Guided Reading and it's benefits

In the book (The Joy of Children's Literature) states that over the past decades in the classroom they hav eliminated instructional grouping and added whole group instruction. These groups were designed by ability. This tradition was ineffective for several reasons. The one-size-fits-all texts has a negative outcome with grouping by ability. These are several reasons.

• Students from minority groups are more likely to be assigned to low groups.
• Students who did not have preschool experience are more likely to be assigned to low groups.
• Students with low-ability groups received lower quality instruction, spending more time doing the round robin reading and workbook assignment than the high ability students.
• Students with low ability groups have lower academic expectations and suffer damage later on in future classrooms. 

I remember that when I was in school, I was given a lot of workbooks and level reading which was boring text that I would have to read and take a quiz while my fellow students had time with the teacher. I was never in the high groups and felt as though I was not smart, and I do remember never having that one on one time with the teacher. Guided reading is great if you match the right book with the student. There are several things that as teachers we should take into consideration.

• Process text well, using knowledge of what makes since, sounds right, and looks right all at the same time. 
• Read most of the time at a good rate with phrasing, appropriate stress, pausing, and intonation.
• Know or rapidly solve most of the words and reads with high level of accuracy.
• Interpret the full meaning of the text. 

If your student is able to do this then they are allowed to participate in guided reading. 

http:/www.memfox.com/reading-magic-intro

http://literacyconnections.com/ReadjngAloud.php

http://www.readingrockets.org/atoz/reading_aloud

http://iuswp.com/mentor-texts