1. Teacher Plans the Lesson

• Identifies CORE Curriculum components
• Plans for Guided Reading lessons of 20 - 30 minutes daily
• Defines purpose of the lesson
• Selects appropriate reading strategies
• Gathers materials needed for this lesson
• Previews text prior to instruction

2. Teacher Sets The Scene

• States the expectations for the students
• Identifies the reading strategy on which the lesson is focused
• Introduces the book, author, illustrator, theme, genre
• Asks students for predictions
• Discusses students' prior knowledge
• Uses visual aids to elicit student response

3. Students Read Independently

It is important that the students understand the purpose for reading. During independent reading, students

• Use meaning, structure, and knowledge of letter-sound relationships
• Make a meaningful guess and check to see if it makes sense (sounds right and looks right)
• Read on to the end of the sentence or reread
• Ask for help if an unknown word is essential to meaning
• Note any problem words for later discussion 

4. Teacher Provides Individual Feedback

As the students read independently, the teacher moves from student to student and closely observes and monitors the ways in which individual students process print. The teacher also checks reading strategies that are being used, praises appropriate strategies and suggests new ones.

5. Students Confer for Deeper Meaning

To improve comprehension, students need opportunities to return to the text. The ideal way to return to the text is in the context of a group conference. This is a time set aside to discuss a book that has been read independently by a small group of students and their teacher. This part of the guided reading lesson:

• Extends understanding of text
• May focus on students' responses to text
• May focus on literacy merits of selection
• Follows a conversational pattern
• Encourages student to interact concerning text

6. Students Are Involved In Creative Response Activities 

Responding to the text activities builds on the understanding developed when students participate in group conferences. Students' responses include, but are not limited to the following options:

• Written responses
• Oral responses, including drama
• Arts and crafts
• Reading related literature 

7. Students Share Response Activities

Students enjoy opportunities to share their responses during a Guided Reading lesson. The ultimate reward for working hard on a response is sharing with peers. Sharing provides opportunities for students to develop oral language skills, practice presentation techniques, and be active participants in classroom activities.

Back to the Elementary Table of Contents

Back to the Middle School Table of Contents