Literacy and Guided Reading

The Guided Reading program began in Sept 2017, at which time, 30% of the elementary school children (30 students out of 148) were reading below grade level. Six teachers are currently teaching in the program, and by Apr 2018, there were only 26% of children reading below grade level, a very noticeable improvement. Guided Reading is an instructional approach to teaching reading that has been in use in both the U.S. and Great Britain for many years. The teacher works with small groups of students, helping students to learn to use reading strategies including context clues, letter and sound knowledge, and syntax, as they read a text that is unfamiliar to them. The goal is for students to use these strategies independently on their way to becoming fluent, skilled readers. Used in conjunction with shared reading, reading aloud, and independent reading, it enables teachers to provide effective support in literacy learning for students at all reading levels. Guided Reading has made a very significant difference in elevating reading levels in the MISD.