Reason #1 Why I love guided reading: You meet your students right where they are and they immediately learn something new that they can use.
Today I pulled two of my groups to the teacher table for guided reading. It was the first day to read the book, so with one of my groups we talked about the purpose of the Table of Contents, the Glossary and the Index. This was such a great lesson, and I didn't even know how great it would be! It was the first time to discuss the differences between a glossary and an index, and it was also the first time for us to discuss the purpose of them as well. They really had no idea why a reader would want to use either, but they were excited to try it out after we had discussed it.
Reason # 2 Why I love guided reading: It gives students an opportunity to take a risk they might not take in front of the whole class.
A small group setting is an ideal place for students who are not confident in their reading abilities. Because they are working with students that are on or near their same level, they are more willing to suggest an answer, or try a reading strategy that they would not do in a whole group setting. Today one of my students volunteered to read out loud. That has not happened in a whole group setting.
Reason # 3 Why I love guided reading: It gives students an opportunity to discuss what they are reading in an intimate setting.
When you only have five or six people discussing a book, you can share more ideas. 'Nuff said.
Reason # 4 Why I love guided reading: They come back from the library and say "Mrs. Miller, look! My book has both a glossary and an index!" and they are excited about it!
That was definitely a highlight today!
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