Kindergarten Guided Reading

I get a lot of questions about guided reading in my classroom. I wanted to provide a simple step-by-step outline of what I do and the materials I use in my classroom every day in hopes that this helps  to answer some of those questions. 

Here goes... 

Grouping and Timing

I begin small group instruction after my whole group lesson. I usually make 4 reading groups for 20 minutes each, but because I'm teaching as an inclusion team this year we have 5 groups. These groups are homogeneously grouped according to DRA results.  I list the groups using chalkboard markers because they are easy to change as the needs of my students change.  You may notice small dots next to names. These are pom poms I glue to magnets to represent the weekly team captains. They are responsible for keeping independent groups on-task. 

Guided Reading Groups

Leveled readers are essential in guided reading. Make sure to use students' instructional levels. Personally, I have trouble finding guided reading books. I borrow a lot of books from 1st grade teachers and I find others online. I made a few emergent readers that you can find HERE.

I focus on either a reading strategy or a phonics skill for each lesson. When teaching decoding strategies I use Beanie Baby Strategies that can be found HERE. 

When teaching fluency I use simple fluency passages. I made some that you can download HERE. They review letters, letter sounds. sight words, and CVC words for easy differentiation.  I practice these skills prior to reading a guided reading book. This way we practice the skill then students have the chance to apply this skill to their reading. 

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Independent Work

This can sometimes be the most difficult in kindergarten mainly because kindergarteners aren't known for being too self-regulated. This is why it is so important to introduce these skills on the very first week of school. Set clear expectations about noise level and always provide a puzzle or other activity if they finish early. Here are a few ideas for activities. If you have an aide, he/she can always take an activity here or rotate between both groups to ensure they are on task. I also have team captains each week who give out stickers if students completed their work well. This allows students to assess their ow work and learn to self regulate. 

I use a Common Core Interactive Notebook for independent work every day. Here is a sample of a project from the bundle. 

With my aide I also try to make a game or craftivity that reflects our learning from the day or week. Here is an example of a word family project we did in November...

Classroom Management 

...without it, you cannot effectively teach guided reading so be sure to keep routines similar and let students know what is expected of them. Here is my life saver for managing groups... a timer with a warning signal. This not only gives students in independent work an idea of when to wrap it up, but it manages me as well. Here is the best-ever timer for guided reading. Seriously, buy it today. You'll thank me later...

I hope this post was helpful in providing new ideas and structure to your guided reading groups in your classrooms. Good luck & happy reading!

Managing Guided Reading, Running Records, and Writing in a Kindergarten Classroom

Guided reading is a HUGE part of my classroom each day. Using DRA scores to level my groups, I spend about 20 minutes with each reading group. We have recently been asked to include running records in each child's portfolio and many teachers expressed their frustration with completing these running records. I decided to explain how I manage reading, taking running records, and writing all in my 20 minute group.

Determine your focus

Find a reading strategy and comprehension strategy.  I use decoding animals to teach decoding skills. Next I find my comprehension skill (details, main idea, characters, text features, etc.)

Pick an appropriate text 

 

I use decodable texts, predictable texts or books with our sight words. I'm lucky to work in a school with a book room of leveed texts but I also like to order Bob's Books from scholastic.

Guided Reading

I begin with a mini lesson based upon the skill we are working on. I give students highlighting tape to highlight words they struggle to decode and scaffold using the decoding posters.  We sometimes also use the tape to highlight sight words. Once we read the text together, I give students whisper phones to read independently then they partner read quietly. At this time, I begin my running record. I pick a student and provide the student with a text at their instructional level. While students are whisper reading, I have time to work with a student. It's important to note that you do not need running records for each student every week. I typically do them about 3 times a marking period for each child.

Respond to reading

 

Once I'm done with my running record We respond to our reading in writing. I do this in a variety of ways. I use pre-made response sheets or students use writing paper to draw a picture and respond by writing a sentence.  Again, this depends on the skill I am teaching. You can download my FREE writing paper HERE and download my guided reading response activities HERE.

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The Ultimate Decoding Strategy Guide

Guided Reading

The focus on literacy has increased greatly in Kindergarten over the years. Guided reading is an integral part of my literacy block. I use reading strategy posters to teach different reading and decoding strategies. The strategies are associated to a familiar animals which helps students remember each strategy, plus it's more fun! They are just brilliant! 

Use guided reading strategy posters to give students picture clues and reminder to use their strategies! I also made guided reading strategy bookmarks that can be sent home, and guided reading strategy name plates! Anywhere they go, they can reference their strategies. 

Whether you work with just one guided reading group in one day, or if you have several groups that cycle through your classroom each day, this helpful packet will give you countless lessons and supplements to make guided reading a breeze! 

Here are some other guided reading tips I use in my classroom:

Managing Reading Groups

To manage my guided reading groups, I level my students using DRA (Developments Reading Assessment). Try not to have guided reading groups with more than 5 students, but I try to keep my groups around 4 students, especially my groups who need more scaffolding. I use a binder to section off each guided reading group and place running record sheets in each section for each student.

Selecting 'Just Right' Texts

I recommend picking your texts about a week ahead of time. This gives you time to be more reflective about the strategies and levels you choose. Pick several books at each groups' instructional level and place rubber bands around the group of texts. 

