Guided Reading Center

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Guided Reading Center
By J

I love guided reading and found the following centers enabled me to work with guided reading groups:

1. Computers-I had computers with software, like Reader Rabbit or Living Books, loaded on them for students to listen
to. The computers had individual headsets so the students could work quietly without disturbing others. Only two of my computers had the capability to run some programs so when this happened, I got a headset splitter from my local electronics story so two people could be on one computer. The pairs worked well together! (Teaching Target: Phonics skills, fluency, comprehension)
2.

Reader's Theatre-students were assigned parts of simple plays. This works better if you have a parent or aide, but can work well as long as you model your expectations and help them choose parts. (At first my students would bicker about which parts they wanted. I solved this, by writing a character on a bookmark and placing it in each book. They randomly selected books and whichever character name was on the bookmark was the one they had to be.) (Teaching Target: fluency, expression)

3. Reading Games-I have two games at this center so pairs can play together. I used to have just one game for each group of 4, but found management was better when I split the 4 into pairs. There was less downtime for those waiting and all were involved in some action (either reading the question for the other or listening to answer). (Teaching Target: Phonics skills at beginning of year; finding the main idea,

4. Listening station-children listen to books on tape. I invested in 5 individual headsets so each student listened to their own book. It wasn't expensive and lessened management issues. (Teaching target: fluency)

5. Listening Reports- students chose and filled out a book report form on the story they listened to at the listening station. This way I knew they were listening to the story. (t.t: comprehension, writing)

6. Partner Reading-this center is always after the guided reading meeting. students work together on guided reading strategies or word work assignment (from our guided reaidng lesson) then they partner read familiar material such as shared reading poetry; former guided reading books; big books. (t.t: guided reading strategy, fluency, expression)

7. Writing station-children respond to stories as assigned or write their own stories or reports. (t.t: sequencing, report writing)

I have two centers a day for guided reading so I can meet with each group twice a week. I have 6 centers a week and if possible, only 4 students in each group for optimal management. I make sure the students do at least one quiet center a day.

Hope this is helpful.