Guided Reading: A Critical “Piece” in the Literacy Block

Adapted from NJDOE IDEAL presentation by Doreen Beam & Jaime Frost, IDEAL Coordinators

What is Guided Reading?

• Guided reading is planned, intended, and focused instruction.

• Guided reading is a teaching approach designed to help individual students learn how to process a variety of increasingly challenging texts with understanding and

fluency.

• Guided reading takes place in a small group setting with the teacher helping the students learn more about the reading process.

(Opitz & Ford, 2001)

Understanding Guided Reading

• To maximize their full reading potential, all children need to be taught by skilled teachers.

• Reading for meaning is the primary goal of guided reading.

• Children need to become metacognitive: knowing what they know – the why and how of reading.

• To be independent readers, children need to develop a self-extending system.

• All children need to be exposed to higher-level thinking activities.

(Opitz & Ford, 2001)

Why Guided Reading?

Learning Zone

What the learner can do independently

What the learner can do with the support of an expert other

Learning Zone

(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Scaffolding Instruction

High Support

Little/No Support

Moderate/Low Support

Reading aloud

Shared reading

Guided Reading

Independent Reading(Fountas and Pinnell, 1996 p.26)

Elements of Successful Lessons

• Use both informal and formal assessment to form guided reading groups.

• Rely on a three- part lesson plan: before/during/after reading. Use specified teaching strategies at each phase of the lesson to help children achieve independence.

• Determine a primary purpose for each lesson based on comprehension strategies

• Choose a variety of books and other printed matter to ensure that your students learn how to read different genres.

(Opitz & Ford, 2001)

Planning a Lesson

The teacher must think about the:

oGrouping of studentsoSize of groupoPurpose/focus for instructionoText selection

Using Formal Assessments to Formulate Groups

• Choose a formal assessment to determine an individual’s reading behavior and obtain an instructional reading level.

• Instructional level text- books that are within the student’s control but offers moderate amount of challenge. (Fountas &

Pinnell, 2001)

Ongoing Flexible Grouping Assessment Considerations

You want to consider:

• Conducting ongoing assessmentso Reading with students (running records,

anecdotal notes)o Examining reader response journalso Reviewing students’ writing to observe their

control of language and text structureo Informal reading inventories

(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Considerations for aGuided Reading Lesson Plan

BEFORE Pre-reading strategies: previewing the text, introducing

vocabulary, assessing and activating prior knowledge DURING Modeling the strategy, observing and assisting students

as they practice the strategy, taking anecdotal notes AFTER Discussing text, discussing observations of readers,

reinforcing strategy introduction, expanding strategy to independent reading, reflecting on lesson, etc.

Framework of a Lesson

BEFORE• Selecting the text• Introducing the text

DURING• Reading the text

AFTER• Discussing and revisiting the text• Teaching for processing strategies• Word work (optional)• Teacher reflection

(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Selecting the Text

• Think about the last reading lesson in which you observed the students. Refer to your notes.

• Select a book or other text within the theme that you think will build on the readers’ processing strengths and meet their processing needs.

• Read the book with your readers in mind.(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Introducing the Text

• Plan your introduction - write a few sentences or make notes on what you want to communicate or features you want to emphasize. You may want to place post-it notes on the cover and in the book.

• Plan for the appropriate level of support based on knowledge of the students and data.

• Make sure your record-keeping system is ready and all materials are organized and available.

(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Reading the Text

Students• Each student silently or whisper reads, the

entire text or a unified portion of the text.

Teacher• The teacher may sample students’ oral

reading, reinforce a reading behavior, or support a reader by prompting for strategies.

(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Discussing & Revisiting the Text

The teacher helps students:• Summarize and synthesize information• Communicate their ideas to others• Express the connections they are making

between the text and their own lives or other texts

• Evaluate the text in light of their knowledge and experience

• Confirm and extend their understanding(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Teaching for Strategies

After observing the students during the reading, the teacher will:

• Highlight briefly and explicitly one or two important processing strategies

• Reinforce new processing strategies that students can use in reading other text

(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Word Work & Extending the Lesson (optional)

• Word work is a one- or two- minute optional component of a guided reading lesson. During word work, teachers help students discover how words work by working with letters, word parts, and words in isolation.

• Extending the lesson is another optional component of a guided reading lesson. The teacher may have the students engage in an activity that expands the meaning of the story. For example, the students may complete a graphic organizer or write reflections in their reading journal.

(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Teacher Reflections

• Think once again about whether your grouping is appropriate for all the students.

• Consider what you learned from observing the students read. Think about how this will influence your next book selection or your next lesson using this book.

• Make some quick notes on what students need to learn to do next and the possible texts you can use to accomplish that goal.

• Reflect on the effectiveness of your teaching. What did the students learn how to do today as readers that they didn’t know how to do before?

(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Modeled, Guided, Independent

TIER 1• Teacher introduces and models during direct instruction

TIER 2• Teacher guides students’ use of skills during guided reading

TIER 3• Students practice skill use independently at literacy centers

Aligning the Three Tiers

ScenarioPrior to the guided reading lesson the teachermodeled, through direct instruction (Tier 1) theskill:

Participant Activity:• Design a guided reading lesson (Tier 2) that aligns

with the skills taught during direct instruction. • Create a reading, writing or technology station (Tier

3) that allows for student rehearsal of the same skill.

“In any guided reading session, the teacher needs to know what knowledge and understanding

each child will bring to the reading and what supports or assistance will be necessary to ensure that the students can read the text

successfully.”

(Fountas & Pinnell, 2001)

Final Thoughts