How to Teach Guided Reading

Guided reading is one of the best ways to help students sharpen their reading and comprehension skills. Since students work on reading together in a small group, it’s also a great way for them to get to know their classmates, too! You can use lots of different strategies for supporting your students while they read together. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different texts or activities until you find what works best for your class. You and your students can have fun trying out different things.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Guided Reading Basics

1. Use guided reading to teach reading comprehension. Guided reading is a strategy to help small groups of students read out loud together.^[1] Doing so teaches them to better understand what they are reading. It's also a great strategy for improving their phonetic skills, too. Guided reading is a good tool for students K-12. Just adjust your readings and questions according to what level you are teaching.^[2]
   
   • If this is your first time teaching guided reading, try not to be overwhelmed. It's really hard to do it wrong! The most important thing is that you find appropriate reading materials for your students. And teachers are great at doing that!
2. Determine each student's instructional reading level.^[3] To get started, figure out each student's instructional reading level (IRL). Do this for every student in your class so that you can make sure to assign them readings that they can handle. The easiest way to determine IRL is to use a chart provided by your school to identify what level each student reads at. You'll need to rely on your knowledge of how well each student reads, so go back over notes that you have about them. Then, match each student to a level on the chart.^[4]
   
   • If you're just getting to know the students, that's totally fine. You can assess their IRL by having them read a sample paragraph out loud. You can determine whether they need something easier or harder once you start guided reading.
   • In the US, most elementary schools use an alphabetical system that places students in one of 26 levels, A to Z. The idea is that students will progress through each level, starting at A and ending with Z. Check with someone at your school to get a copy of the assessment that you should use if you don't already have one.^[5]
3. Divide your students into small groups depending on their reading level. Keep in mind that students in the same grade will often be at different levels. That’s totally normal and fine! Once you know what level everyone is on, place them in small groups with other students that are on the same level. Groups of 3-5 students are the ideal size. Guided reading works best when there are fewer than 6 students working together. But if you teach in a school with large class sizes, you could go up to 8 students in a group if you really need to.^[6]
   
   • Try not to have more than 5 groups of students. Remember, you’ll be interacting with and assessing each group, so anything more than 5 groups might be pretty overwhelming for you.
   • Keep these groups small, no matter what grade level you're teaching. Even older students can get overwhelmed in bigger groups.
   • Make your groups flexible. You might need to move students between groups if they are progressing quickly or struggling.
4. Match the text to each group's reading level. The book or piece of writing that you pick for each group is key to helping your students succeed. The assessment chart that you’re using should have examples of texts that are appropriate for each level, so consult that to get started. It’s possible that you’ll need to assign each group a different book depending on their IRL. That’s normal!^[7]
   
   • For example, students at B level could read Have You Seen My Duckling? and students at M level could have fun with The Magic Treehouse series.
   • More advanced students (like at level V) will probably enjoy the Harry Potter series or A Wrinkle in Time
   • If you want options that aren’t on your chart, you can ask other teachers if they have any good recommendations. You could also ask your students for ideas. If you have some avid readers in your class, they probably have a few favorites they could tell you about.

[Edit]Lesson Planning

1. Set up a designated reading area in your classroom if you can. If you have space, it’s really helpful to make a special area for reading. The students will know that when they are in that area, it’s time to work on their reading. That can really help them stay focused. Plus, you can make this area fun and effective at the same time! Items to place in the reading area include:^[8]
   
   • A table and chairs
   • Posters with prompts and readings strategies
   • Book boxes
   • Mini whiteboards
   • Pencils, pens, markers
   • Paper
2. Create prompts for students to answer while they read. When you’re prepping your lesson plan, make these questions for each group in advance. Start by reading through the text and writing down questions as you go. Refer to your notes as you write up prompts to place in the student’s text.^[9]
   
   • You can write in the student’s books or on their readings. Or you can use post-it notes or notecards and place them in the text for your students to find as they read.
   • Create prompts that help your students understand the story structure, make connections, and make predictions.
   • For example, you can write prompts like, “Is this book fiction or non-fiction?” “Who are the main characters?” “Could this story happen in real life?” and “How do you think they can solve this problem?”
   • Keep in mind that you’ll use different prompts for each group, depending on what they are reading. For more advanced students, you can ask questions like, "What was the author's purpose?" "Who is the intended audience?" or "What sources did the author use to write this book?"
3. Try a new strategy if a group is struggling. What works for one group won’t always work for another group, and that’s okay. If you have a group that seems to be having a tough time reading out loud, switch it up, and try something else. Some different ways to read aloud include:^[10]
   
   • Paired (2 students read the same text out loud at the same time)
   • Echo (teacher models reading a small section of text and the students repeat it)
   • Choral (all students read aloud at the same time)

[Edit]Activities

1. Place the students in groups and give them time to read out loud. When you’re ready for the guided reading to start, ask your students to get into their groups. It’s up to you if you want to have all of the groups work on this at the same time, or if you want just one group to read while the others work on something else. How long guided reading lasts is up to you. Just make sure you give your students enough time to work through the text.^[11]
   
   • For example, first graders might only be able to concentrate on reading for about 15 minutes, while older students can probably read for 30 minutes. You can also give different groups different amounts of time. Flexibility is key for guided reading.
2. Give students the option of highlighting important information. Many students are visual learners and this will be especially helpful to them. Hand out highlighters to each group and give the students permission to mark up the book or pages they are reading. Instruct them to highlight keywords, main ideas, or words they don't understand.^[12]
   
3. Listen to the students read out loud and offer feedback. Hearing them read aloud is really the best way for you to tell how your students are doing. It also allows you to help them right on the spot. A great way to have everyone read at the same time is to have them use their “whisper voices.” When they read quietly out loud, they probably won’t bother the others in the group.^[13]
   
