DETERMINING READING LEVELS
The first step in teaching effective guided reading is to find out the reading levels of your students. There are many tools that are available for teachers to do this. Scholastic currently has a computerized program called the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI). Through a series of multiple choice comprehension questions, the computer is able to give a lexile score to each student based on his/her performance. It is easy for an entire classroom to enter a computer lab and take the test within 20-40 minutes. Upon completion, the data is available for the teacher, students, and parents in many different formats. The data makes it easy for the teacher to group the students and pick appropriate books. There is also the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) that many school districts use. This involves a teacher directly working with individual students through various activities to determine reading levels. The Qualitative Reading Inventory (QRI) is also another program that many teachers have used. It is similar to the DRA. There are many other programs out there, but these are the three that are most familiar to me. The main importance is that you know all of your students’ reading levels.
SETTING UP GUIDED READING
Once you have determined your students’ reading levels, the next step is to model the strategies and to teach them how to use the strategies in their reading.. In the beginning of the year, I have my students use sticky notes to mark reading strategies in their books. They seem to enjoy doing this especially since they have been told for so long not to “damage” or write in books. This is a fun way to have them learn more about the strategies in a constructive and neat way. Also to help my students understand the strategies, I use guided reading strategy cards that can be easily made into flip books.
BEFORE READING
When we first meet as a group, it is always important to activate the students’ background knowledge on what they will be reading in groups. This can be often done through a KWL strategy or just making an idea web with your group. It is also important to discuss important vocabulary words before reading. For all of my guided reading books, I have the page number and chapter listed for each word to make it easier for students to find. I also try to have a teacher answer key so it is easy for me to check for understanding. Before beginning reading, it is important to make predictions as well. This sets the stage for their learning, and helps them read with a focus.
DURING READING
Students are now ready to read for a purpose. Students begin reading their daily pages and continue to use the reading strategies. In my classroom, I have developed reading comprehension guides for many of the books I use in guided reading. My reading comprehension guides contain specific comprehension and other strategy questions for the students to answer. If time is an issue, I have also used reading strategy worksheets that are non-book specific. These worksheets are very useful in working on specific strategies with your students. A final piece that I do during reading is having individual students read out loud to me away from their group members. This helps me to gauge their reading fluency and to make sure the book is appropriate for their reading level.
AFTER READING
When students are done reading, and have finished their comprehension guides or sheets, I have them do some fun activities that still relate to reading strategies. Another option is to take their understanding of the text farther by doing end of the book projects. A final choice I give my students is to have DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time. This is important to let them self-select books of their interest too.
ASSESSING GUIDED READING
One of the most important aspects for a teacher is to be able to assess your students understanding of key reading strategies during guided reading instruction. It is often hard for a teacher to do this without some form of assessment guideline or rubric. With the adoption of the Common Core Standards rubrics will be created in the near future.
MOTIVATION
If you show interest in the books your students are reading, the excitement will be contagious. It is highly encouraged that you read each book that you use in guided reading groups. I know it is a daunting task for any teacher, but it will pay dividends in your students’ achievement. With your knowledge of the books, you can make meeting with the groups enjoyable for all, and a chance for them to expand their understanding of the text. This will foster a true love for reading and should show gains in their reading scores when tested throughout the year.
Here is a link to a free example of our reading comprehension guides.http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Miraculous-Journey-of-Edward-Tulane-Comprehension-Guide-KEY
Here is a link to our most popular product that contains 38 worksheets that you can use with any novel.http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Reading-worksheets-and-activities-38-pages-for-any-novel
I'd like to thank Wise Guys for guest blogging. Please visit Wise Guys store at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Wise-Guys/
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