Blog Post 6-January/February
Routman Chapter 10: Examine
Guided Reading
Molly Peake
Whether I am teaching reading,
math, science or social studies, I want to provide my students with lessons and
then learning opportunities that are the most effective. I have seen over the past couple of years
that my teaching styles and techniques have had to change to go along with how children
need to be learning to prepare them for the 21st century. I have seen that teaching whole group is
becoming something of the past. However,
whole group instruction is beneficial and sometimes has to be done.
I have started using small group
instruction in reading more and more. I
have known that guiding reading groups is one of those teaching strategies that
will accomplish many goals. In reading,
I try to have guided reading groups at least 3 times per week. After reading Routman’s chapter on guided
reading I have learned more strategies that I want to try with what I am
already practicing with my students.
“Meeting with a small group of
students and guiding and supporting them through manageable text” is a definition
from Routman about guided reading. I am
doing already what this chapter states about grouping students based on similar
reading levels. Both of these characteristics
of guiding reading centers are how I determine students for which center to be
a part of. However, Routman stated there
are many other qualifications to consider when choosing books for guided
reading other than just the reading level.
Routman also has me thinking
about whether or not my reading centers are worth the time they are
taking. Guided reading needs to have a
purpose and students should be “contributing to reading” and there should be “enjoyment”. Centers should be challenging to students but
easy enough for students to work independently.
This is a strategy that I am going to have to work on a little more to
perfect.
Hi Molly,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Routman's guided reading strategies were helpful to you. She had me rethinking the quality of the independent center/station work I provide to students during independent conferencing or guided reading. She's right - if the work isn't meaningful and authentic we need to rethink it.