Small Group Reading Instruction

 

Day 4 was another actioned packed day. We know the WHY of what we do but It's the deliverance that has the impact. So many ideas are running through my head... thinking about each of my groups and tailoring the best Literacy program to support them. 

We kept our focus on the second Pillar, but took a deeper dive into Guided Reading. When done regularly and with a clear structure, Guided Reading really helps. It gives teachers a chance to teach specific skills, observe how students are doing, and give support right when it’s needed. It’s a great way to help learners build the strategies they need to better understand what they’re reading.

Unpacking Guided Reading 

Guided Reading Framework – Summary

Before Reading

• Set clear goals so students know what they’re working towards.
• Pre-teach tricky vocabulary to build confidence.
• Use graphic organisers to model how to think through a text.
• Connect the new content to what students already know.

During Reading

• Use a shared digital text to model and guide reading together.
• Keep students engaged with interactive elements like comments or questions.

After Reading

• Reinforce learning with follow-up tasks:
• Vocabulary review

Chapter 2 of Reading for Understanding: How Reading Apprenticeship Improves Disciplinary Learning in Secondary and College Classrooms by Ruth Schoenbach, Cynthia Greenleaf, and Lynn Murphy introduces the Reading Apprenticeship Framework

Reading about the Reading Apprenticeship Framework was really interesting, making connection's with what I do know and ways I can improve to provide a rich Literacy Program. Here are some of the keys points my reading.

• Quick comprehension quizzes
• Literal and deeper thinking questions

Creative tasks to show understanding

Reading this chapter of the Reading Apprenticeship Framework was really interesting, it reinforced what I am doing now and gave me new ideas to implement into my Literacy Program. Here are some key points from this reading.

Chapter 2 of Reading for Understanding: How Reading Apprenticeship Improves Disciplinary Learning in Secondary and College Classrooms by Ruth Schoenbach, Cynthia Greenleaf, and Lynn Murphy.

Key Components of the Reading Apprenticeship Framework

The framework is structured around four interrelated dimensions, all unified through metacognitive conversation and extensive reading:

1. Social Dimension: Cultivates a collaborative learning environment where students share reading strategies, discuss challenges, and support each other's comprehension processes. This communal approach helps students feel comfortable exploring complex texts together.
   
   

2. Personal Dimension: Focuses on developing students' identities as readers by building their confidence, motivation, and persistence. Recognizing individual reading experiences and attitudes is crucial for fostering a positive relationship with reading.
   
   

3. Cognitive Dimension: Emphasizes the development of problem-solving strategies and self-monitoring skills. Students learn to set reading goals, break down complex texts, and adjust their approaches to enhance understanding.
   
   

4. Knowledge-Building Dimension: Aims to expand students' disciplinary knowledge by connecting new information to existing schemas. This dimension encourages understanding of text structures, language features, and discipline-specific discourse practices.
   
   

   

Central to these dimensions is the practice of Metacognitive Conversation, where students and teachers engage in discussions about their thinking processes during reading. This reflective dialogue helps make comprehension strategies explicit and supports deeper learning.

Additionally, the framework promotes Extensive Reading within the classroom, providing students with increased opportunities to engage with diverse texts. This practice enhances reading fluency, stamina, and the ability to navigate various genres and formats.

By integrating these dimensions, the Reading Apprenticeship Framework offers a holistic approach to literacy instruction that supports both academic and social-emotional learning. Teachers are encouraged to model reading strategies, facilitate collaborative discussions, and create environments where students feel empowered to explore and understand complex texts across disciplines.

Today's session offered numerous valuable takeaways that left me feeling both inspired and motivated. The insights shared were not only practical but also thought-provoking, providing fresh perspectives that I’m eager to explore further. 

Over the next few weeks, I plan to implement what I’ve learned, test out new approaches, and reflect on the outcomes.