I Can Read
 
The struggle was over, comfort set in,
The child held his book,
On his face a grin.
"I can read!" he shouted. "Look at me!"
 
Now I can smile, the confusions are clear.
The child has confidence
And reading is dear.
"I can read!" is all he wanted.
 
He can fix it and make it look right, too.
He can use the pictures
And cross-check the cues.
"I can read!" he gladly exclaims.
 
I know he knows what good readers do-
His reading is fluent, phrased.
He reads for fun at school and home, too.
"I can read!" he shouts to the sky.
 
We need to be careful for children's sake.
Giving each of them our all-
Without Reading Recovery they may not make
That joyful cry, "I can read! I can read!"
 
Cecelia Timberlake
Reading Recovery Teacher
Sugar Land, Texas