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Click
here to view a power point that I presented
at a workshop at Illinois State
University. |
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One of
the best parts of our day is when we meet for guided reading
groups. Every Tuesday through Friday, I meet with four
groups of students who are working toward our class goal of
reading at Level I for first graders, and Level M for second
graders by the end of the year. This is a
special time for each group to work on individual and group
skills that will help them meet their goal. All of the
students love getting new books in their baggies and I'm
usually easily persuaded to add as much nonfiction as I can
dig up. |
| What is
guided reading?
Guided reading is an essential component
in any literacy program. It serves as a vehicle for small
group reading instruction that allows the teacher to
instruct and support developing readers who are reading at
approximately the same reading level. As the leveled text
becomes easier and strategies are used more independently,
the teacher introduces text increasing in levels of
difficulty. Key elements include:
Teacher works with 4-6 students in
each group.
Children are grouped according to
similarities in reading development and instructional
reading levels.
Teacher introduces stories,
strategies, and concepts within group to increase
independent application in appropriate leveled text.
Every child reads and is supported by
teacher.
Emphasis is on strategic problem
solving within appropriate leveled text.
What are the benefits of guided reading instruction?
Guided reading groups allows the teacher
to instruct and support the strategies, skills, and concepts
that are taught within any reading program. During whole
group instruction, many students are being taught strategies
that they are unable to practice because the text is too
difficult. When students are given ample opportunities to
practice learned strategies within text that is appropriate
for their instructional reading level, they are able to
devote more attention to strategic problem solving that
focuses on all of the cueing systems of reading: meaning,
structure, and visual information. Key benefits include:
Students develop into independent
readers while being supported.
Students have more opportunities to
read independently and use learned strategies, while sharing
in a small group activity.
Students are given an opportunity to
use strategies in a "high success" instructional setting
that encourages strategy use in "successful" text.
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Guided Reading
In A Balanced Literacy Classroom
A well-designed reading program which
includes, for each child, appropriate instructional events,
taking into account such matters as direct and indirect
instructional approaches, reading activities in whole and
isolated contexts, focus on content and process, different
learning styles, and a wide variety of reading materials.
--Dr. Marietta Castle
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