Guided Reading

As we go further on in our classes and our Kindergarten practicum I have noticed several different reading methods.  Though many methods are productive in the classroom I find one method to be extremely pratcial and developmentally appropriate for the children.  There is one method that I have found to be very successful in my classroom with my students and that is guided reading.  There are three points to guided reading:
1.) Reading to children
2.) Reading with children
3.) Reading by children
Each point is highley acheivable for children and gives them the ability to work on literacy skills with peers, parents, teachers, or alone.  I found a useful qoute made by a teacher that really shed light on the reality of teaching she said "it isn’t only the reading but the responses and interactions that go with it that provide the true context for literacy development.” (Parker)  Guided reading is a style of reading that can very well be used with any child's developmental level and escpecially children who may have special needs cognitivley.  The children are reading stories, reflecting, retelling, naming characters, talking about plot situations, and practicing writing.  Along with word recognition, pronounciation, and the ability to formulate new words or familiar words from exsisting text.  To support guided reading however the teacher must support the idea of it and in the classroom enviroment.  A good classroom enviroment for guided reading should consist of large blocks of time to pursue reading and writing in depth, the opportunity to choose the particular activities they would pursue; and ownership of their learning.