Working as an Elementary Reading Teacher in a Title I School

In a Title I school, an elementary reading teacher begins the year by selecting students for her program. This is done in a systematic and organized way. Most Title I teachers will create a scoring sheet for each student whom she is considering for the program. Based on the students' reading test scores, classroom teacher observations, free and reduced lunch status, grades, and attendance, the remedial reading teacher will give the student a score. The student's score will decide whether or not the student qualifies for the Title I program. A Title I teacher must be able to justify to an auditor why each student is eligible for the reading program. Once students are selected, the elementary reading teacher makes a schedule and begins teaching her students.

Some Title I schools have a push-in program. This simply means the elementary reading teacher goes into the classroom and works with her students. The remedial reading teacher targets her students while she team teaches with the classroom teacher. She also helps other students in the classroom who may be struggling. This program has some advantages because the Title I students are not missing any regular classroom work and are being challenged to work more on grade level. However, in order for a push-in program to be successful, the classroom teacher and Title I teacher must communicate and share data on a daily basis. The Title I teacher should help with the planning of lessons and strategies taught and used in the regular classroom to improve students' reading abilities.

Other Title I schools have pull-out programs. In these Title I schools, the elementary reading teacher pulls the students out of their regular classrooms and teaches them in small groups. She usually works with between three and five students who are reading on about the same grade level. This program also has some advantages. Students are getting more one-on-one attention and focused reading instruction, but they may miss some regular classroom instruction. Pulling students out may also disrupt their day and take them a while to settle down once they return to class. A pull-out program may also make students feel like they stand out from the rest of their classmates because they have to leave the room for reading.

With this career in education, elementary reading teachers have several responsibilities at the end of the year in a Title I school. Their paperwork must be in order for the auditor who comes in the summer. Your administrator would let you know what you need to save and organize for your school district's audit. You must provide assessments and reports for your Title I students. Some Title I teachers will help parents develop a summer reading program, so students do not lose the progress they made throughout the year. As a remedial reading teacher, you also might prepare who will be in your group of students next year and who you think has progressed out of the Title I program.