   • As you listen, give oral feedback to each student in the group. If someone makes an error, point it out nicely. Try something like, “Hey, Taylor, I think you missed a few words there. Can you go back and read that sentence again?”
   • Don’t forget that praise is an important form of feedback, too. “Wow, Taylor, you’re really doing great with these new words today!” will work.
4. Ask students to discuss the text out loud. You can either give the students written prompts to answer, or you can join the group to participate in this part. Prompt discussion by asking students to answer specific questions about what they just read. Encourage each member of the group to speak at least a little bit.^[14]
   
   • You could ask a question like, "What were some of the things Clifford found on his walk in the story?" You can then move on to, "How do you think Clifford felt about that?"
   • Using questions is a great way to gauge their comprehension. If the group struggles to answer any of the questions, direct them to the specific point in the story where they can find the answer.
5. Give everyone some basic questions to answer to get started. Explain to students that even though they are sitting in a group, they will start by reading quietly to themselves. To give them some direction, point them towards some pretty simple questions to get them going.^[15]
   
   • Some good questions to start with are, “Who is the main character?” or “What is this book about?”
   • Middle school and high school students can work on questions like, "How does this compare to last week's book?" or "What themes are evident in the first chapter?"
   • You can have the students write their answers on paper, a whiteboard, or type them up if they are using a computer or tablet.
6. Tell each group to summarize each paragraph or chapter.^[16] It really helps to make your expectations clear from the beginning, so tell the students they’ll need to give a brief summary of the text. Tell them that they can take notes while they read, and show them examples of helpful notes.^[17]
   
   • You can say, “When we read, it’s important to be able to talk about what we just read. The best way to do that is to give a short summary of the book.”

[Edit]Assessments

1. Use worksheets and other written activities to measure comprehension. In addition to giving oral feedback during reading time, you’ll definitely want to keep track of their progress. Try creating worksheets that students can fill out during and after their reading time. You can include prompts and questions and give the students space to write their answers.^[18]
   
   • Try giving students other activities, like having them create a different ending for the story or making up a creative story about one of the characters. For elementary school kids, you could have them think up new adventures for Clifford the Big Red Dog to go on. High school students might have fun creating an alternate ending for Harry Potter.
   • You can refer back to past worksheets to help you see and assess the student’s progress.
   • You can also find sample worksheets online. Basic worksheets are great for younger students. Some of your more advanced or older students might like the challenge of creating their own worksheets within their group.
2. Notice if the student engages with you and the rest of the group. Pay attention to if the student is eager to interact with you and others in the group, or if they’re kind of shy. If they don’t seem to participate much, try offering them some additional feedback or support. You should also note if they are struggling or seem bored with the material. Remember, you might need to move students to different groups depending on how they are doing.^[19]
   
   • Try hanging on to a small notebook when you’re observing guided reading. You can jot notes that will help you make more formal assessments later on.
3. Have older students write about the story to enhance learning. Writing is a great way to cement what students have learned. After the group has finished reading, have them write about what they just read. You can give them a writing prompt or have them write a summary of the paragraph or chapter.^[20]
   
   • For example, you could give a prompt like, "Why do you think Harry, Ron, and Hermione thought Snape was up to no good? Use some specific examples from Chapter 5 to explain."
   • Just remember to adjust writing assignments so that they're appropriate for the reading level of each group.
4. Hold post-reading discussions with each group to talk about their progress. After the main activity (the reading), meet with each group to talk about how it went. During this chat, you can provide informal feedback and offer words of encouragement. This is a great time to also give them tips for success.^[21]
   
   • Consider using this time to let students ask questions and express their feelings about guided reading. You can learn a lot just from listening to them!

[Edit]Tips

• Don’t be afraid to try new texts or strategies. Each group of students will be different.
• Get creative with writing assignments. Try out new questions or prompts to get students from getting bored.

[Edit]References

1. ↑ [v161030_b01]. 1 May 2019.
2. ↑ https://www.literacyideas.com/how-to-teach-guided-reading
3. ↑ [v161030_b01]. 1 May 2019.
4. ↑ https://www.literacyideas.com/how-to-teach-guided-reading
5. ↑ https://www.literacyideas.com/how-to-teach-guided-reading
6. ↑ https://www.literacyideas.com/how-to-teach-guided-reading
7. ↑ http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/using-guided-reading-develop-30816.html
8. ↑ https://www.literacyideas.com/how-to-teach-guided-reading
9. ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/article/promoting-active-reading-skills
10. ↑ https://www.midwayisd.org/cms/lib/TX01000662/Centricity/Domain/1531/steps%20in%20a%20guided%20rdg%20lesson.pdf
11. ↑ https://www.midwayisd.org/cms/lib/TX01000662/Centricity/Domain/1531/steps%20in%20a%20guided%20rdg%20lesson.pdf
12. ↑ https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/sharon-taylor/tips-implementing-guided-reading-lessons/
13. ↑ https://www.midwayisd.org/cms/lib/TX01000662/Centricity/Domain/1531/steps%20in%20a%20guided%20rdg%20lesson.pdf
14. ↑ https://fpblog.fountasandpinnell.com/what-is-guided-reading
15. ↑ https://www.literacyideas.com/how-to-teach-guided-reading
16. ↑ [v161030_b01]. 1 May 2019.
17. ↑ https://www.literacyideas.com/how-to-teach-guided-reading
18. ↑ http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/30827_rubric.pdf
19. ↑ http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/30827_rubric.pdf
20. ↑ https://fpblog.fountasandpinnell.com/what-is-guided-reading
21. ↑ https://www.midwayisd.org/cms/lib/TX01000662/Centricity/Domain/1531/steps%20in%20a%20guided%20rdg%20lesson.pdf