Teacher Time

What does "Teacher Time" look like?

Simply stated, this is your guided reading block. During this small group instructional time, students are given texts to preview, read, and discuss that are at their instructional level. Regardless of the reading program in place, guided reading utilizes leveled books with increasing stages of difficulty. Students are generally grouped by instructional reading level or strategy/ skills focus. On any given day, aim to meet with at least 2 reading groups, for 20-25 minutes a piece. Using this approach, students are exposed to a wide range of literature as they develop comprehension strategies, build fluency and expression, and read with confidence while tackling more challenging material.

Note: Teacher time may also be used for individual reading conferences where teachers discuss and document students' strengths and areas for improvement as they listen to students' oral reading, OR to conduct strategy groups composed of students who need additional practice with a specific reading strategy. With teacher coaching, students will implement strategies to progress to the next reading level.

Credit: One Extra Degree

Resources:

Teacher Bin Must-Haves!

Guided Reading Prompt Cards

With this free download from Teachers Pay Teachers, students can select from and respond to 24 different prompt cards (complete with eye-catching graphics!) during reading breaks. Each card addresses a separate area of reading comprehension.

• wiki sticks
• highlighters, highlighting tape
• mini wands or plastic drink mixers...serve as pointers!

Reading Strategies

Making Connections

Text-to-Self Graphic Organizer

Text-to-Text Graphic Organizer

Text-to-World Graphic Organizer

Read, Relate, Respond: a template for students to note any surprising or humorous parts of the story and to document thoughts, feelings, or questions

Visualizing

Adapting Mental Images During Reading: a template for students to document the mental images they create and revise while they read

Running Records

Please see the attached Word document below with a tried and true running records template, courtesy of Deanna Fawcett.