About The Teacher

NAME: Melanie Needham

SCHOOL: Dresden Elementary

Program: Weakley Readers- Small Group Reading

SCHOOL PHONE: 731-364-3401


My name is Melanie Needham and I am in the sixteenth year of my teaching 
career.  I have worked as a Literacy Leader since 2004, coordinating the 
Weakley Readers Small Group Reading Program at Dresden Elementary.   
Teaching children to read and watching them gain confidence in their skills 
is very exciting for me.  Previously, I trained in Reading Recovery and 
worked for seven years with at-risk first graders in reading.  I am a 
graduate of The University of Tennessee at Martin (B.S.Human Learning K-8) 
and Trevecca Nazarene University (M.Ed. Administration and Supervision.)

Weakley Readers

Weakley Readers Small Group Reading Program is based on Dr. Beverly Tyner's 
Small Group Reading Instruction: A Differentiated Teaching Model for 
Beginning Readers.  Small reading groups meet daily for all students in 
grades K - 2.  

Weakley Readers desires to ensure that all students become fluent readers by 
meeting grade level reading expectations by the end of third grade.