Strategies for Teaching Small-Group Guided Reading: Grades K-5
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The BIG PICTURE
Plan 3 types of reading instruction
Recommended resources for establishing literacy stations.
Execute three phases in every small-group lesson
Observe the three parts of the lesson—before, during, and after the reading.
View a primary lesson.
View an intermediate lesson.
Logistics & PREPARATION
Compile student data
Sample data from third graders at Mary Raber Elementary (Columbia City, IN).
Adjust expectations
Jan Richardson, author of the The Next Step in Guided Reading, has a new book The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading. This resource offers many resources, videos, and downloadables that support teachers conducting small-group instruction.
In small groups, use a variety of oral reading strategies based on the needs of readers.
Match lessons to reader stages
Each strategy in The Teaching and Prompting Guide includes skills with prompts and questions for each developmental stage of reading.
Shifting the Balance highlights six ways to bring the science of reading into your balanced literacy classroom.
Tools & ACTIVITIES
Document the Thinking Voice
Build readers who are aware of their thinking
Purchase a set of signs, (also available in Spanish) or have students utilize their own mini-signs.
Use toilet paper tubes for students to whisper their Thinking Voice thoughts into.
Show students how to track their thoughts in the “snow” of the pages.
Introduce students to real reader tools
Digital resources with annotating options
NEWSELA is a FREE website for current news event articles. Lexile ranges can be manipulated to make the text easier or harder. By creating a group with all students listed, assign certain articles to certain individuals.
Break Down an Inference in 5 Steps
Make the reading process concrete
Silhouette Template
Chart Sense K-2 | 3-8
Retell & Summarize Ideas
Retell literature using story elements on a Retelling Glove
Support summary writing with frames
Summarize problem-solution text using Somebody…Wanted…But…So…Then…
Summarize ideas honoring text structure
Take notes utilizing the appropriate graphic organizer.
Think During the Reading
Define questioning/predicting
Analyze individuals based on their actions (& reactions), words (spoken & written), and thoughts (& feelings).
