Guided Reading: Responsive Teaching in Grades K-2
Learn how to use Guided Reading in your K–2 classroom.
In this 5-day training for teachers and literacy educators, learn how to plan and teach effective Guided Reading lessons in the primary grades.
- Classroom Teachers, Interventionists, & Specialists
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- Literacy Collaborative Affiliation Discount available
- Additional fees for graduate credit
Guided Reading is an instructional method in which teachers work with small groups of students who are reading at similar levels. In this course, you’ll take an in-depth look at how to use Guided Reading in the primary grades.
Build an understanding of reading as a complex process. Learn how to help students become more proficient readers through differentiated instruction in small Guided Reading groups. Discover how to use Running Records to study a child’s reading progress and consider the role that a gradient of texts and matching books to readers has on student progress.
You’ll also learn how to analyze assessment data to form flexible groups, select appropriate texts, and plan Guided Reading lessons for diverse groups of students.
Course Outcomes
- Build knowledge of the reading process and the actions that enable students to become effective readers
- Observe, assess, and analyze students’ reading behaviors to plan for instruction
- Use the 10 characteristics of texts to analyze books along a gradient of difficulty to consider the supports and challenges that the text offers to readers
- Learn how to choose and introduce appropriate books for Guided Reading instruction based on assessment data
- Consider 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
- Examine how each part of a Guided Reading lesson presents opportunities for teaching and learning with attention to the needs of English learners
- Learn how to group students 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
- Discuss considerations for teaching Guided Reading virtually
You can take this course for noncredit and earn 35 professional development hours, or you can take it for 3 graduate credits.
Required Texts
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.
- Pinnell, G.S. & Fountas, I.C. (2016). The Fountas & Pinnell literacy continuum: A tool for assessment, planning, and teaching, expanded edition. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2018). The literacy quick guide: A reference tool for responsive literacy teaching. Portsmouth, NH: 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.
Courtney Varner, Literacy Trainer
Courtney has a B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and earned a Masters in Elementary Education from George Mason University. Her educational career started in Fairfax County Public Schools, VA where she had 8 years of experience working in Title 1 schools. She taught in 1st and 2nd grade and served as a Reading Recovery teacher. In addition, Courtney was a Literacy Collaborative trained literacy coach for the intermediate grades.
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
Non-credit
You must cancel in writing two weeks before the start of the course to get a refund, minus a $50 processing fee. Email CRRLC@lesley.edu to cancel. If you are unable to attend, you may send a substitute at any time. 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 training materials.
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.
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.
- $1,990 ($650*/credit + $40 registration fee) *subject to change
- Course number: EEDUC 6047.34
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 faculty trainers.
“Thank you for offering such high quality professional development.”
Allyson Coburn, Literacy Coordinator
Blue Mountain Union School District, Vermont
Early Literacy Success: Building Language, Sounds, and Print Knowledge in PreK
Children in PreK come to school with many different experiences with language, sounds, and print. This two-day workshop will bring to life what very young learners need to know and understand about letters, sounds, and words and how you can support their learning by building on what they already understand.
Early Literacy Success: Building Language, Sounds, and Print Knowledge in PreK (Webinar)
This session will focus on how to provide rich, engaging experiences with language, sounds, and print in the PreK classroom.
Quick Tips for Test Prep: Supporting Your Students for Success!
Are you working to support your students to excel on standardized tests? In this 2-day training, learn how to deepen students’ understanding of the demands of standardized tests so they can respond confidently and successfully!