Text: Emphasize Guided Reading

Guided reading is one of my favorite components of teaching reading. It is one of those processes that starts anew with every new group of students because no one group responds in exactly the same way to a text. It is also a process that relies heavily observational powers and on engagement amongst its participants. I have seen the power of guided reading over the course of teaching special education and summer reading camp.

          Guided reading involves matching student reading ability to text and helping them integrate their reading processes. For both children and adolescents, guided reading becomes a platform for applying skills they have learned and learning to become better listeners and team players. My students enjoy the opportunity to talk with eachother and with me and are far less tentative than in whole group. This is especially true when the strategy being discussed is multi-step or is very complex. I have conducted guided reading groups for a long time and have seen my students’ confidence level rise over a period of time. Therefore, guided reading needs to be incorporated into the classroom routine so that students have an opportunity to become proficient readers.