Reading group instruction for non-readers is so important. When I first started teaching kindergarten, it was a real struggle to figure out exactly what to do during that block of time. I now have found a routine that has helped me not feel overwhelmed, and has helped my pre-A readers become successful readers by the end of kindergarten.
What is guided reading?
Guided reading is explicit small group instruction that focuses on the specific reading needs of the student. Teachers place students into groups by ability level or instructional need.
What students are considered to be a pre-reader or at a pre-A reading level?
Students that are pre-readers do not know all their letters and sounds. They are also still working on mastering phonemic awareness skills. Pre-A readers may also need to still work on their concepts of print.
What does guided reading look like in my classroom?
I begin centers and guided reading instruction after we have been in school at least a month. This way students have mastered the rules and routines and can successfully work independently in ten minute blocks. Once they are ready, I level students according to their concepts of print, letters, and letter sounds knowledge.
I teach guided reading during our center time. Each center is ten minutes with an extra five minutes for clean up. We complete three centers a day, so I am able to see 3 reading groups a day. Each group has 4-6 students. I try to give all reading groups a chance to read text during every guided reading lesson, even my non-readers.
My Pre-Reader Guided Reading Group Routine
Day 1 (I rotate between two different group schedules.)
Warm-Up (2 Minutes): Every time that I meet with a pre-reading group, I use my letter formation book as a warm-up. My small group of students and I choral read the letters and letter sounds in the book while tracing the letters. Sometimes we go through all the book sometimes we just focus on a few letters.
Word Work (2 Minutes)– I choose one of these activities.
- Clapping Syllables: Give the students a word and have them clap to find the syllables.
- Hearing Rhymes: Give the students two words and have them give you a thumbs up if it rhymes or a thumbs down if it doesn’t.
- Sorting Pictures or Items in Alphabet Tubs: Have students sort picture cards or objects by beginning sound. The students love using these beginning sound tubs.
These picture card sorts are also fun and a more affordable option.
Guided Reading (4 minutes)
I use predictable or decodable text to practice reading skills.
- Picture Walk: point out items in pictures that will help with reading the text and ask students to make predictions and observations.
- Read: I either have them echo read with me or we choral read the story a few times.
Review Early Literacy Skill (2 Minutes): I try to review at least one of the following skills.
- One to one word matching: Have them practice tracking while you read or they read.
- Differentiate letters, words, and sentences. Have students point out each item in the book, show them examples and have them decided what they are, or have them do a sort.
- Identify first and last word on page or in sentence.
- Identify first and last letter of words.
- Identify punctuation.
- Identify upper and lowercase letters.
- Review letters and sounds using text in books or flashcards.
Day 2
Warm-Up (2 Minutes): We read letter sound tracing book.
Guided Reading (3-4 Minutes)
Writing (4-5 Minutes): With the pre-A reading students, I focus most of my time on demonstrating writing while still making writing interactive. Below is one way to do that.
- Say a sentence.
- Students repeat while you draw lines for each word on a sentence strip.
- Write the sentence while having the students help you write the sounds and sight words they know.
- Cut sentence apart and have students put it together.
- If there is extra time, have students write the sentence and illustrate.
Need predictable text for your early readers? Try these sight word readers!
Want to learn more about kindergarten literacy instruction? Check out Integrating Phonemic Awareness Into Daily Classroom Routines.
Let me know in the comments below if you try to incorporate some of my schedule or if you have any questions!
