Elementary School: Teaching Staff: 3rd Christensen

Guided Reading in 3rd grade

The more you know, the more you grow.....

by Carla Christensen

August 20, 2008

I am a person who likes to "collect" positive sayings or phrases. One of my new favorite sayings is: The more you know, the more you grow." Using this saying, I will work hard to ensure each child sees success with his/her school experience. One way to make sure every person grows in our class, is to use Guided Reading lessons. During Guided Reading each student is placed in a small group for Reading instruction. The groups are based on strengths and areas of concern. The groups are also flexible and change as needed. During small group time, students work with me on reading accuracy, fluency (phrasing and expression), comprehension and building vocabulary skills. Once a book or text has been read together, we put it in their book basket and it becomes a familiar book for them to practice. Also, students and I work on developing writing skills based on the books we have read.

During group time, I will have 5-6 students at the Guided Reading table. The rest of the class work at grade level appropriate work stations. They keep a folder for work to complete, finished work and a "menu" to keep track of stations they have been to. Examples of work stations are: listening station and then completing a short book report, practicing Reader's Theater scripts and providing feedback to the partner on how they sounded as they read, Spelling and Word family activities and Vocabulary (recognizing and understanding more and more words). The students and I created a list of rules to be used during Guided Reading time. For example, students need to "see 3" before they interrupt me with a question. This means they need to quietly check with 3 other people, before they come and ask me for help. Also listed are using quiet voices and being polite to your partner.

If you have any questions regarding Guided Reading, please contact me at cchristensen@movalley.k12.ia.us. I am enjoying 3rd grade and look forward to talking with each of you during the school year.