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Written by Janet Mulroney Clark

From the McGuffey readers first used during the mid-1800s to the Sally, Dick and Jane books of the mid-1900s, and from phonics-based learning to the whole language approach, methods and tools for reading instruction have changed over time. Research is now available to show the best practices for teaching reading. The most effective method is the balanced literacy approach, which teaches students all the skills they need for effective written and oral communication. The guided reading method is an integral part of that schema.

Balanced Literacy Approach

"Reading instruction takes place across a variety of instructional contexts; guided reading is not the whole literacy program," as Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell have noted. Fountas, a professor at Lesley University's School of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Pinnell, Professor Emeritus Ohio State University's School of Teaching and Learning, wrote the influential book, "Guided Reading: Good First Teaching for All Students," a text that serves as a practical guide for classroom teachers. While Fountas and Pinnell have been instrumental in developing the guided reading method, they also recognize the need for reading programs to include a variety of methods. A balanced literacy approach includes modeled reading, where the teacher reads aloud to the students, and modeled writing; shared reading and shared writing, where students work with a partner; guided reading and guided writing, where the teacher works with a small group of students; and independent reading and independent writing, according to "Instructional Strategies Online," from the Saskatoon Public Schools.

Guided Reading

In the guided reading program, teachers place students with similar reading abilities into small groups, usually containing no more than six students, and use research-based strategies to teach reading skills. The teacher chooses leveled texts, texts written at or slightly above students' independent reading levels. Teachers "pre-teach" by introducing the text before diving in, helping the students develop a contextual framework that helps with comprehension. They point out the illustrations, headings and subheadings and discuss them with students, encouraging them to predict what will happen or what they will learn. Research has shown "text introduction yielded statistically significant effects in reading comprehension and science content acquisition," according to Fountas and Pinnell. Other components of guided reading include fluency, vocabulary and word-solving strategies such as phonics. According to Fountas and Pinnell, a federally funded 2008 study on the effectiveness of the guided reading program when implemented by teachers well-trained in this method reported, "The average rate of student learning increased by 16 percent over the course of the first implementation year, 28 percent in the second year, and 32 percent in the third year."

Best Practices to Implement Guided Reading

Fountas and Pinnell recommend certain strategies that increase the effectiveness of guided reading. Reading groups should not be static; teachers need to regularly assess students' skill levels, relying on observation and assessments to determine the students' levels, and change group composition as needed. Effective teachers choose reading material based on quality as well as level. Teachers also need to use a variety of methods to teach comprehension, including book clubs, reading conferences and reading aloud.

Concerns About Guided Reading

Guided reading does have its detractors, including Timothy Shanahan, who is University of Illinois, Chicago's Distinguished Professor T, chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and director of the Center for Literacy. He challenges the idea that students should use texts only slightly above their reading level and suggests they can learn more by using harder texts if the teacher gives them enough explicit instruction in skills such as word decoding, vocabulary and comprehension.

About the Author

Janet Clark has written professionally since 2001. She writes about education, careers, culture, parenting, gardening and social justice issues. Clark graduated from Buena Vista University with a degree in education. She has written two novels, "Blind Faith" and "Under the Influence." Clark has received several awards from the Iowa Press Women for her work.

Photo Credits

Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

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Does the Guided Reading Model Really Work?

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From the McGuffey readers first used during the mid-1800s to the Sally, Dick and Jane books of the mid-1900s, and from phonics-based learning to the whole language approach, methods and tools for reading instruction have changed over time. Research is now available to show the best practices for teaching reading.

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Looking Back to Move Forward: Guided Reading

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Looking Back to Move Forward: Guided Reading

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Seven Researched Based Ways to Promote Literacy