Distance learning is a challenge for so many teachers, but I keep thinking back to the classes of first graders I spent so much time teaching in small groups, in a really responsive way as they navigated early reading. I got to thinking, what in the world could guided reading look like during distance learning?
Here are a few ideas I’d like to share!
- Send home paper printable books- I know that while some districts have gone totally digital, others are still offering paper resources to students. While you may not have many hard copies of books, you could print paper emergent readers for students to keep at home. I have a few offered here:
- ZOOM or Google Meet- Depending on the platform approved by your district, you could schedule guided reading group sessions with students! If you can share your screen, you could have photos of a book to flip through on your screen. You could also share your screen with a board like this free letter board. While students can’t interact with it, you can model word building and have them write on a piece of paper or whatever they have available.
- BOOM Lessons- I just created my very first BOOM emergent reader. I tried to create it with a guided reading group flow in mind. First, students build some sight words, then they listen to/ read the story and identify the color word (active reading), and it goes on to offer some scrambled sentences using the words in the story. Finally, students get to choose their favorite color to wrap up with a personal connection. I also was able to record voice instructions and reading of the text. I think this method can be super useful because BOOM is self checking and can give students feedback, while providing them with a lesson flow. While you’re not face to face, if you have an account you can also see how they’re doing.
- Google Slide independent assignments. You can purchase or write some little emergent readers of your own to share with your students via google slides. Then they can practice reading digitally whatever text you’d like them to be reading. Drop in a comprehension check at the end, and you have some of the components of a reading lesson there.