Guided Reading and How I Use It

Guided Reading is an essential component of Balanced Literacy. This allows you to get up close and personal with your young readers. I always enjoy my time with my students during guided reading, it really helps me tune in to their needs, struggles and successes. And, they LOVE to read to me at my table! 
In my first grade classroom, I have 5 reading groups. My reading groups are color names: Turquoise, Magenta, Tangarine, Violet and Jade. This way the students don't really recognize who is the low and who is the high reading group. They're all colorful! 
Here is a picture of my guided reading baskets: 

5 Baskets for 5 Different Reading Groups 

I got these baskets at Wal-Mart and I made the name labels to match their color. I meet with 2 groups on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 3 groups on Tuesday and Thursday. This includes my literature circle who meets on their own. I spend about 15 minutes with each group. This is during my Reader's Workshop time while the rest of the class is working quietly on schema notebook so I have a quiet environment. I also have music playing quietly in the background with my bird contest going on. 
I have two different lesson plans that I use for guided reading. Here is the one I use for 3 days a week:

Lesson Plan for 3 Days a Week 

Here is the lesson plan that I use for 2 days a week: 

Lesson Plan for 2 Days a Week

During my guided reading groups, I teach my students "Fix-Up" Strategies to use when they come to a word they don't know. I use this teacher poster below. I have it laminated and handy in my teacher binder. I show the students this list of strategies and we do hand motions for each one. The students HAVE to tell me which strategy they are going to try before we start reading. Their challenge is to try that strategy that they told me when they get to a word they do not know. Here is the teacher template: 

Fix Up Strategies: Teacher Copy

I also made posters to laminate and put up on a bulletin board or word wall. They have real photos of my daughter doing these strategies. 

I also made bookmarks for the students to use during guided reading, independent reading, buddy reading, literature circles, or literacy centers. They can keep this inside their book at all times. You could also have them cut it out and glue it inside their reader's notebook for a resource!
All you need to do is print and laminate!

Student Bookmarks

At the end of the guided reading lesson, my students do word work, schema notebook or comprehension questions. Depending on the level and needs of the group, I decide what they need to do. I have popcycle sticks that I wrote questions on. I have them inside a cup and the students draw a stick and read it out loud. Here are some of my questions:

Who are the characters?
Where was the setting?
Was there a problem?
How was the problem solved?
What was the author's purpose?
Tell the beginning, middle and end.
What was your favorite part and why?
What was the genre? 

I hope you have gotten some great ideas to use for guided reading! If you are interested in checking out my Guided Reading Packet, click below: 

Are You Fixed Up for Guided Reading? Grades K-3

Love, Kara 

                                     Graphics Courtesy Of: 

                                    Kimberly Geswein Fonts