You’re Doing Isn’t Working, Do Something Different

Be humble enough to know when your teaching is not effective and is not allowing the child to be successful. Change your ways, ask for help, allow others to model and observe. Marie Clay’s Reading Recovery requires that teachers visit each others’ classrooms and are observed by their colleagues when they go “going behind the glass” (two way mirror). Reading Recovery teachers are then able to discuss lessons, students, and strategies in a hands-on and real-time approach.

Let People In

Let people into your classroom to observe and give feedback. In a collaborative environment, with positive relationships, this can be extremely powerful. Marie Clay was a pioneer in promoting Professional Learning Communities. ‘Continuing Contact’ is still a requirement of Reading Recovery, which allows teachers to collaborate on a monthly basis, learn from each other, read articles, and discuss students. 

It Takes Every Ounce of Intelligence  (Beverley Randell)

During a recent five hour interview with Beverley Randell, she clearly stated “Teaching reading is hard, it takes every ounce of intelligence you have to think outside the square”.