Guided Reading Activities
by Donna
(K-3 Teacher Resources)
I have always used Guided Reading Groups to focus on 2 main areas ....
Why Guided Reading?...
1. 30% on the mechanics of reading - flow, word clues, sight words, etc....really when you think about it 'phonics' is for writing not reading! (Bold statement I know - but it rings true with me!)
2. 70% on the main one - Comprehension - reading for meaning and enjoyment - this is the reason why we read - we don't read to get every word correct - we read to learn or enjoy some information / story....
My overall goal each time I sat down with a group was to practise the above reading skills and come away knowing exactly how each child is 'approaching' their reading - I look for clues and signs and would often use this time to observe and write 'running records' for each child.
I would then know each session what to focus on the next session and what to talk to the parents about for practise at home...
Guided Reading Process...
Basically, I allowed approximately 20 mins with a group of 4 (tried to keep smaller groups for better individual attention).
Before starting with each group we would do a quick overview of reading techniques - for example, what is a full stop for, what could you do if you come to a word you don't know (could use 'keys for tricky words')- but reminding them that we read for fun and learning - not for a chore! (important to instil early).
Each week, I introduced an appropriate new reader (or continued on a new section of a previous reader). We would start by looking at the Title, Author, Illustrator. We would then discuss the pictures and other book features and elements (fiction/non-fiction, contents, etc), with each child sharing and predicting what they thought the book was going to be about.
Occasionally, I would 'scrap' the 'readers' and use a party invitation, or photocopy my shopping list for guided reading.
I would then read the entire text slowly and with appropriate voice 'inflections', while the children follow in their individual books.
We would then review whether the book was about what we thought... and discussed what we liked/disliked about it.
The children would then re-read the book silently to themselves while each child read a small section on their own to me. During this time - I would ask each child to come up with one question about the story that they can ask the rest of the group.
Once they have all finished silent reading and I have heard each child read independently (approx 10mins)- each child then shares their question. Children then need to practise their comprehension skills to answer that question and/or find the page which answers that question.
Asking each child to come up with a question about what they have read is a really great way to reinforce reading for meaning...
If we have time - we would play some 'find-a-word' games - such as find a word beginning with 't' in your book, find a word which has the sound 'th', how many 'The' are in your book? etc....
Hope this helps a little and PLEASE we would love to hear about how you structure your 'guided reading' sessions...
Cheers
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