What is Guided Reading?

The goal of Guided Reading is to teach students to independently use reading strategies at their instructional level. It is a bridge between shared reading and independent reading. Guided Reading provides opportunities for teachers to work with small groups of children on text that closely matches the children's needs, abilities, and interests. The teacher acts as a facilitator, using prompts and questioning strategies to guide children to comprehension. Using a book introduction, the teacher sets the scene, piques student interest and engages children in discussion. In Guided Reading everything is learned within the context of a book.

The teacher uses this time for ongoing observation and assessment. This assessment is important because Guided Reading is done in flexible groups that reflect changing abilities and needs.