Jennifer Evans 
Assistant Director ELA 
St. Clair County RESA 
Evans.jennifer@sccresa.org 
http://www.protopage.com/evans.jennifer
Agenda 
What:? Guided Reading Why? Guided Reading 
How? Start with Lesson 
Plans 
Observation/Assessment 
Drives Instruction
WHAT IS GUIDED READING? 
“ Guided reading is a teaching 
approach designed to help individual 
students learn how to process a variety 
of increasingly challenging texts with 
understanding and fluency.” 
• Fountas and Pinnell
Guided Reading is not… 
 http://www.schooltube.com/video/a9540582c0a5418a 
b1ca/Introduction%20and%20Guided%20Reading:%2 
0What%20It%20Is%20Not (7 min)
Reflection: 
Name one example from the video 
and share how you feel about it. 
Explain why it is not an example of 
Guided Reading.
Examples from the video of what 
Guided Reading is not: 
1. Whole class reading 
with the same novel 
2. Meeting with the 
same small group all 
year 
3. Isolated 
skill/vocabulary 
lessons that take up 
most of the group 
time 
4. is not vocabulary 
introduced in 
isolation 
5. in not round robin 
or popcorn reading 
6. Guided Reading is 
not lead by students 
7. in not silent 
reading and 
worksheets 
8. in not teacher 
focusing only on the 
book and follow-up 
questions 
9. is not a teacher 
introducing the text 
and then sending the 
students back to their 
desk to read silently
Daily Reading Process 
Mini-lesson: teacher modeling and explanation 
guided practice 
independent practice accompanied by feedback 
application of the strategies in real reading situations 
Dr. Pearson emphasizes that comprehension instruction must 
be embedded in texts rather than taught in isolation through 
workbook pages.
Essential Elements for Effective Guided Reading 
Bring children with similar reading ability together in small groups for 
focused, efficient instruction. 
Select texts that are “just right”. 
Provide introductions that show children how the text “works,” explain 
difficult words or concepts, and prepare them to read independently (Before). 
Support independent reading with brief, specific prompts to help 
children use the strategies you have previously demonstrated (During). 
Help children revisit and reflect on the text to support comprehension, 
processing strategies, and extending meaning of text (After). 
Work explicitly on word-solving strategies (Word Study).
Characteristics of Readers 
Emergent 
Early 
Transitional 
Self-Extending 
Advanced 
See Reading Strategies Flip Book
Emergent 
Pre K – 1 (Levels A-B) 
Rely on language and meaning as they read simple texts 
with only one or two lines of print. 
Are beginning to control reading behavior, such as 
matching spoken words, one by one, with written words 
on the page.
Early 
K-2 (Levels B-H) 
Have achieved control of early behaviors such as reading from left to 
right (directionality) and are beginning to do some reading without 
pointing. 
Have acquired a core of frequently encountered words. 
Can read books with several lines of print, keeping the meaning in 
mind and solving simple words.
Transitional 
2-3 (Levels H-M) 3-4(Levels M-R) 
Have early behaviors well under control and can read texts with many 
lines of print. 
Use multiple sources of information while reading for meaning. 
Read fluently. 
Do not rely heavily on pictures. 
Have a large core of frequently used words they can recognize quickly and 
easily. 
Are working on solving more complex words through a range of word 
analysis techniques.
Self-Extending 
4-6 (Levels R-Y) 
Make use of all sources of information flexibly in a smoothly orchestrated 
system. 
Can apply strategies to reading longer, more complex texts. 
Have a large core of frequently used words. 
Can solve many other words, including multi-syllable ones, quickly. 
Are still building background knowledge and learning how to apply what 
they know to longer, more difficult text.
Small Group 
Name Reading 
Level 
Interests Strengths Skills/ 
Strategies 
Needed 
QSI 
Level
How Do I Plan My Instruction Based on 
Observations? 
 At the Zoo 
 James and the Giant Peach reading 
 The Big Bad Wolf 
 Strategies Flip Book Example 
 Emergent Level 
 Work with names (first box) 
 Letters in names (third box)
Lesson Plans 
Choose 
appropriately 
leveled 
lesson plan 
for your 
group
Why Can’t I Just Use The Basal? 
 Focuses on teaching isolated skills, rather than 
fostering an enjoyment and appreciation of reading 
for its own sake. 
 More time is spent on the supplemental worksheets 
than on actually reading authentic texts. 
