December Blog Post: Chaper 10-Examine Guided Reading

I took many thoughts and ideas away from Chapter 10: Examining Guided Reading.  I have always wanted to implement Guided Reading into my ELA block, but because of time, schedules, required ELA materials, and other reasons I haven't been able to fully having a Guided Reading time until THIS YEAR! 
Some of the most important items I want to remember from the chapter are:

• Your guided reading lesson will only be as good as good as the text you use.
• Be cautious how you group students.  (In younger grade levels, grouping students by level is ok.  But when students are reading independently, it is ok to divide groups in other ways besides levels.)
• Make independent reading a priority over your guided reading time.
• Lower grade levels should meet with lower level groups at least 4 times a week.  (This is very hard for me.  Right now I meet with every group twice a week.  After reading this chapter, I think I may rework my schedule so I can work with my lower level students more.)
• The texts I choose should challenge students to do most of the reading and problem solve by integrating the strategies that are being taught.
• Guided reading should be guiding students through the reading process.
• Instead of asking what words students did not know or understand, my first statement when I meet with a group should be, "Tell me about what you read."  (This will show reading is not just about getting words right.  It is important to understand what we read-meangingful.)
• Where I sit is important.  I shouldn't be sitting in the center of the kidney shaped table.  I should be off to the side.  This shows students that this is more of a group reading time and not just a teaching time.  

The things I took away from this chapter will help guide my lesson planning and my future Guided Reading lessons.  The word meaningful comes to mind after reading this chapter and looking at my Guided Reading time.  If I do not make the time meaningful to the students, they will not see the importance and I am hurting their success as an independent learner and reader!