Monica Rago
Wilmington
Summary
Reading Specialist specializing in literacy instruction and intervention. Initiated One School, One Book project fostering community engagement and excitement for reading among students, families, and staff. Committed to enhancing student comprehension and engagement through carefully selected, relatable literature that supports diverse learners.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Reading Specialist
Red Clay Consolidated School District
Wilmington
11.2015 - Current
- Administered assessments to evaluate student reading levels and progress.
- Analyzed student data to inform targeted interventions and instructional improvements.
- Researched current trends and developments within the field of reading education and participated in professional development activities related to best practices in literacy instruction.
- Facilitated explicit, systematic, and cumulative literacy instruction backed by the Science of Reading to improve phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency.
- Facilitated small group sessions to improve student comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency through targeted instruction.
- Adapted existing curricula to meet the needs of diverse learners including English language learners and special education students.
- Utilized data from formative and summative assessments in order to analyze student progress towards meeting learning goals.
- Developed and implemented reading intervention plans for struggling students.
- Presented workshops at staff meetings regarding effective methods for teaching literacy skills.
Elementary School Teacher
Kennett Consolidated School District
Kennett Square
08.1998 - 04.2004
- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans in line with state curriculum standards.
- Implemented effective classroom management strategies to foster student learning.
- Conducted and maintained accurate records of assessments to monitor student progress, adapting teaching methods to meet diverse learning needs.
- Created a safe, nurturing environment of trust and respect that was conducive to learning, including establishing rules and procedures.
- Facilitated small group activities to support individualized instruction.
- Coordinated with special education staff to support students with special needs.
- Mentored student teachers, enhancing their skills in classroom management and instructional techniques.
- Involved parents in student education by cultivating strong relationships.
- Arranged field trips, providing opportunities for students to engage with real-world applications of classroom learning.
- Utilized technology to enhance teaching methods and student engagement.
- Provided positive feedback with emphasis on learning from mistakes to establish a solid foundation for progress.
Education
Reading Specialist - Master of Instruction
University of Delaware
Newark, DE08-2001
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education And Special Education
University of Delaware
Newark, DE05-1998
MLL Certification - Non Degree
University of Delaware
Newark, DESkills
- Phonics instruction
- Fluency development
- Differentiated instruction
- Progress monitoring
- Small group instruction
- Lesson planning
- Behavior modification techniques
- Teacher collaboration
- Bilingual and Biliterate
- Analytical thinking
- Relationship building
- English language learners
Professional Development
- LETRS Early Childhood: Certificate of Mastery in Early Childhood Educators
- LETRS I: Certificates of Mastery in The Challenge of Learning to Read; The Speech Sounds of English; Teaching Beginning Phonics, Word Recognition, and Spelling; Advanced Decoding, Spelling, and Word Recognition
- LETRS II: Certificates of Mastery in Oral Language and Vocabulary; Understanding Reading Comprehension; Text-Driven Comprehension Instruction; The Reading-Writing Connection
- AIM Pathways to Proficient Reading
- AIM Pathways to Structured Literacy - currently enrolled
Timeline
Reading Specialist
Red Clay Consolidated School District
11.2015 - Current
Elementary School Teacher
Kennett Consolidated School District
08.1998 - 04.2004
Reading Specialist - Master of Instruction
University of Delaware
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education And Special Education
University of Delaware
MLL Certification - Non Degree
University of Delaware