Guided Reading Ideas
Goal: To help grade school children attain a higher reading level, preferably the level of the grade they are currently in.
- 1) Choose a book that is near the current reading level of the child(ren), but it must be slightly higher than what their level is known to be (use testing results to determine the level to be used).
- Most books have reading levels that are determined by a letter and a number, A and one (A-1) being the lowest levels while levels with letters such as N and numbers such as twenty-eight (N-28) are higher levels and therefore harder to read.
- 2) From the book that has been chosen, words must be found that are likely to be difficult for the child(ren) who will be assigned to read the book.
- 3) The words that have been chosen should then be written (preferably on a whiteboard) to ensure that the teacher can go over the words with the child(ren) before the book is read. (i.e. help with pronunciation of unfamiliar words, understanding meanings of difficult words).
- 4) After going over the difficult words, the teacher can allow the child(ren) to look through the books (i.e. look only at the pictures) to give the student(s) some idea of what will happen in the book. A worksheet can be used (i.e. have the student(s) write their predictions for what will happen).
- 5) Have the child(ren) read the book out loud. If there is more than one child, allow them to take turns reading each section (whether that section is a page or a paragraph).
- 6) After the student(s) has/have finished reading the book, the teacher should ask them questions about the book, (i.e. What was the setting? Who was the main character? What happened in this book?), a worksheet can be used for this purpose.
- 7) Depending upon how much time is left that the child(ren) is/are to remain in the classroom, the teacher can allow the child(ren) to play games (all games must be based on reading skills and improving those skills).
- Some children like to have the teacher write difficult words on the board and have the students participate in a competition of who can pronounce the word correctly (works best with more than one student in order to motivate them to compete). Others will prefer to learn about contractions or the differences between synonyms or homonyms. Teachers can experiment to determine which game is best for each child.
- 8) It is important to keep the child(ren) motivated. Each teacher should have a rewards system in place that will encourage the student(s) to work hard in their reading.
