guided reading

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Home : 2002 : July : 29

guided reading
By SB

Fountas and Pinnel are a great resource. There are some other books out there that are also good. The best one I've seen since F&P is Primary Literacy Centers available through Heineman. This book actually gives you whole
group lessons to teach and then move the tasks into literacy centers. I tried their approach lkast spring and was thrilled with the results I saw in my first grade room. I have also used What All the Other Kids Doing While You Teach Small Groups (I promise that is the title!)for ideas for center tasks. I have been doing centers for the past four years. Guided Reading works. Initially

I was very scared to leave whole group behind, but the benefits have been wonderful. I still teach wome things whole group--probably have three short whole group lessons per week, but the bulk of my reading is taught using the 'guided reading method. I have found that I have to be wiling to give it a large block of time--I must have 75 nimutes but I really like 90 minutes. I meat with my lowest groups every day and my higher groups at least every other day. My students take home their books and then reread three titles each day. This makes a tremendous difference--don't leave it out. If you want a way to document progress take an assessment at the beginning, middle and end of the year. Running records would also document student progress. Good Luck!