What is guided reading for?

[Insolence]

Just been reading another thread about reading concerns which pricked my interest and made me question what the point of guided reading is, and also what it really is??? DD is in yr1, reading well, writing terrible, and in the lowest group for everything in the class... Suddenly realise I have never questioned this and she may be reading at a level very different to the one she brings home. What IS guided reading?

Guided reading is the beginning of literary criticism, I think. Seriously. I'm not being sarcastic.

Guided reading is a mixture if things. It's sharing a book in a group, it's talking about the story and thinking about what happens/why certain words have been chosen/how the characters feel Tec. It's about reading for pleasure, reinforcing phonics, getting extra practise. It's a nice thing!

My understanding is it helps the teachers assess the dc's comprehension of the story, rather than just reading the words, so another way of ensuring they are on the right reading level.

Thank you... That's helpful. It's difficult to get much out of DD about what happens at school.

I don't think my daughter has done any yet (just gone into Yr1 - in reception they just did some as a whole class) but yes I think it is so they read it to each other, they can learn expression etc from each other, discuss the story, the characters, the pictures, what might happen next, what they like and dislike, learn about grammar. It should be somewhere close to their individual reading level I think.

I think I need to talk to her teacher.

"Guided reading is the beginning of literary criticism" ... erm no

"‘Guided reading’ is an approach in which the teacher works with a small group of pupils who use similar reading processes and are able to read similar levels of text with support. The teacher introduces a text to the group; works briefly with individuals as they simultaneously read their own copy at their own individual pace; and may select one or two points for the whole group to consolidate or extend their reading. The ultimate goal of guided reading is to help children learn how to use independent reading strategies successfully."

thanks for that mrz - I always assumed it was for them to learn how to examine the text etc. As I say my daughters haven't done it yet so I have no experience.

Is it through guided reading that they would learn the different skills required for the different NC levels then or through their own reading or a combination?

We don't use guided reading as we find individual reading more effective if more time consuming

ah I wonder then if my daughter's school don't actually do it? I just assumed it was standard. I can see why individual reading would be more effective especially if children don't fall into neat little groups.

mind she has been told she doesn't need to read to a teacher now (2.5weeks into Yr1) so hope that isn't the case. I assume they mean she doesn't need to read to a teacher as often not not at all. She isn't off the reading boxes yet and is only Yr1 so should still be reading sometimes.

sorry - forgot to say thank you

mrz, so relieved to see you don't use guided reading as you are the literacy guru! I too find individual reading much more useful. Yes it's time consuming but it works. My own children always loathed guided reading sessions.

Periwinkle, all children should read to the teacher. Dd1 never did from 6 or 7 and really resented it. Reading out loud is a skill in itself, and I love hearing the fantastic readers too. OK, so maybe not quite so regularly.

My kids always found guided reading to be a good way of making an interesting book boring.

yes goingmadinthecountry - I think they should too, especially ones who have irlen syndrome and possible dyslexia... its ok I will be asking some questions when I next see the SENCO about something else in the near future. I was going to give them a week to see if they just mean that she reads once a week rather than 3 times. to be honest they only do 2 pages anyway so I am not sure that is hugely constructive. She reads much harder stuff at home with me.

Would love to know what percentage of schools are actually doing guided reading. I know dc4's doesn't.