Blog #2: Role of the Reading Specialist

Chapter 1: The Role of Reading Specialists and Literacy Coaches in Schools, Classrooms, and Communities

Reading specialists need to have an idea of organization in the work that affects what they do and who and how to collaborate with other teachers and administrators to create change that promote student learning (Bean, p. 18). Reading specialists have been viewed as a "pullout" program, which created many problems, such as reading specialists not knowing what kind of instruction students were receiving inside the classroom and not communicating with the teachers in regards to what was being done when students were working with the reading specialist. Students were often returning to class and given material that was too hard for them or applying different skills that were from what was being done with the reading specialists (Bean, pg. 4). Classroom teachers seemed to think that the reading specialists job was to teach the students to read, "even though the instruction provided by the specialists was identified as supplemental" (Bean, p.4).

Today, reading specialists have the role of "shared leadership." They are to focus on providing teachers with effective professional development, teacher performance in the classroom and the quality of instruction, the use of assessments for instructional decision making for all students, and have in-depth knowledge of reading instruction (Bean, p.12). Reading specialists not only work alongside the teacher to administer and analyze test scores, they also help classroom teachers think about how to use the results for differentiated instruction (Bean, p.13). Schools continue to think of creative ways they can use from the talented and experienced teaching staff to enhance both students and adults learning (Bean, p.15). Over the years, the roles of a reading specialists have been viewed very differently. Reading specialists play such an important role in all schools and I hope we continue to take on a leadership role when assisting struggling readers. 

"Coaches as System Leaders"

Reading specialists play a huge role when it comes to student success in schools today. They are "the most crucial change agent in a school, next to the principal," (Fullan & Knight, 50.). However, coaches today are placed in schools where there is no organization focusing on developing and creating an instructional improvement (Fullan & Knight, 50). In the article, Coaches as System Leaders, coaches state that because their roles in the schools and their responsibilities were poorly defined, they ended up doing office work rather than assisting teachers and students to improve instruction within the schools. Coaches were not aware as to what leadership roles they may have, how to assist teachers, and share what they know with others. Coaches were not able to do their job if they are not provided with the proper training and support from administrators (Fullan & Knight, 52). The matter of the fact is administrators, educators, and coaches all need to work collaboratively to create a system that will allow a whole-system reform (Fullan & Knight, 54). "Good training gets results! " (Fullan & Knight, 50).