Guided Reading - talk to me, how do you do it?

[MrsHandles]

I've been given the task of improving Guided Reading as I mentioned to HT that I thought what we had was good, but we're not using it in the best way.

We currently use Bug Club (the one with the paper workbooks) but find that some of the tasks aren't relevant to what we need.

So, how do you tackle guided reading in your school and what do you use? I'm in a primary and need some ideas to go back to HT with.

Thank you, oh wise Mumsnet!

Indeed 123fushia although he'd have a Jolly good try

@ElfrideSwancourt

Reciprocal Reading is where you train children into different roles in the group - one acts as 'teacher' and the others use different strategies.

Better explanation here : Readding [[http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/reciprocal_teaching]]

Well, that link went well

Reciprocal Reading

We use Destination Reader and it is fantastic. Very structured approach but interesting enough for the children to focus for 45-50 mins daily. We introduced the scheme in September and the difference has been massive. The chn are engaged in reading, using 'reading language' in other subjects and our results improved in each year group. I used to HATE GR with the carousel of activities that seemed like so much hard work for such little return and I could never seem to get it right. This is 'right' as far as I can see. Worth looking into!

We have moved to whole class Guided Reading, and results (already very high) have shot through the roof.

Each week the lesson has particular objective, and a particular text chosen to meet that objective. The texts are linked either to what we are doing in English that week, or to something cross-curricular, such as History or science.

Usual format is read text, discuss, task linked to specific objective, then a small number of levelled 'comprehension type' questions that are linked to the text. So as a very simple example, for a lesson focused on inference, text might be a character description from the book being studied in English, task might be to draw that character and annotate each feature drawn with specific evidence from the text, written questions will be about how the writer implies personality based on describing appearance, with for the highers a greater focus on how this is undermined by the character's actions in an extract from later in the text. Or another task from a different extract might be dictionary / thesaurus work to understand vocabulary, followed by comprehension questions starting from simple word definition, extending to why author has chosen that specific word.

Usually end lesson by discussing and peer-marking a couple of answers.

It has had an amazing effect on the lower middle attainers in particular, because they hear and discuss answers from the most able children (who equally aren't being held back) and can then apply their learning in their own work.

Should say that we do focused individual reading with those who are still working on the decoding, or whose fluency / speed is still low. In the guided reading lessons themselves, it is common for the teacher to read the extract provided, or the class read it aloud together. We (Upper KS2) see Guided Reading as an opportunity to work on reading objectives other than decoding, and individual / additional small group reading [in e.g. assembly time] to be where the children who still need it work on the basic process of decoding and fluency. That said, whoever reads aloud in the Guided Reading lesson frequently models the process of decoding unknown words, with the children following along.

Has anyone gone to whole class in ks1? I'm in year 2 next year and we have been told we will be doing this. I have a very low ability year 2, a full third of them failed the phonics test. I have no idea how this will work!

Put a call out for @mrz. I don't think she's ever taught 'group guided reading', as she has posted many times about whole class teaching.

Be prepared that she may suggest that you revamp your phonics teaching, though - AFAIR she teaches in a school with an 'interesting' demographic but virtually never has anyone of any ability fail the phonics check.

can't has beat me to it there.

I think Mrs PTeach has a blog about how they run ks1 whole class reading in her school too.