History of Reading Recovery in North America
 

In fall 1984, Marie Clay and Barbara Watson came to Columbus, Ohio, to teach North America’s first Reading Recovery training class of 1 trainer, 3 teacher leaders, and 13 teachers. This travel across continents and hemispheres was preceded by more than 2 years of study, planning, and grant writing by early literacy faculty at The Ohio State University: Gay Su Pinnell, Charlotte Huck, and Martha l. King. This modest beginning included all the elements that have characterized Reading Recovery’s excellence over the past 25 years: nonprofit partnership that involves a school, university, and education officials; intense professional development; and successful results for students.

The 25th year is a significant milestone. No other early literacy intervention has matched Reading Recovery’s record of documented student success, long-term implementation in schools, high research ratings from USDE’s What Works Clearinghouse (across all four domains), and continuous data collection for the nearly 2 million students taught.

More Historic Resources
Pre-1984 — A Well-Documented Miracle in New Zealand - This short history of Reading Recovery’s early development was reviewed by Marie Clay before it was printed in the report honoring Reading Recovery’s 15th Anniversary in North America.

2000 — Marie Clay Talks About Reading Recovery’s Challenges - In honor of the 15th Anniversary of Reading Recovery in North America, Carol Lyons spoke with Marie Clay about her past and present work with Reading Recovery.

2005 — Changing the Educational Landscape: A Short History of Reading Recovery in North America - First published in the 20th Anniversary issue of The Journal of Reading Recovery, this thoughtful article by Maribeth Schmitt traces Reading Recovery’s early development, migration across continents, and reconstructions in Spanish and French.

25 Years of Milestones - A single-page timeline traces key events in Reading Recovery’s history in North America.