Our goal during guided reading lesson is to push these kiddos into reading by themselves. During guided reading, we can focus on letter-naming, retelling, or spaces around words. Carefully choose texts for emergent readers. Look for texts that support their learning:
- Predictive text, with a repetitive pattern
- Mostly non-fiction with lots of labels
- Strong illustration to support 'reading'
- 1 or 2 short lines per page
- Before Reading -- Do you begin with a brief introduction & a picture walk? Rog suggests not having kiddos try to make connections at this point, because their conversations tend to go off in all kinds of tangents. (Boy, I've seen this!). Instead, keep the intro brief & then go into the picture walk, making sure you give kiddos the vocabulary they are going to need.
- During Reading -- Give kiddos some 'reading manipulatives' (love that term!): 'witch fingers' can help kiddos track word by word. I've had kiddos who just almost refuse to track with their fingers, but I'm betting the 'witch fingers' will be just the trick to get them interested!
Only after you are sure kiddos know what is on every page
should you have them read independently! At this point, your
kiddos are ready to practice reading the book on their own.
If you have everyone begin reading at the same time, there is
the danger that they start choral reading. To avoid that, stagger
their start times or have them use whisper phones.
I'm done! I always tell my kiddos "You're never done!" (isn't that
the truth? lol)..."Go back & read again".
- After Reading Routines -- Pass out those reading manipulatives (magnifying glasses, play sunglasses with the lenses removed, star-ended swizzle sticks, for example) & have students hunt for letters, words, or patterns in the text. As much as possible, tie the activity to the text, but don't rule out playing sound games, word or picture sorts, or chanting letters of the alphabet, or do some interactive writing.
- make their own book
- picture or word sort
- word or letter hunt
- alphabet games
- Elkonin boxes

Thanks to the hosts of the book study. Please stop by to catch up on the previous chapters!
Chapter 1 - Think, Wonder, & Teach
Chapter 2 - Leading and Reading AND Tori's Teaching Tips
Chapter 3 - Rowdy in First Grade


Love the list of reading manipulatives. I need to get some this summer to have at my table. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAlyce
Mrs. Bartel’s School Family
I know! I need to start hitting some stores myself!
DeleteInteresting ideas. I do guided reading with my emergent readers but often struggle with finding activities to do with them (beyond the choral reading) that don't become monotonous. I may have to check out this book.
ReplyDeleteNotJustChild'sPlay
Yes, do! I am really enjoying it...easy to read & lots of great ideas!
DeleteBrenda,
ReplyDeleteI love this post. Emergent readers terrify me! I feel like I just don't have the skills to help them, but ready the book and seeing the ideas you focused in on really does help. Thanks so much. Love the freebie too.
Beth
Thinking of Teaching
I agree..it can be daunting! Glad you liked the freebie!
DeleteThanks for the GR Lesson Plan. I like iT!
ReplyDeleteTania
My Second Sense
Thank you so much for the freebie! I love it!
ReplyDeleteSabra
Teaching with a Touch of Twang
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! Shouldn't have been commenting with my kiddo right next to me, hit delete without me knowing!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thank you for the lesson template. I love it!
Stacy
Leading and Reading
Thanks for sharing your plans! :)
ReplyDeleteJenny
Luckeyfrog's Lilypad