Malika Romine

Established in 1956, the IRA is a nonprofit, global network of people who are
committed to the development and advocacy of reading literacy. Members of this
site submit journal entries as resources for others to use for research and instruction
purposes.
Teaching all Children to Read: The Roles of the Reading Specialist a Position
Statement of the International Reading Association
1/22/15
This article review focuses on the importance of the reading specialist and
their involvement in school/district. Teachers and professionals need to collaborate
together to meet the broad range of readers that are in a classroom to provide
effective instruction for the students to make meaningful progress over the course
of the year.
The broad points of the article include the following: the purpose of needing a
reading specialist, qualifications of a reading specialist, roles of the reading
specialist, preparing reading specialists, and recommendations. Why reading
specialist? A reading specialist needs to have specialized training to guide not
only students but staff and parents as well. The demographic of student in a school
district are varied and some student will need more direct and explicit instruction in
order for them to excel or show growth. It is true that without providing the teacher
with extra support in the classroom, that referrals for students to be placed
elsewhere will occur. I have seen this happen many times and found it interesting
that the article clearly states this challenge the classroom teacher faces. A reading
specialist must have graduate credentials, certificates, and degrees. It helps if the
reading specialist has classroom experience to understand the classroom teachers
role. A reading specialist is also qualified to instruct elementary students,
middle/high school students, and even adults. It is important for the reading

specialist to understand that interacting with adult literacy groups will look different
than working with children literacy/classroom groups. When I think of a reading
specialist, I think of someone working in a school district with elementary students.
I found it interesting that a specialist can also work in private reading clinics or
community centers. The roles of a reading specialist include the following:
instruction, assessment, leadership. The specialist will work together to create a
reading program or co-teach lessons in the classroom. Assessments and diagnostic
test will be given help find the childs or adults strengths and needs. It also
includes working on rubrics and alternative assessments. The most interest key
point in this article is the role the reading specialist plays as a leader. The
specialists are indispensable to the reading program, because they will train
teachers and staff members in developmental workshops, techniques, and lessons.
Reading specialists have standards that they should be proficient in according to the
Standards for Reading Professionals.
The key points are completely relevant to my roles as a teacher and a future
reading specialist. In the district I work in the reading specialist visits all the
classrooms, except the special education classrooms. As a special education life
skills teacher, input for the reading specialist would be beneficial. They are highly
qualified and I see them involved in teaching lessons in the classroom; as I make my
way down the hall.
I fully agree with article, when the author stated that there needs to be
instructional support for the teachers and students. The idea of having being a
team and working together is great. It is not always the case, but I agree that
teachers need pursue all avenues to help a child before referring them into special
education programs.

This article encouraged me to be open minded about the reading specialist

field. Where can I be the most useful? Ive never thought about helping adults who
are struggling readers. Im not opposed to the idea at all and I am in disbelief that I
never knew that could be a role of a reading specialist.
I will specifically be able to use this information from the article by
intentionally seeking out the reading specialist to ask for advice or suggestions for
me to use within my classroom. Instruction is one of the roles of a reading
specialist. This article explains the importance of looking into research-based
strategies and programs as well as reaching out to other staff members and
parents. Im determined to share more information with my colleagues and parents
that I find could be beneficial for them.
As a teacher I will reach out and ask more questions about the roles and
responsibilities the reading specialist play in our elementary building. In the future I
will keep in mind that the reading specialist plays an active role in whatever setting
they are placed. I would like to look into or receive more information on Standards
for Reading Professionals. It would help expand my knowledge in relation to the
contents of this article. I was curious, so I looked up Standards for Reading
Professionals last updated in 2010 on the International Reading Association website.
It has six standards and provided information on the role descriptions, elements,
and evidence that demonstrate competence of a reading specialist.

Work Cited
Teaching All Children to Read: The Roles of the Reading Specialist. (n.d.). Retrieved
January 22, 2015, from
http://www.reading.org/General/AboutIRA/PositionStatements/ReadingSpecialistPosit
ion.aspx