The Reading Recovery Approach to Preventive Early Intervention: As Good as It Gets?

Reading Recovery is a widely used preventive early intervention program designed for young children who have failed to respond adequately to formal reading instruction after 12 months of schooling. The focus of this article is on the theoretical underpinnings of the program, the assessment battery used in the program, the specific procedures and instructional strategies emphasized in the program, and the manner of program delivery. Following an examination of Reading Recovery in relation to contemporary theory and research on children’s reading problems and effective intervention strategies, fundamental changes to the program are recommended.