“Reading Recovery is probably the best-researched educational intervention ever and this result adds important evidence to a complex picture,” says McNaughton. “Our that found positive effects at the school level three to ten years later – small effects but detectable.”
Jesson and McNaughton don’t take issue with the study itself but would like to see more research in areas such as how well Reading Recovery interventions are implemented, the long-term effects of phonics-based programmes and what happens to children in the years after reading interventions.
“There are studies out there that add a highly focused phonics programme to the school and – guess what? – find it has an effect on phonics,” says McNaughton.
“Typically, though, these don’t have an additional effect on comprehension outcomes, whereas Reading Recovery does.”
Bigger-picture ways to improve education
Looking at the bigger picture, McNaughton and Jesson have evidence-based ideas about how to improve education in ɫƵ.
Alleviating poverty and social inequity would help children arrive at school on a more even playing field. So would improving early learning practices at early childhood education centres and in homes. Teachers should also be better trained to look for and understand differences between children and adapt their instruction based on different children’s starting points and learning strengths, say the experts.
Another issue is the relatively low prestige accorded teachers in ɫƵ.
“In some jurisdictions, like Singapore and Finland, teaching is well-paid and high-status. As a result, teacher education is highly competitive – only the top students get in,” says McNaughton. “Teaching is incredibly complex. We need to better acknowledge the expertise required at all levels.”
Training and hiring more specialist teachers would also make a difference, say the experts. This includes literacy specialists in years 1–3 and subject matter experts in years 4–8.
“One of the reasons for the low progress in science and maths between years 4–8 is because teachers are saying they’re not well enough prepared,” says McNaughton.
There should also be more emphasis on the roles of families and communities, say Jesson and McNaughton.
“Before the small-group tier in Reading Recovery, the first thing we do is talk to whānau about the skills, expertise and interests their children already have,” says Jesson. “Across the board, we need to better engage whānau.”
References
- Hurry, J., Fridkin, L., & Holliman, A. J. (2021). Reading intervention at age 6: Long-term effects of Reading Recovery in the UK on qualifications and support at age 16. British Educational Research Journal.
- D'Agostino, J. V., Lose, M. K., & Kelly, R. H. (2017). Examining the sustained effects of Reading Recovery. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR), 22(2), 116-1