The Pittsford Central School District strives to help students become proficient and enthusiastic readers and writers. To this end, Pittsford offers a language arts support program that supplements classroom instruction at the five elementary schools, the middle and high schools.

Identification Process 

A student at the elementary level is identified as needing support based on:

     • Classroom achievement

     • Performance on standardized reading/writing tests, including New York State assessments

     • Placement on the Reading Pathways Document

     • Recommendation by the Instructional Support Team or the Pupil Services Team

Certified reading specialists provide reading support services.  They are assisted by paraprofessionals. 

Relation of Reading Support to General Classroom Instruction

Reading support reinforces classroom instruction. Classroom teachers and reading specialists work and plan together to establish instructional goals for students who receive support.

Delivery of Services

Support may be delivered using a variety of models:    

• Push-in--individual or small group in the classroom
• Pull-out--individual or small group in an alternate setting
• Consultant teacher--reading specialist serves as an advisor to the classroom teacher. 

The amount of support varies by student need and grade level. Service typically ranges from two to five times per six day cycle for 30 to 40 minutes per session.

Support and reinforcement include teaching students the following:

• Word-solving--strategies for recognizing and writing words;

• High frequency words--words that appear frequently in oral and written language, to be learned  in order to move fluently and effortlessly through the reading and writing process;

• Comprehension--strategies that enable the reader to make sense of a variety of text;

• Written expression--essential writing skills and strategies to clearly communicate words, phrases, and sentences in an organized manner to a variety of audiences;

• Strategies to improve study, organizational, and test-taking skills.  

The reading specialist’s additional responsibilities include:

        • Conducting diagnostic testing and teaching;

        • Screening new students;

        • Participating on the Instructional Support and/or Pupil Services Teams;

        • Conferring and consulting with parents;

        • Serving as a resource for staff and administrators.