Tips and Resources for Practicing Guided Reading at Home

Reading is vital for children of all ages, and having the right tools and resources to practice reading is essential. Guided reading is an effective approach to instruction that can help children become independent readers. This method focuses on providing targeted instruction to small groups or one-on-one instruction with a teacher or parent.

In this post, we’ll discuss guided reading basics and provide tips and resources to help you get started. From selecting appropriate text to providing effective instruction, we’ll give you all the tools to make guided reading successful at home. Your child will become a more confident and independent reader with the right guidance and resources.

What Is Guided Reading? 

Guided Reading is a teaching technique in which the teacher provides one-on-one instruction to a small group of students with similar literacy needs. During a Guided Reading session, the teacher sets up stations with appropriate texts and activities that cater to each student’s current ability level and challenges them to grow their skills while allowing ample time for practice and application. 

The benefits of Guided Reading include improved comprehension, enhanced fluency, increased vocabulary, and improved word recognition. Because the instruction is tailored for each student, it also helps them gain independence as readers and becomes more confident in their abilities. 

Preparing for Guided Reading at Home

To get the most out of a Guided Reading session at home, parents or guardians should select texts that are neither too difficult nor too easy for the student to read. When choosing books for guided reading, it’s important to consider the student’s interests as well as the level of difficulty of the text. Additionally, read-aloud books for kids can be helpful when first introducing children to guided reading, as they can provide additional context and help keep students engaged throughout the lesson. 

Once you’ve chosen an appropriate text, select a specific reading strategy you would like your child to use while reading. Common strategies include using their finger or a pointer to track words on the page; rereading sections; stopping after every sentence or paragraph; and summarizing what they’ve read so far. You can decide whether or not your child will do all of these strategies during one sitting or if you would like them to focus on one or two strategies per session. 

Before beginning a guided reading session, set clear goals with your child on what you want them to accomplish during this time. Depending on their current ability level, this could range from identifying certain letter sounds to discussing complex themes within the text they’re reading. Then, at the end of each session, assess how well your child met their goals and what areas need improvement to reach their next goals in future sessions. 

Guided Reading Techniques 

When introducing a new book or strategy during a guided reading session at home, it can be helpful for adults to model how the activity should be completed by reading it themselves. This will help students understand what is expected of them and how they should complete the task themselves once they begin reading independently. 

Asking questions during guided reading sessions helps increase engagement with the text by prompting students to think about what they are reading and make connections between what has already been read and what is coming up later in the text. Questions can also serve as formative assessment tools that allow adults to gauge how well children understand their reading and identify areas for further instruction. 

Summarizing is an important step in guided reading because it helps students synthesize information they have gained by processing information effectively and making connections between different ideas within and between different texts. In addition, asking students to summarize what they have read regularly throughout a guided reading session will help adults gauge how well they understand what they have read and provide an opportunity for further discussion if necessary. 

Engaging Parents and Guardians 

It can be helpful for adults when creating a plan for guided reading sessions at home by deciding ahead of time which texts will be used during each session, determining what activities will be used (for example, readings aloud or comprehension exercises), setting goals for each session, assigning rewards or incentives for reaching those goals, and providing feedback directly afterward on how well students performed in meeting those goals during each individual session.  

Finding resources related to guided reading can be beneficial for adults leading guided reading sessions with children and students who may need additional support while practicing their skills independently at home between sessions with an adult present. For example, resources such as libraries that offer story times, online educational games (similar to ABCmouse) related to literacy topics such as phonics or sight words, sites offering printable worksheets related to various comprehension skills (such as Scholastic), websites that offer free e-books (such as Amazon Kindle), or even videos on YouTube channels from popular authors like Dr. Seuss may all provide valuable supplementary materials when preparing for a guided reading session at home with children. 

Keeping regular communication open with families about their child’s progress in guided reading skills development will help ensure that parents are aware of any challenges their child may face so that they may provide additional support as needed outside of school hours while also celebrating successes achieved during sessions together. In addition, providing guidance documents that outline expectations throughout each unit of study related to guided reading should also aid parents in understanding more fully how they can support their children’s learning journey both inside and outside the classroom walls throughout different stages of development.  

Utilizing Technology 

In today’s digital era, several online research-based programs are specifically designed to support guided reading learners. These programs, such as MyOn and Raz-Kids, offer personalized e-books and quizzes that adapt to each reader’s literacy level. By utilizing these technology-based programs, students can conveniently access materials suited to their abilities from anywhere in the world, giving them more opportunities to practice their skills.

Moreover, other online programs like Epic! and Bookshare provide access to a vast collection of digital books. Epic! offers classroom subscription plans, granting access to over 35,000 books in various genres. On the other hand, Bookshare offers thousands of free, standards-compliant, accessible books. These programs often include useful features like text highlighting and progress tracking, catering to the needs of individual students.

As digital books gain popularity, parents can easily find books that match their children’s subject matter and difficulty level. However, while digital books bring convenience and portability, printable versions can still be helpful, especially when introducing new concepts and providing hands-on experiences such as coloring and tracing letters.

Keeping Students Motivated 

Setting small, achievable goals is beneficial to motivate and enhance student performance during guided reading sessions. These goals can involve reading several pages or completing specific activities before taking a break. For more advanced readers, setting larger stretch goals, such as summarizing the entire plot of a book or finishing early, can provide a greater challenge and a sense of accomplishment upon completion.

Offering rewards, such as stickers or incentives, after achieving the desired objectives can further motivate students and encourage continuous progress. These rewards can be virtual rewards or physical items like toys, complimentary snacks, or treats given upon successfully completing a task.

Building positive relationships and establishing trust between students and adults is crucial for success. When teachers or adults create a warm and friendly atmosphere and a sense of mutual respect, students develop confidence and independence. By engaging students in a non-confrontational manner and keeping the mood light, fun, and inviting, problems can be solved quickly.

Conclusion

The success of Guided Reading at home depends on having the right resources and tools in place. Whether you’re just getting started with Guided Reading or looking for ways to enhance your existing program, these tips and resources will help you set up a successful Guided Reading program at home. Your child will become a more confident and independent reader with the right guidance and support. 

Guided Reading is an essential skill for young learners, and with the right resources and instruction, children can be supported in developing their literacy skills and achieving their academic goals. Guided Reading can be used to reinforce learning and practice in the classroom and at home, and with the right guidance and support, your child can reach their full potential as a reader.