Managing Time In Guided Reading Groups

Managing your time during guided reading is essential to teaching an effective lesson. I always begin my guided reading lessons with picture walks. Remember, kindergarten-ages children think in pictures, so it is important to pay close attention to the pictures and give students the opportunity to discuss these pictures with their peers. Find a timer that gives you a warning before the guided reading session ends, in order to closure you lesson appropriately. 

My guided reading groups last about 20 minutes each. I break my lessons into small segments.

2-3 minutes: Mini-lesson. Set a purpose for reading.

2-3 minutes: Picture walk

4-5 minutes: Students read using phonics phones, choral reading etc.

4-5 minutes: Partner reading. Students take turns reading a page of the tezt. Partners follow along with their finger while their peer reads a text and vice versa. 

5 minutes: Closure and respond to reading. You can do this through reading, exit slips, think-pair-share, etc. 

Get all the guided reading tools and supplements you'll ever need HERE!

Guided Reading Strategies FREEBIE

Guided Reading Strategies 

I'm in the process of making a guided reading bundle. I hoped to get it out this week, but fate didn't seem to want that to happen quite yet. This week has seemed to be one project after another. I did want to post my weekly freebie, which is a page form my guided reading bundle, for all of my followers. Hopefully I can post the entire bundle by this weekend.... we'll see. The warm weather has made me slightly less motivated.

In my school, we use these cartoons for reading strategies. Some people call these 'beanie baby strategies". I like to focus on one for an entire week at my guided reading table.

S-t-r-e-t-c-h the Snake - Stretch the word then bring it back together.
Skippy Frog - Skip a word then go back to it.
Flippy Dolphin - Flip the vowel sound.
Chunky Monkey - Look for familiar parts of a word.
Lips the Fish - Get your lips ready to say the word.
Tryin' Lion - Try to reread the sentence.
Helpful Kangaroo - When all else fails, ask the teacher!
Eagle Eyes - Look at the picture for clues.

You can use these for desk name tags, bag of books labels, guided reading folders, etc.

Enjoy!!

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The Luckiest Little Kindergarten

St. Patrick's Day Fun for Your Wee Little Ones

I know St. Patrick's Day is still a while away, but I just love the holiday so much I couldn't help but get started on my special activities! Last year I told my little kinders that there was a "lucky little leprechaun'  that came to visit our classroom when we weren't there. Sure enough, my little cuties bought it. Hook, line and sinker! I would put the gold coin chocolates in their cubbies if they were neat, leave gold and green glitter in mysterious places around the room, leave notes to the kids on our Smartboard, flip over chairs and do other mischievous things. It's like the Elf on the Shelf of March! I don't have any pictures to share from last year's crafts, but I always like to to a little snack with the kids. When I was in school, we would order Shamrock Shakes from McDonalds... delish! In an attempt to save some money, I decided to do a special leprechaun breakfast with the kids. I'm going to color milk green and give students Lucky Charms. Yum!

I was lucky enough to attend the New Jersey Kindergarten Conference in Atlantic City last week and I saw an awesome book I thought would go PERFECTLY with my little leprechaun game that I play with my students. The book is called Silly McGilly. Silly McGilly is a friendly Leprechaun who enjoys playing fun little tricks on children throughout the St. Patrick’s Day season. ​Read his story, then place his doll by a window each evening that you would like Silly to come and play a trick in your home or classroom.  

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I also made a St. Patrick's Day Unit which can be found in my TPT Store. Of course, I have a little FREEBIE for all of my followers! Hope you all enjoy and be sure to enter your email to make ensure that you never miss a FREEBIE!!

Spead the Love!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I can't believe it's Valentine's Day already!  Here in New Jersey, the 'polar vortex' has taken over once again causing my 4th snow day this school year. I'm so bummed that we will be missing all of the fun Valentine's Day activities I had planned, but I have to admit it was nice getting to sleep in a few more hours. My class was having a small Valentine's Day party this afternoon, however, my little kinders somehow got the idea that we were having a Valentine's dance. One of my favorite parts about teaching Kindergarten is overhearing their conversations with one another. Needless to say they are hilarious, specifically their 'Valentine's Dance' conversations and planning of this dance. According to them, it seems to be the social event of the year. I've never seen them so excited! I guess we'll have to postpone it until Monday.

If you're one of the lucky teachers who live in a warm place and somehow escaped this miserable 'vortex' I made a cute Valentine's Day emergent reader. Students are able to respond to their reading at the end by explaining what they love. I added this emergent reader to my "Owl You Need is Love" Valentine's packet or you can buy it individually in my TPT store (here).
      

On Wednesday, we began working on numbers in the teens. We used Sweetheart candies to practice using the Valentine's Tens Frame Game. My students LOVED this game and couldn't wait to get my this center. I put 2 big bowls of candy out, but I gave them a few each to each so they wouldn't eat the candy that the entire class was touching. Of course I 'tested' a few candies myself.

 

  

Colors in Nature

Interactive Kindergarten Emergent Reader

As part of a Journey's lesson (lesson 13), my class will be discussing different colors that we see in nature. I am using this emergent reader as students read to self then to a partner. Students will be given the opportunity to respond to this book on the last two pages.

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