Becoming an expert on guided reading

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2002 : March : 17

Becoming an expert on guided reading
By Sandra

Jody,
I'm a new teacher (third year) who has now taught 5th, 4th and then 1st. I'm moving around until a permanent position opens. On the up side of first grade is the paper corrections are much reduced. You'll find
it a pleasure correcting first grader's work because it is clear cut. I think you'll also find great pleaure from getting them to read. You'll be able to see this by Christmas. On the flip side I found that I missed teaching content and I missed a fourth and fifth graders sense of humor.
A first grader will come into school in September as a baby. They need to learn how to sit in

their seats and do more school-like things. If I had this year to do over I think I would spend the summer planner more literary center-based activities. This is because guided reading is so important in first grade. Guided reading helps you move the new readers along a leveled set of books. Since you're taking small groups to do this you need to manage the others in the room. There is a lot of very good information and help in books (Fontas and Pinnell), videos your Reading Specialist could point you to, and Internet web sights you can explore. Primary grade teachrs in your school or district may have excellent guided reading and center based classrooms. Get a feeling for what will work for you and try to plan it over the summer. It's very hard (as you know) to find the time during the school year.