Guided reading is the heart of a balanced literacy classroom and is used in all kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms.

The purpose of guided reading is to provide instruction in reading strategies and skills.

In guided reading, a teacher works with a small group of students who are grouped by developmental skill level, strategy, proficiency and/or literacy skill. The small groups are flexible through the year. The teacher chooses an appropriate text with supports and challenges for instruction. Each student has a copy of the text and has the responsibility of reading with teacher support. Ideally, this instructional approach is used daily in all classrooms.

Framework for Guided Reading Lessons: 

• Rereading a familiar text
  
• Introducing a new text
  
• Reading the text
  
• Discussing and revisiting the text
  
• Teaching for strategies
  
• Student response to the text