Small Group Instruction: Teaching Comprehension, Phonics, Word Study, and Fluency in Grades K-8
Learn how to use small group reading instruction to meet the individual needs of your students in your K–8 classroom.
In this 5-day training for teachers and literacy educators, learn how to plan for and teach intensive small group, differentiated reading instruction that focuses on essential components of evidence-based reading instruction in grades K-8.
Register to participate in-person at Lesley University or virtually!
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- Classroom Teachers & Interventionists
- Separate cost for 3 graduate credits (see Graduate Credit information tab below for more details)
- Literacy Collaborative Affiliation Discount available
Guided reading is an instructional approach in which teachers work with small groups of students to support and expand each student’s reading ability. In this course, you’ll take an in-depth look at how to use guided reading to support readers in the primary, intermediate, and middle grades.
Learn how each element of a guided reading lesson presents opportunities for teaching and learning that supports each reader’s development of oral language, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills. You’ll build an understanding of reading as a complex process, learning how to observe and assess students’ reading behaviors. You will examine how to: assess students’ strengths and needs as readers; form flexible groups; analyze and select appropriate texts for your students; and plan small group lessons that differentiates instruction to address the needs of each reader within a group.
Course Outcomes
- Build knowledge of the reading process and the actions that enable students to become strategic readers
- Integrate assessment and instruction taking into consideration the diverse needs of all students including multilingual learners
- Examine how to teach readers to apply a variety of flexible phonics and word-solving skills while reading
- Analyze books to consider the supports and challenges that texts offer to readers
- Choose and introduce high quality, appropriate books for guided reading instruction based on assessment data
- Analyze how each part of a guided reading lesson—text introduction, reading the text, discussing the text, and word work—presents opportunities for teaching and learning
- Group students dynamically for guided reading instruction based on assessment data
- Identify characteristics of fiction and nonfiction to support students as they read in a variety of genres
- Learn how to provide a structure and management system that allows for whole-group, small-group, and individual teaching
You can take this course for noncredit and earn 35 professional development hours, or you may take it for 3 graduate credits. Those taking the course for graduate level credit will choose a grade level span of either grades K-2 or 3-8 as a focus for credit assignments.
Nikki Drury, Literacy Trainer
Nikki worked as a literacy coach and teacher in public school for many years before joining the Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative as an Intermediate Trainer. She has experience as a primary and intermediate classroom teacher and literacy instructional coach at the intermediate level. Over the years, she has worked with students, educators, and administrators to improve literacy outcomes.
You may choose to attend this training in-person at Lesley University or virtually in real time. Should any of the conditions change and it is determined the training will be offered virtually only, you will be notified as soon as possible. We recommend that you contact us before reserving travel and lodging.
If you choose to attend in-person, the training room will have Lesley University’s HyFlex Classroom Technology to support an engaging learning environment for in-person and virtual participants. If you have questions about in-person or virtual attendance, please email us at CRRLC@lesley.edu.
In-person participants are required to follow the Lesley safety protocols.
Required Materials
You are responsible for purchasing/having access to the following professional texts for this course:
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2017). Guided reading: Responsive teaching across the grades. Heinemann.
- Either version of The Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Continuum:
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2022). The Fountas & Pinnell literacy continuum: A tool for assessment, planning, and teaching, grades prek-8, second edition. Heinemann.
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2016). The Fountas & Pinnell literacy continuum: A tool for assessment, planning, and teaching, grades prek-8, expanded edition. Heinemann.
Recommended Texts
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2012). Fountas & Pinnell prompting guide, part one for oral reading and early writing. Heinemann.
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2012). Fountas & Pinnell prompting guide, part two for comprehension: Thinking, talking, and writing. Heinemann.
Graduate Credit Option
With additional assignments and fees, this course can be taken for 3 graduate credits. During the registration process, you will have the option to register as a Graduate Credit attendee. When your registration is complete, contact CRRLC@lesley.edu to finish the additional registration process for grad credits through Lesley University.
- $2,700 ($875*/credit + $25*/credit comprehensive fee) *subject to change
- Course numbers:
- Grades K-2 — EEDUC 6047-34
- Grades 3-8 — EEDUC 6045-34
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
Non-Credit
If you cancel your registration prior to the first day of training, you will be charged a $50 processing fee. Email CRRLC@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request. Regardless of weather conditions, if the event is held but you cannot attend, you will be billed for the full amount.
Graduate Credit
Review the university’s cancellation and refund policies for credit bearing courses.
Registration Deadline & Shipping Policies
If you register within the week prior to the first day of this training, you may incur additional fees for expedited shipping. You may experience delays in receiving your materials.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the professional development hours. Graduate Credit participants will be expected to complete additional assignments.
On-site Professional Development
We can deliver this training to your school/district. This option can be delivered virtually or in-person for a group within your school/district. For detailed costs, complete our online form to request this training for your school/district and we will contact you.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our trainers.
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