Reading Specialists?

[FrazzleDazzle]

Are there any reading specialists here? I am considering
switching certifications, and would love to talk to someone
doing the job I think I want.

[mopar]

I am currently working on getting my reading specialist certification. I have been discussing the job with 4 reading specialists from different districts. If you have questions about the position, I may be able to help.

[FrazzleDazzle]

Right now I just have vague kinds of questions-- what is the day like? How much paperwork is there? How much of the responsibility for IEP writing falls on you? Does the work tend to be 1-1 or inclusion?

I guess I had more specific questions than I thought! I teach severe special needs now, and really need to do something else. I had started toward this certification a few years ago, but balked at having to get a second Master's. Now, I am willing to go back to school.

[mopar]

Most of my friends in the reading specialist field have nothing to do with IEPs. Reading specialists work more specifically with at risk students (unless of course you work in a school specifically with students with special needs). They pull groups from classes and across classes. They take on a support reading role for the most part. Some of them actually teach all parts of reading to their students.

So, basically, you have groups of students that you work with, usually in your own classroom or library. Some schools require more inclusion, but most still use a pull out. Then, your day is scheduled however you set up your groups. The biggest problem I have seen is that teachers want you to only take their students during reading. If all the teachers have reading at the same time, it becomes a nightmare to schedule.

You need to take data on your kids. However, it seems to be more like a fluency probe or quick comprehension test or letter identification. Then you keep the data to prove that they still need reading support or don't. Special education teachers are responsible for special education students and their IEPs. Most reading specialists have nothing to do wtih students with special needs. However, many schools are looking to make their special education teachers into specialists (reading,math, writing) which would change the entire situation.

Keep in mind that education is always changing. What you dislike today, could very well be different by tomorrow.

[bella mundi]

I am also working on my Masters in reading. I like that it will give me a lot of freedom to do whatever I want when I decide I want to move away from what I teach now.

I've really liked the program so far. It is sometimes difficult because classes require you to work with a wide variety of students, and my options are somewhat limited because I work in an all special-ed environment.

I would go for it though. I am very passionate about the field of reading, and it's been great to work towards that!

~Bella

[kala]

I have a BS in liberal arts and I teach in a private school which does not require me to be a certified teacher. What would I need to do in order to become a reading specialist? Is a reading specialist the same as a literacy specialist? Is a reading teacher something different? Is the certification/education that I would need to work in a public school different than if I wanted to work privately or in a private school? Are the requirements different in different states? Thank you

[Michelle]

Keep in mind that education is always changing. What you dislike today, could very well be different by tomorrow.

Mopar described the traditional and likely most common model of how the reading specialist provides services in a school, but the final comment that this is changing is very true...

1. Leadership and
2. Cooperative teaching, planning and providing services WITH the regular classroom teacher

From classes that I have taken, and National Reading Association recommendations, the role is becoming more of "literacy coach" because research supports that professional development, and excellent primary (from the classroom reading teacher) is the best way to prevent reading difficulties... It is the prevention model.

So, the job involves becoming more of a leader in your school community. Model good practices, interact with the staff, let them see you teach, and provide learning opportunities.

I do a combination of "push in" and "pull out" teaching, and have found that when I can provide support to a group of students in the classroom the teacher and I can better coordinate our lessons and build on what the other is doing. It also provides a good way to share ideas (both ways). I have learned alot from more experienced teachers in the "push in" model, and therefore helped kids.

3. Pre-SPED and lots of paperwork/documentation
We are also moving to a "response to intervention" model of identifying students for special education services, so the SPED teacher and I do coordinate quite alot. The idea is to provide intervention and document how students respond to this intervention. If a child works with me intensively and still is not making significant progress, we make adjustments then document as part of making the SPED referral.

~ Michelle

[bella mundi]

My state is also moving toward the literacy coach and RTI approach, but a lot depends on the district. Some literacy people don't even have a caseload of students, they only work with teachers and professionals.