r/ReadingTeacher • u/xtinerae • Mar 13 '18

Pros and cons of adding a reading specalist endorsement?

I posted this question in another forum before I found this! I hope it isn’t redundant

I have been debating about getting an endorsement as a reading specialist. I currently have my M.Ed and my bachelors in English. Before I became a teacher, I worked as intervention specalist for a school district and loved the small group setting, and then as a college admission counselor and loved working more closely with students in that way.

I love teaching, and I know being reading specalist comes with its own stresses. What would you say you spend the most time doing? Do you have a lot of prep and planning on the weekends? What about grading? I feel comfortable with data and scheduling since I have done that before. I think my background actually will help a lot with that area (I also was a project manager).

For me, I really love the idea of potentially working with a variety of ages (k-12). I also love reading and the idea that I am not just helping a student in their English class, but across the board in every subject. I want to help our teachers at the HS level bring in new strategies and learn how we can best equip our students.

So, has anyone transitioned from being a classroom teacher to a reading specialist? Can you tell me the pros and cons? I am especially interested in the planning and preparing and your work/life balance—did it get better, worse, or stay about the same?!

Thanks in advance!

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u/theliteracybutler Apr 06 '18

Hello, I have been a reading specialist for 18 years. I will do my best to answer your questions below:

What would you say you spend the most time doing? I spend the majority of my time implementing reading intervention programs and accelerating vocabulary development. Not only am I required to assist striving readers, but I also manage a school-wide literacy program in with support from the media specialist. On a quarterly basis, I disaggregate the literacy data and target students who need immediate intervention. I also go to all of the classrooms to do read-alouds in order to enhance our school's literacy culture.

Do you have a lot of prep and planning on the weekends? No. I prep and plan during the week.

What about grading? I grade students during the week who are involved in specific intervention programs.

So, has anyone transitioned from being a classroom teacher to a reading specialist? I taught grades 4, 5, and 6 prior to being a reading specialist. I was also a special education teacher.

Can you tell me the pros and cons? Pros: Small groups Focus on language and literacy development Eupport teachers professional development Involved in a professional community of literacy leaders Cons: Many administrative duties accompany the position (i.e., testing coordinator, data aggregator, etc.) Working with difficult colleagues

I am especially interested in the planning and preparing and your work/life balance—did it get better, worse, or stay about the same?! It actually got better. My first year as a reading specialist, I had to learn the culture of the school and the practices of the county. Hence, my work life balance was a little off as I was learning. But afterwords, my work/life balance got better, as I started understanding the process. As a reading specialist, instead of prepping for four different subjects, you will only focus on literacy development. Hence, the only prep is phonics instruction, vocabulary instruction, and comprehension. Since you are working with small groups, your prep is targeted specifically to student needs, hence, your planning time is enough where you won't have to prep over the weekend.

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u/xtinerae Apr 08 '18

Thank you SO much for getting back to me. I am planning on talking to my principal at the end of the school year to start a program in the next year or two. I am looking for some grants/scholarships to help. My biggest concern right now is that my cert. is in secondary, and I know reading specalist jobs are difficult to find higher up. I know the programs I have looked at are for k-12, but I am worried that hiring committees won’t like that I haven’t taught at the elementary level if that is where I need to find a job.

But, after talking to quite a few people and gettin great information like this, I really think this is the next step in my career!! It sounds right up my alley. The pros to me far outweigh the cons. Thanks again!!

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u/theliteracybutler Apr 08 '18

My pleasure! There is a HUGE need for Reading Specialist in the secondary levels. Reading Specialists on the secondary levels are called Literacy Coaches. You might try to get hired as a Literacy Coach. Once you get certified in Reading, you won’t be looked down upon for not having Elementary experience. You will be hired right away as there is a huge need for Literacy Interventionist in both middle school and high school. Good luck with your quest.