How Do You Teach Using Guided Reading Groups?
Teaching with guided reading groups is a good alternative to whole group instruction because it allows the teacher to work with small groups who have similar abilities. The advantage to this is that the teacher is able to work with only the students who need help on particular skills. A teacher can differentiate instruction and teach the same strategy in a variety of ways depending on the needs of the group. Progress can also be more closely monitored, and there will be fewer students whose learning problems go unnoticed. Group according to ability. Teachers need to place students in reading groups according to ability level. At the beginning of the year, a teacher can use data from formal assessments like grade entry tests or other standardized tests. If these are not available, a teacher can compose a checklist of skills that should already be mastered when the child enters the classroom. From the results of these tests along with observation and parental input, teachers can then for
