Program Information

Developer and contact

Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition^® was developed in 1983 by Robert Slavin and Nancy Madden at the Center for Social Organization of Schools at The Johns Hopkins University. Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition^® is distributed by the Success for All Foundation, Inc. Address: 200 W. Towsontown Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21204-5200. Email: sfainfo@successforall.org. Web site: http://www.successforall.net/Programs/readingwings.html. Telephone: (800) 548-4998 ext. 2372.

Scope of use

Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition^® was first used as part of a cooperative elementary whole-school reform model. The program was later reformulated as Reading Roots (for beginning readers) and Reading Wings (for upper elementary students) and is a component of both the Success for All comprehensive school reform model and a stand-alone reading program.

Teaching

The program uses daily 90-minute lessons to focus on story-related activities, direct instruction in reading comprehension, and integrated reading and language arts activities. In a team setting, mixed-ability students work together to read, discuss their reading to clarify unknown vocabulary, reread for fluency, understand the main idea, comprehend stories, and work through the writing process linked to the texts that the students are reading (including drafting, revising, and editing each other’s writing). Students are rewarded on the basis of the team’s performance to provide motivation to work together and help each other.

Teacher training includes a two-day session that covers word structure and phonics, vocabulary development, fluency, and comprehension skills, as well as program management and cooperative learning strategies. Technical support by phone or on-site visits is also provided.

Cost⁶

The cost of the program is approximately $150 per student for training and materials, depending on school size and the number of schools within a district that are participating.