What is Guided Reading

According to Fountas and Pinnell, guided reading is an instructional setting that enables you (the teacher) to work with a small group of students to help them learn effective strategies for processing text with understanding.

Guided reading is a teaching approach that is designed to help individual students learn how to process a variety of increasingly challenging texts with understanding and fluency.

What Guided Reading Does NOT Look Like:

•       Round robin reading

•       Choral reading

•       Teacher reading the book to the   students

•       Students reading different books

•       Except when reading from book bags

•       Interruptions of the group

How does Guided Reading work?

•       Teacher works with 4-6 students in each group.

•       Children are grouped according to similarities in   reading development and instructional reading levels or, by strategy need.

•       Teacher introduces stories, strategies, and concepts within group to increase independent application inappropriate leveled text.

•       Every child reads and is supported by teacher.

•       Emphasis is on strategic problem solving within appropriate leveled text.

Structure of Guided Reading

•       Selecting a Text

•       Introducing the Text

•       Reading the Text

•       Discussing and Revisiting the Text

•       Teaching for Processing Strategies

•       Working with Words (optional)

•       Extending the Understanding of Text (optional)

Materials Needed:

•       Leveled texts (one copy per student)

•       Guided Reading binder

•       Post-it notes

•       Highlighter tape

•       Dry Erase board(s)/markers

•       Magnetic/plastic letters

•       Familiar book bags

•       Take home book bags with logs

How are Guided Reading groups formed and assessed?

•       Use teacher assessments you have given.

•       Listen to your kids read individually.

•       Do a current DRA/PAPI and look at the results.

•       Use your current anecdotal records on reading behaviors seen in your students.

How Often Do Groups Meet?

•       Lowest readers/struggling readers should meet with you on a daily basis.

•       Middle level students 2-3 times per week.

•       Highest readers can get by with 1 – 2 times per week or with individual conferences.

How Do I Get Started?

•       The first four weeks of school is all about management.

•       Teach your kids a step at a time.

•       Model, model, model

•       Practice, practice, practice

•       Spend your time watching, reinforcing, and slowly pull back.