Guided Reading

The development of skills and strategies are an ongoing part of a balanced literacy program and occurs within the context of reading and writing students are doing in the classroom. My reading class is currently participating in guided reading groups. During reading group, we work on phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension and word recognition with leveled readers or selections from our reading text.

The following are strategies I use during guided reading group and may be helpful for you to use at home when reading with your child.

Story Introduction

Discuss title, author, illustrator and cover. 

Picture/Book Walk

We take a quick glance through the book looking at pictures to make predictions of what the story is about. 

Background knowledge: make connections to real life

Review text for any unfamiliar or new words.

First Reading

Teacher models reading the book while children follow along.

Students choral read the book while tracking print.

Second Reading

Students whisper read the book while teacher listens to each child read several pages.

*If re-reading the text on Day 2, students will buddy read to build up fluency. 

Follow Up Activities

Discussion about setting, character, author's purpose

Review any high frequency or spelling words found in the story.

Activity that evaluates comprehension of text and vocabulary.

Literacy Centers

Literacy centers are used to guide and strengthen the classroom literacy program. Centers are a meaningful way for children to interact, collaborate, explore and develop responsibility. Centers are also a way for the teacher to engage in guided reading or small group instruction without interruption. All of my literacy centers contain differentiated materials for various learning levels in order to meet the needs of all my students. The following is a brief description of the literacy centers I use in my classroom. 

Working With Words

This center is focused on high frequency words, spelling words and other common words used in the classroom (numbers, colors, etc...). Students are given lists of familiar words to practice writing and spelling on whiteboards and magnetic boards. Lists of themed words or story prompts are also available to encourage sentence and story writing. 

Library Center

Various types of books are available to children at the library centers: fiction, non-fiction, big books, leveled readers, short chapter books, phonics books, etc...

Pocket Chart Center

Students will be engaged in activities that include sorting words and pictures by word family, beginning blends, and sequence of a story or poem. 

Game Center

Everyone loves games! This center contains a variety of games that include: phonics based games, file folder games to work on specific skills, board games and flash cards so that children may create their own game of Go Fish or Memory.

Puzzle Center

A variety of puzzles on all levels are available: rhyming, opposites, sequencing, word puzzles, and more challenging puzzles (50-100 pieces) to practice spatial skills.

Writing Center

Many writing tools are available at this center to encourage creative and meaningful writers! Paper, pens, pencils, markers, notecards, envelopes, pre-made paper books, etc...

Other centers such as Listening, Write the Room, and Computers are not always in the rotation, but may be included throughout the year.