Reading: Reading Process 

What are the essential features of shared reading?  Guided Reading?  Read-Alouds?

One of the features of shared reading is the opportunity for students to read together is smaller group settings to get comfortable to reading and listening to stories aloud. Also, it allows for voice intonations and punctuation to be rehearsed orally, without. An essential feature of guided reading is to meet the children where they are at with their reading ability, and to challenge them a little bit further. It allows the student to gain confidence because they know the majority of the words, and yet provides a level of challenge with new words/vocabulary. Once these words are learned, it then provides the student with a sense of accomplishment and progress. The read alouds provide for the practice of reading and speaking in front of the group. It allows students to practice speaking with clarity, a good volume and the ability to work on overcoming anxiety.

How will you manage guided reading in the classroom?  What will the other students be doing?

There are different approaches to guided reading. Depending on the individuals in the class, there would be the opportunity to form a group of students at the same level. Whether in a group or individually, I would work with the guided reading during a time when there is silent reading and/or when there was a helper in the class, i.e. parent helper.

Have you seen shared or guided reading in action, perhaps during your placement or in your work as volunteer in a classroom?  If so, share your observations with your group.

As a classroom volunteer, I have participated in guided reading to the extent that during silent or share reading, the teacher has given me particular books for particular students and I had to call each student, one at a time, to read the assigned book. I was amazed at the differing levels and abilities of the  children in the same class. One book at a certain level would have been absolutely overwhelming for another child at a different level, and yet quite simple for a child at yet another level. It was a great learning experience for myself.