Comprehensive Literacy Center
"If the child is a struggling reader or writer, the conclusion must be that we have not yet discovered the way to help him learn."
— Clay, (2016). Literacy Lessons Designed for Individuals, 2nd ed., p. 165.
Under the leadership of the University Trainers Drs. Adria Klein and Debra Semm Rich, the Comprehensive Literacy Center within the Kalmanovitz School of Education is proud to serve as the West Coast training center for the professional development of Teacher Leaders in the United States who implement the Reading Recovery® practice in their classrooms.
The Comprehensive Literacy Center trains Teacher Leaders and Teachers to provide a systemic school transformational model dedicated to equity and access to design, initiate, and sustain a comprehensive literacy system within and across school contexts.
The goal is high-quality instruction for all students, which leads to increased student achievement. We advocate for:
- Effective and inclusive approaches to improved literacy instruction
- High-quality professional development
- Research-based instructional practices that bridge a range of theoretical stances
- Comprehensive and diagnostic assessment system
The Center supports eight layers of implementation to support the needs of all students throughout the school-wide system. The Center trains Coaches and Teacher Leaders who in turn train Teachers in the following models:
Intensive Individualized Instruction:
- Reading Recovery - Grade 1 students in the lowest 20% of the class receive individually designed instruction to achieve grade-level expectations within 12-20 weeks or receive instruction and extensive diagnostic screening for further intervention.
- Literacy Lessons - Grade 1-4 students identified for English Learners or Special Education receive individually designed instruction to develop an efficient literacy processing system.
- Early Literacy
- Descubriendo la Lectura - Grade 1 students receive a reconstruction of Reading Recovery in Spanish.
- HEROES - Students ages 6-9 who are identified with an IEP, 504 plan, or referral in reading receive individually designed instruction to develop an efficient literacy processing system.
- Strategic Intervention Model Teacher Program- Grade 1-12 students with the greatest difficulties in reading, including, but not limited to students identified with dyslexia, autism, or other special needs, or referred to a child study team. Student receive individualized intensive instruction to develop an efficient literacy processing system.
Intensive Small Group Instruction:
- Comprehensive Intervention Model - Grades K-12 students who struggle with reading and writing receive small-group systematic, targeted, and differentiated instruction to meet needs of students.
Whole Group Instruction:
- Comprehensive Literacy Model - Grade K-12 students improve literacy skills through a coordinated and aligned literacy framework within the general education classroom, and across grade levels within the school.