Guided Reading

[BatmanLovesMenInEyeliner]

We've always done the traditional carousel but I feel that only a fifth of the class is getting any kind of quality teaching. The groups I'm not overseeing aren't necessarily always 100% focused...The carousel is a part of independence and so on, but I'm thinking of trying sharing a whole class text with differentiated activities based on it. I would still have a group each day for intensive work. Apart from anything, each group having a different text means it takes an aeon to finish each book.

My job share is a bit less keen, for completely understandable reasons. She's at the end of the week, when it's hard to pick up where the class have left off. Guided Reading has always been an easy one in this respect for her.

What do other schools do for Guided Reading? How do you make it work if you are a job share? Thanks

[mrz]

We don't do guided reading.
We use whole class texts either book for each pupil, photocopied sections or IWB

[SawdustInMyHair]

We just had them take it in turns reading a text and asked the odd comprehension question, so yours sounds like a definite improvement on that! Sometimes the teacher had me read rather then them, even.

[SawdustInMyHair]

*than them

[BatmanLovesMenInEyeliner]

Thanks, I'm really feeling the whole class text is the way to go. It's so frustrating trawling through 5 different books with 5 different groups at what feels like a snail's pace.

[mrz]

www.mrspteach.com/2014/06/guided-reading-and-new-curriculum.html

[BatmanLovesMenInEyeliner]

That link is pure gold mrz - thanks. There are some good reasons for whole class reading that I hadn't thought of. I think we'll give it a go and if it's too difficult for the end of the week then we can have a rethink.

[Pud2]

THats a really interesting blog Mrz. Thanks. Very timely for me as I am looking at how to move away from guided reading as I don't think it's effective any more. Does anyone have any good resources to support whole class reading, ie, good pictures or texts that can be used?

[mrz]

www.mrspteach.com/2014/03/the-problems-with-guided-reading.html

[mrz]

www.mrspteach.com/2015/05/from-guided-reading-to-whole-class.html

[BatmanLovesMenInEyeliner]

I really like the idea of RIC - particularly that children know what they are doing. At the moment we tell them we're looking at AF4 or whatever, but it's not really meaningful to them. At least RIC may give them a chance to be able to explain to Eng Co, or Head, or whoever what they are doing.

[mrz]

We have started to use Big Reading because it fit so well with the way we worked already

[Pud2]

I'd be interested to hear more about Big Reading. Are the texts good quality? I think you study a whole text with the children and then use extracts for more targeted reading lessons. Is that right?

[mrz]

You can choose any text to use in Big Reàding lessons ...there are no set texts just ideas which work with any quality text.

[mrz]

www.andrelleducation.com/product-category/free-resources/?filter_approach=269

[temporarilyjerry]

Please could you give me an idea of the types of text which are used in KS1, mrz? I teach a mixed year 1/2 class and the ability/maturity range is quite wide, especially at the beginning of the year.

[mrz]

You can literally use any book. I've used picture books and short chapter books. Things like Emily Gravett's Wolves and Wolf Won't Bite, Dear Greenpeace, Dragon Stew, The Santa Trap, My Granny went to market, The Owl and the Pussycat (original and further adventures) , children's story of The Tempest, The Great Kapok Tree ...so any book that fits your needs.