guided reading

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Home : 2004 : September : 21

guided reading
By I teach 4th grade!

Well, I've been teaching 4th graders for 10 years now. I am a big advocate of guided reading, especially for the average and low ability readers. They benefit so much from small groups where the teacher really knows their
strength and weaknesses. I have 22 in my reading class...and it's just me. Here's how I do it:
The first 10 minutes or so is a minilesson at the carpet. I do short lessons at this time, right now it's about how to choose a book that's just right for them. We then begin Silent Reading time (I feel this is SO IMPORTANT to do EVERYDAY!). I try to give them 15 - 20 minutes a day.

The rest of our class is our guided reading time. I have split the class into 3 flexible groups (meaning the groups change often depending on the skill we are working on and the students' needs). One group meets with me for 15-20 minutes while the other two groups are working on their independent packets. I have a list of choices that they can do while they are working independently, not just worksheets. So far, this has worked real well.

Some of our days will be spent working in a whole group. I really believe in a balanced approach to teaching reading....I try to include it all! (Whole group work, literature circles, partner work, small group work with a novel)

I would reccommend buying the Fountas and Pinnell book called "Guiding Readers and Writers". I use it everyday, and try to implement more and more from it each year.

Sure hope this has helped you some. I, too, will look forward to other teachers ideas!