Guided Reading: Responsive Teaching in Grades K-8
Learn how to use guided reading in your K–8 classroom.
In this 5-day training for teachers and literacy educators, learn how to plan for and teach effective small group, differentiated reading instruction that focuses on comprehension, phonics and word study in grades K-8.
Register to participate in-person at Lesley University or virtually!
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- Classroom Teachers & Interventionists
- Literacy Collaborative Affiliation Discount available
- Additional fees for graduate credit
Guided Reading is an instructional context in which teachers work with small groups of students to support each reader’s development of systems of strategic actions. 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 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: form flexible groups; analyze and select appropriate texts for your students; and plan small group lessons that address the needs of each reader within a group.
Course Outcomes
- Build knowledge of the reading process and the strategic actions that enable students to become effective readers
- Observe, assess, and analyze reading behaviors to plan for 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 skills while reading
- Use the 10 characteristics of texts to analyze books along a gradient of difficulty to consider the supports and challenges that texts offer to readers
- Learn how to choose and introduce 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 the readers’ workshop provides 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 noted on the Policies & Graduate Credit Option tab.
Required Materials
You are responsible for purchasing/having access to the following professional texts for this course:
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2016). Guided reading: Responsive teaching across the grades. Portsmouth, NH: 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. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2012). Fountas & Pinnell prompting guide, part two for comprehension: Thinking, talking, and writing. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
Non-credit
You must cancel your registration no later than two weeks before the first day of training to get a full refund. If you cancel your registration within the two weeks 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
The registration portal closes two business days before the first day of training to allow the minimum amount of time to ship additional training materials (if applicable).
If you register within two weeks before the registration portal closes, you may incur additional fees for expedited shipping. You may still 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.
COVID-19 Protocols
At this point in time, participants who have opted to come to Lesley University for the in-person format of professional learning must be prepared to follow the University’s COVID-19 protocols before and during the event.
- You must be “up to date on vaccinations” as defined by the CDC.
- Refrain from coming to campus if you are feeling COVID-19 symptoms. If you are feeling sick, symptomatic, or test positive for COVID-19, please stay home and email CRRLC@lesley.edu to switch your registration to virtual.
- Masks are highly recommended indoors, but not required at this time. If there is a mask requirement for the event you are attending, our team will communicate this decision.
- Please read the Lesley University’s COVID-19 protocols are designed to protect the health and safety of our community.
Graduate Credit Option
With additional assignments and fees, this course can be taken for 3 graduate credits. Contact CRRLC@lesley.edu to register for credit.
- $2,325 ($750*/credit + $25*/credit comprehensive fee) *subject to change
- Course number: EEDUC 6047.34 (Grades K-2) or EEDUC 6045.34 (Grades 3-8)
With Your Colleagues Option
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 (as COVID-19 social distancing guidelines allow).
Fees & Policies
- Fees are determined by the number of participants and the duration of training.
- If applicable, travel expenses for each trainer (airfare, hotel, meals, and rental car) are an additional cost to be paid by the district.
- Professional development sessions that require extensive travel or overnight stays (if applicable) may incur an additional surcharge.
- If the number of participants exceeds the maximum, another trainer may be needed. This will increase training costs and travel expenses.
- Unless otherwise noted, fees do not include the cost of any required books or materials. The faculty trainer will consult with the district to select books based on the topics and the district’s needs.
- School districts in the same geographic area participating in the same training may combine their resources to meet participant minimums. Payment must be on one district’s purchase order.
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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