Guided Reading: Revisiting an old friend Erin Monn In-service Day Presentation for 2 nd and 3 rd grade teachers Oct. 11, 2010

Please Do Now Answer this question: What does a successful guided reading group look like? Be sure your response is at least 5 lines long. Please share your response with a neighbor.

What is our purpose for today? Dipping our toes in the water with more professional development coming Get everyone on the same page Guided reading beyond Harcourt Share ideas to TRY in your classrooms

What are the benefits to guided reading? Best of both worlds: blend Harcourt with research-based success of guided reading Provide data you will need to justify interventions Consistent use of running records will allow us to move away from administering DRA2 to every student

Materials Harcourt is the foundation Works best for on-level students Struggling readers and advanced readers need more or different All readers need real literature Key-look at needs of students Other options Book rooms Will be expanding Appreciate suggestions for reading materials School library Classroom libraries Cover the same skills covered with the leveled readers

Materials (cont.) Worksheets We do not want to “workbook” our kids to death. Use sparingly; they should be one, very small part of reading program Students do not have to complete every workbook page. Check for understanding in different ways FCRR activities Center activities Performance in guided reading groups Reading response journals

Groups How big can the groups be? Struggling readers/below-level groups (3-4) Proficient/on-level groups (5-6) Advanced/above-level groups (7-8) How often do we meet? Struggling readers/below-level groups (every day) Proficient/on-level groups (4 days) Advanced/above level groups (every other day) Who meets with groups? Classroom teacher meets with EVERY group. Future consideration-Guided reading training for paraprofessionals What can the paraprofessionals be doing now? Work with groups of students reviewing skills/strategies already covered Conference with students as they read independently Help students as they work at centers

Groups (cont.) After I look at my data, I have a student who is more advanced than my above-level group. How do I meet his needs? Students need other students in their guided reading groups. Talk with your colleagues and see if they have similar students Combine the students from different classes to create a group Rotate through the teachers on the team Same can be done if you have one or two students who are below grade level After I look at my data, I have an above-level student, but there is no other student in my grade level to pair her with. How do I meet her needs? Talk with a teacher at the next grade level and see if the student would fit in one of his/her guided reading groups Student only goes to the next grade level for guided reading; not whole group Contact parents and make sure they are okay with arrangement

Lesson format Instructional level Multiple books within week or chapter books (depends on needs of readers) Cover multiple skills/strategies over the duration of a chapter book Mix of genres Lesson format (refer to chart)* Warm read Send reading materials home at night Before reading During reading Techniques Whisper reading The Helping Hand of Reading (prompts for decoding) After reading *This will look different from Harcourt plan; These are ideas to try until further professional development is provided

What if I want help? Just Ask! That’s what I am here for. I can: Help look at data to form groups Help choose appropriate reading material Help implement a schedule Help implement meaningful independent work for students not in guided reading groups Model a guided reading group Share ideas amongst yourselves