February 17, 2009 Dear Educator: We would like to offer you the ...

February 17, 2009
Dear Educator:
Middle States Accredited
Gary D. Bixhorn
Chief Operating Officer
Julie Davis Lutz, Ph.D.
Associate Superintendent
For Educational Services
Marilyn H. Adsitt
Director, Educational Support Services
Maria Casamassa
Assistant Administrative Coordinator
We would like to offer you the opportunity to train teachers in Reading Recovery and/or Literacy Lessons in the
2009-2010 school year.
Reading Recovery is a research-based early intervention model designed to ensure that initially struggling
readers and writers build effective literacy processing systems. The lowest-achieving first graders receive
individualized instruction from a specially trained teacher for thirty minutes a day in addition to their classroom
literacy instruction. Presently, 20 school districts in Suffolk County have the Reading Recovery model in place.
The U.S. Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse has given Reading Recovery its top rating of
effectiveness for General Reading Achievement recognizing it as scientifically based and highly effective.
Literacy Lessons Training is a new intervention effort developed by Marie Clay, internationally known
researcher in early literacy learning and the prevention of reading difficulties. The aim of Literacy Lessons is to
provide effective individualized instruction, for as long as needed, to a wide range of elementary age students
who need more intensive literacy teaching than is available in classrooms or small groups.
The attached sheets provide additional information about the two programs and the costs for 2009-2010. One
pamphlet is from the U.S. Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse, which has given Reading
Recovery its top rating of effectiveness for General Reading Achievement, recognizing it as scientifically based
and highly effective. The second information sheet provides some details about Literacy Lessons Training for
special educators. The third sheet details the 2009-2010 costs for Reading Recovery and/or Literacy Lessons
training.
In order to organize trainings for the upcoming year, please contact me with your interest by June 1, 2009 at
(631) 244-4248 or mcasamas@esboces.org. If you would like a member of our staff to explain the model in
more depth, please make arrangements through this office.
Sincerely,
Maria Casamassa
mcasamas@esboces.org
Project Manager
Sherwood Corporate Center • Department of Educational Support Services
15 Andrea Road • Holbrook, NY 11741
Phone: 631-244-4250 • Fax: 631-244-4039 • E-mail: mcasamas@esboces.org

Reading Recovery/Literacy Lessons Training Costs 2009-2010
Reading Recovery/Literacy Lessons Teacher Training $24,250 per teacher
(includes initial weekly training, books,
materials and on-site visits)
Ohio National Reading Recovery Conference $ 1,900 (approximate)
(attendance encouraged for teachers in training) (paid directly by district)
Reading Recovery/Literacy Lessons Continuing Contact $ 1,450 per teacher
(includes ongoing professional development
and on-site visits for teachers after the initial
year of training)
Northeast Regional Literacy Conference $ 1,500 (approximate)
(attendance encouraged for trained teachers) (paid directly by district)
or Ohio Reading Recovery Conference $ 1,900 (approximate)
(attendance encouraged for trained teachers) (paid directly by district)