Teaching Guided Reading To Elementary School Children

Teaching Guided Reading To Elementary School Children

Teaching guided reading to elementary school children can be a challenge for even the most seasoned teacher. There have been a number of articles and papers written on guided reading, and the methods used to teach it. Guided reading is a new way for children to learn the building blocks necessary to gain a better grasp on what they learn.

There are a number of different schools of thought on the best way to go about teaching guided reading. What works for one grade, however, or for one teacher; may not work for all teachers or all ages. The following are several different methods you can use to make teaching guided reading much easier. Look below, and see if any of these methods will work for you in your own classroom.

Working In Groups

The most fundamental aspect of teaching guided reading is that children should have plenty of help. Placing children of all ages into groups is a great way for them to not only better retain what they have read, but to also help each other do the same. It is important that you place together children who are at the exact same reading level. When teaching guided reading using small groups as a teaching tool, grouping children together who are all at the same reading level helps to eliminate any competition, or ridicule, that may come from having some students reading at a lower level than others.

Encourage Out Loud As Well As Silent Reading

When teaching guided reading, encourage children to read the books out loud as well as silently to themselves. Even if they are merely whispering the words, it has been proven that reading out loud will help a child to retain what they have read with more ease than children who read silently.

Consistently Test Comprehension And Retention

When teaching guided reading, one of the most important things is consistency. Have the children answer questions about the books they have read both immediately after a reading session, as well as later on in the day. This will help you to keep better track of how quickly the children are progressing, and in which areas they need the most help.

Regardless of which school of thought you subscribe to, teaching guided reading is one of the greatest advances in education. Children now have the tools to learn faster and with greater ease, and to better retain what they have learned. Teaching guided reading is the best way to fight against illiteracy, and to give young children a gift that will last a lifetime!