EDU-EDU8614 - Guided Reading in Small Group Instruction

Course Description

Guided reading is a reading instructional model that helps support students in mastering reading skills. This teacher professional development course will help you understand reading skills at various levels and identify strategies you can use to support your student groups at their appropriate guided reading level. You will also learn how to assess student progress over time using various tools. This course provides you with many student resources and planning documents you can use in your guided reading groups to support your guided reading plan that you will build throughout this course.

Course Outline

1. Guided Reading Structure

In this section, you will learn about the background and importance of guided reading as a literacy strategy. We will also review what a typical guided reading lesson looks like, and provide a detailed example of a full, multi-day guided reading lesson.

2. Understanding Reading Levels

In this section you will become familiar with foundational reading skills, and how they build upon one another to enhance a reader's comprehension. You will also learn the difference between reading levels and Lexile levels, and when each type is appropriate to use.

3. Guided Reading Strategies for Emergent & Early Readers

Section 3 focuses on emergent and early readers and explains specific strategies that can be used in guided reading groups with these readers.

4. Guided Reading Strategies for Transitional & Fluent Readers

Section 4 focuses on transitional and fluent readers and explains specific strategies that can be used in guided reading groups with these readers.

5. Using Assessments

Section 5 of this course discusses the difference between formative and summative assessments, as well as what types of assessment are most appropriate for guided reading groups.

6. Putting it All Together

Using the sample provided, build your own guided reading plan for an upcoming lesson.

7. Applying What you Have Learned

Get ideas on how to implement the concepts into your classroom, find a list of online resources that feature strategies for guided reading, and read the research behind this type of learning in the classroom.

Learner Outcomes

Understand reading levels to help you group your students
Discover the difference between reading levels and Lexile levels, and how you can use these levels to group students
Analyze reading comprehension strategies for emergent, early, transitional, and fluent readers
Review assessment data and use the information you collect to help you guide your instruction
Build a specific guided reading plan for one or a group of students using the tools, graphic organizers, strategies, and templates provided in this course

Notes

This is an asynchronous online course offered through the third party vendor ed2go. This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook. The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online. You will have three months to complete the course, and may complete the course earlier than the three month period. Editing of a Microsoft Word document is required in this course. You may use a free version of Microsoft Word Online or Google Docs if you do not have Microsoft Office installed on your computer.