 Many times teachers read the story to the students or 
play the tape as the students follow along because the 
text is too difficult for many to read independently. 
 The quality of the literature works are chosen mainly 
to allow skills practice and may not be particularly 
meaningful, authentic, or interesting. 
 Controlled vocabulary
Question: What do I do about all of the 
worksheets? 
 …as little as possible 
 Three criteria for a good worksheet… 
1. Must involve 
some reading 
and/or writing 
2. Majority of my 
class (80%) must 
be able to do it 
independently 
3. Students must 
need work on that 
skill
Guided Lesson Format 
Before the 
Reading: 
Fluent 
Reading / 
Writing 
Introduce 
the Text 
New 
Vocabulary / 
Concepts 
During the 
Reading: 
Support 
effective 
reading 
After the 
Reading: 
Discuss and 
revisit the 
text 
Teach for 
processing 
strategies 
Extend the 
text 
Conduct 
word work
General Principles for Introductions (Before) to 
Showing children how the 
book works – how it’s 
organized. 
Focus on Include: 
Give children an idea of 
what the entire story is 
about. 
Draw attention to 
language structures and 
vocabulary children will 
need to use and point out 
new and important words. 
Build interest in the story 
by building prior 
knowledge, making 
predictions, connecting to 
previous lessons, etc. 
Help children make 
connections with their 
own background 
experiences and 
knowledge. 
Point out aspects of print 
or layout that are 
important. 
Show how illustrations or 
other strategies support 
the meaning.
During Reading Observations to 
Focus On: 
During reading the teacher 
interacts briefly with students to 
prompt and encourage their use of 
strategies at their instructional 
level. 
Strategies should support whole 
class mini-lesson instruction. 
During reading the teacher 
records observations to help guide 
instruction. 
This should be the longest part of 
the lesson. 
These brief conversations are very 
powerful. 
Teachers use specific language to 
facilitate the reader’s use of 
problem-solving actions. 
As children independently 
whisper read the text, teachers 
will record anecdotal records and 
interact briefly with students to 
prompt, facilitate, and encourage 
their use of strategies and 
problem-solving actions. 
No Round Robin Reading 
The primary purpose of reading is 
to obtain meaning from text. 
Even at the K-2 level students 
need to be reading to make 
meaning from text.
After Reading Observations to 
Focus On: 
After reading, teachers 
discuss and revisit the text 
with children. 
They engage children in 
reflecting on the meaning of 
the text and bringing their 
own interpretations to the 
process. 
Teachers are asking children 
to be active in sharing 
meaning with the group. 
Teachers reinforce effective 
processing strategies. 
Teachers may also provide 
purposes for rereading text 
based on observations and 
ask students to extend the 
text in different ways. 
It is important for students to 
respond to what they have 
read in many different ways. 
(ie. Graphic organizers, 
reading response journals, 
appropriate learning centers)
See additional handouts
Guided Lesson 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AHxqggc-yI& 
index=1&list=PL95DC4FBFA0DC457C (9 min. inference guided 
lesson in 2nd grade) 
 http://www.schooltube.com/video/c73b68cace3e477b8108/Primary%2 
0Guided%20Reading (1st grade guided reading lesson 8min) 
 CD Essential Elements of Guided Reading (Fountas & Pinnell) (skillful 
teacher (Erik) beginning – 15 min.) 
 Next Steps in Guided Reading Videos: 
http://www.janrichardsonguidedreading.com/video-clips (Scroll down to 
“Early” introducing the book 2nd grade 4:53min)
Review Teacher Self-Reflection for Reading 
Workshop 
Highlight Where you are on the Continuum 
 Focus on page 2 to start 
 Select one area to concentrate on 
 For example in Teaching Strategies : My goal is to 
successfully implement all components of a guided 
reading lesson including before, during, and after 
activities. Or 
 Grouping: I am just beginning to observe students’ 
reading behaviors and to think about forming groups 
based on levels of text; I have not identified other ways 
that I use to group students. Usually I teach the whole 
class.
Plan how you will integrate this 
chosen goal into every lesson you 
plan just as you would support 
your students in achieving their 
goals.
Keep This in Mind:
Guided Reading PD Plan 
Day One: 
Introduce concept 
Day Two: Model 
Lesson 
Day Three: 
Observe/Support 
teachers teaching 
guided reading 
lessons in 
classroom
Questions?