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Reading specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Barbara Wissink,

Dr. Barbara Wissink

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical reading specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for reading specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 5.9% of reading specialist resumes contained language arts as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a reading specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 reading specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Language Arts

Language art refers to the ability to master a language.

Here's how reading specialists use language arts:

Designed, implemented and evaluated individualized lessons pertaining to the Reading/Language Arts curriculum.
Present and facilitate district professional developments for elementary English Language Arts teachers.

2. Student Learning

Here's how reading specialists use student learning:

Create and implement Math lessons following the North Carolina state standards, however; making appropriate accommodations for student learning.
Created and maintained a library learning environment that was inviting, safe, flexible and conducive to student learning.

3. Assessment Data

Here's how reading specialists use assessment data:

Collaborate with colleagues and leaders to strategically plan for literacy and language interventions using formal and informal assessment data.
Collaborate with classroom teachers to interpret assessment data to ensure individual instructional needs are met.

4. K-8

Here's how reading specialists use k-8:

Provided small group instruction in reading and math to students in grades K-8.
Provide support for K-8 students struggling with reading and writing skills.

5. Staff Development

Here's how reading specialists use staff development:

Supported staff development through co-teaching and co-planning, and sharing academic resources and strategies
Led Staff development in using technology to drive instruction and facilitate student engagement.

6. Instructional Strategies

Here's how reading specialists use instructional strategies:

Administered instructional strategies and analyzed, compiled and summarized data collection.
Serve as a resource for professional materials and instructional strategies/materials.

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7. State Standards

State Standards refer to the educational standards within each state. These standards are set by the Department of Education of each state and outline what students must learn within each grade and subject. The teachers' training and standardized testing is also based on what the standards outline.

Here's how reading specialists use state standards:

Collaborated with K-12 teacher teams to align Common Core State Standards to curriculum and available resources.
Instruct content area vocabulary and language development based on ELL WIDA standards and state standards.

8. Professional Development Workshops

Here's how reading specialists use professional development workshops:

Led efforts to organize and implement professional development workshops for teachers.
Attended monthly staff meetings and professional development workshops.

9. K-12

K12 is a term that incldues all 12 years of education in the US education system. It includes the education offered at the primary stage, middle stage, and secondary stage. It includes children of ages as young as 5 to 18 years. The grades included in K12 are Kindergarten, the initial 5 stages, grades 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. This system is followed specifically followed in the US and may vary in other countries.

Here's how reading specialists use k-12:

Provided diagnostic, prescriptive and evaluative services for students K-12 requiring supplemental reading support.
Played key role on district-wide committee to develop new K-12 reading curriculum.

10. Public Schools

Public schools are available for everyone. They are funded and controlled by the government. With state guidance, each school board determines the curricula, finances, and jobs for schools within its borders. The government also decides on academic standards and standardised tests.

Here's how reading specialists use public schools:

Administered reading assessments and interventions for primary District of Columbia Public Schools.
Planned and implemented Virginia Standards of Learning Curriculum and Norfolk Public Schools Curriculum in English/Reading.

11. Student Achievement

Here's how reading specialists use student achievement:

Consulted with school leadership and administration to analyze student achievement data to identify areas of need.
Input and analyze data to monitor student achievement and make recommendations for curricular or instructional adjustments.

12. Instructional Materials

Here's how reading specialists use instructional materials:

Evaluated professional development programs and needs, instructional materials for literacy, including those that are technology-based.
Maintain a comprehensive inventory of instructional materials and resources.

13. Classroom Management

Here's how reading specialists use classroom management:

Modeled the introduction of literacy workstations and classroom management to support a kindergarten teacher's professional goals.
Utilized a classroom management plan that promoted individual and group responsibility.

14. Mathematics

Here's how reading specialists use mathematics:

Conducted assessments to identify barriers to mathematics literacy.
Provided instruction in mathematics and reading for students in grades 3-5.

15. Data Analysis

Here's how reading specialists use data analysis:

Use data analysis to drive instruction and standardized testing preparation.
Developed syllabus and overall course structure, data analysis, diagnostics and testing, and administered all grades.

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What skills help Reading Specialists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on reading specialist resumes?

Dr. Barbara Wissink

Associate Professor of Education, Program Chair: Master of Education: with an Emphasis in Literacy with the additional MN K-12 Reading Endorsement, Concordia University, St. Paul

First and foremost, the candidate needs to have the required credentials in the specific curriculum area they seek to become specialized in. For example, if a candidate was interested in becoming a literacy coach or reading specialist, they would need to highlight the specific license, endorsement, or certificate required in their state. This means that the candidate needs to research their state's specialist requirements before committing to a graduate program, ensuring that they will have the correct credentials when they complete the program.

What hard/technical skills are most important for reading specialists?

Dr. Barbara Wissink

Associate Professor of Education, Program Chair: Master of Education: with an Emphasis in Literacy with the additional MN K-12 Reading Endorsement, Concordia University, St. Paul

For curriculum and instructional specialists, having the right credentials is essential. For example, a literacy specialist needs to have a strong foundation in K-12 literacy provided by an accredited graduate school program. After completing the graduate program, most states require testing to add the specialist license or endorsement to the candidate's initial teaching license.

In addition, a strong understanding of assessment and experience in data analysis will ensure that the candidate can utilize the testing results to discern the best instructional plan for the students they are serving. Curriculum and instruction specialists often mentor and coach K-12 teachers on utilizing their students' assessment data to improve their teaching.

What soft skills should all reading specialists possess?

Dr. Margaret Scott Ph.D.

Senior Instructor, University Supervisor, University of Colorado Colorado Springs

The instructional coach needs to have great people skills. Building trust and two-way respect are essential to a successful working relationship between the coach and educator. Also key is effective communication skills. The instructional coach must be a great listener, convey ideas clearly, and be willing to engage in conversations about instruction with the educators they support. They must also be able to craft good questions that provoke thought and reflection to help the educators they support become introspective. They need to be learners, constantly seeking out new ideas, research, and practices that we know to be effective with both students and adult learners. Effective instructional coaches also see themselves as partners with the educators they support.

Do you want to know more?

List of reading specialist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a reading specialist resume and required skills for a reading specialist to have include:

Language Arts
Student Learning
Assessment Data
K-8
Staff Development
Instructional Strategies
State Standards
Professional Development Workshops
K-12
Public Schools
Student Achievement
Instructional Materials
Classroom Management
Mathematics
Data Analysis
RTI
Student Data

Student Performance
ELA
Learning Styles
Data Collection
Intervention Program
K-5
Dyslexia
ESL
Instructional Practices
Progress Monitoring
Analyze Data
Literacy Program
K-2
Instructional Techniques
K-4
Guided Reading
IEP

Reading Comprehension
Orton-Gillingham
Instructional Program
ELL
K-6
Phonics
Learning Disabilities
Demonstration Lessons
Test Scores
Student Growth
DRA
Social Studies
Study
Pinnell
Dibels

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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