By Laura Lane
Children receive a half-hour of guided reading each morning, meaning they read in small groups each day. The district's goal is to have all children reading at grade level by the end of first grade.
During guided reading, two guided-reading teachers and a resource-room teacher join the classroom teacher to run small reading groups. After a half-hour, the guided-reading teachers and the resource-room teacher go to another first-grade classroom to work with a new group of children. The district has hired six part-time guided reading teachers. Stephanie Grossman, the district's literacy coach, trained them. She also provides staff development training in reading and writing workshop to all of the district's kindergarten, first- and second-grade teachers.
Only first-graders were selected for guided reading because developmentally this is when children learn to read. Administrators and teachers believe the program has been a success. "I've found that the children are enthusiastic about reading and eager and very competent," said Ruth Rubin, a guided reading teacher at Camp Avenue. "We are pleased with all the components of this program."
Diana Hooker, a Fayette first-grade teacher, said, "A parent said, 'I don't know what you're doing, but I cannot believe how much my child has grown."
The program is flexible, allowing children to rotate their groups. Because of this, children are unaware of their reading level and do not feel discouraged. "We don't want them to feel stressed," said Stephanie Grossman, the district literacy coach. "By moving from group to group, they feel more comfortable and can move at their own rate. What makes this different is the children aren't stuck in a reading group like we were when we were children. They can be in a group with higher grade material without knowing it."
And having children learn to read in this way has helped parents not worry so much about their children's reading level because that can change quickly. "At the parent teacher meeting, the parent always wants to know what level their child is reading at," said Maria Papazis, a guided reading teacher at Fayette. "We try to de-stress that."
Linda Castillo, a first-grade teacher at Old Mill Road, agreed. "Instead of focusing on the level, I can explain the child's strengths and filter in what weaknesses are there to help make them stronger readers," Castillo said. "Once I explain it to them, they can see it."
With guided reading, children also bring books home to read with their parents. Papazis said she has received positive feedback from parents. "They can see that the children are proud, successful, and they can see a love for reading," she said.
Castillo said children bring a variety of books home, including fiction and nonfiction. "They are excited to identify the pictures in the nonfiction books and read the words," Castillo said. "The days of Dick and Jane are gone."
"Children are reading at home," added Hillary Herman, a Camp Avenue first-grade teacher. "And children who have never visited the library are asking their parents to go."
