Reading differences

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Reading differences
By Debbie

Hi Noel,
The difference is that 4 blocks is a reading program, while Guided Reading (Fountas and Pinnell) is 'small-group instruction for students who read the same text. The group is homogeneous: the students read at
about the same level, demonstrate similar reading behaviors, and share similar instructional needs.' It can be used at all GLs depending on your purpose.
I haven't actually used the other three blocks (I borrow some things from the word work block during Language/Word Study), mainly because I have serious concerns about any reading program where everyone (whole group) is reading

the same text. I'd read that in the 4 blocks program the class as a whole reads three days in texts that are at the average reading level and the other two days are spent on reading at a lower text level...
There is such a wide span of reading abilities and interests at any given GL that I can't imagine not using small hetergeneous (literature conversations) and homogeneous groups (guided reading) for the majority of instruction...If you want additional information on Guided Reading, post or email... ;-D