Reading Specialist

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Home : 2004 : September : 16

Reading Specialist
By Reg

I am going for my reading specialist certification/degree. I thought that a reading specialist was supposed to work with lower ability children. However, my entire coursework has been about policy, training teachers, leadership,
research, etc.
I also have an "uncertified reading specialist" who got the job just because she knew someone.
My recommendations to you is to learn how to read research. Because, administrators and policy makers are quoting really non-existent "research" in order to push all sorts of for-profit programs such as Direct Instruction, Success for All, and others. If you dig into

the research on these and many other programs -- the creators (who benefit financially) are the one who have written all the favorable research on them. Therefore who benefits?

If you are ever asked to do something that you find questionable, instead of feeling threatened by the noncertified reading specialist, ask for her "research" on the program. Check the bibliography.

You can with knowledge. Subscribe to reading journals. Become a member of a reading/language arts association (The IRA - International Reading Association is one.) Become knowledgeable in all the methods that you use and the research to back them up. Then, no matter when someone comes in or what they say you will be prepared and confident in your methods.