Guided Reading Approach: An Effective Tool For Students With Reading Difficulties Article Review Sample

[University/Institutional Affiliation]

Brief Summary

Schirmer and Schaffer in their article entitled “Guided Reading Approach: Teaching Reading to Students who are Deaf and who Struggle” chronicled the experience of teacher Isabella who is a new teacher and is struggling to find an appropriate technique to teach reading. Isabella graduated from a teacher education program but she did not learn how to map out her lesson using a reading technique. She was able to find the Guided Reading Approach which to her is useful and less expensive. Schirmer and Schaffer cited studies affirming that the Guided Reading Approach is really effective to students with reading difficulties.
It is a technique that groups students homogenously in terms of reading ability. After grouping, the students are asked to read silently. After reading, a discussion ensues in order for the teacher to ask what the students learned from the text and what they did not understand. The teacher takes running notes on each of the students to keep track of their gained knowledge. Teachers check words that the students are able to understand and pronounce well while taking notes on words that they find it difficult. It is also in the discussion where the students are encouraged to think beyond the text.

“How”

As a kindergarten teacher, the material is useful for me to enhance my approaches in order to teach reading effectively to my students especially those who are struggling. I will plan my next teaching sessions according to the material. First, I will evaluate each of the student’s ability in reading by making profiles. Then during the first reading session that I will conduct, I will group them according to their reading ability. In order to allow a comfortable reading session, they will be grouped with their peers. I will put more attention to the group where those who are having are flocked. After giving them the material to read silently, I will instruct them to read not only with their eyes but with their minds and hearts and take their time. After reading, each of the group will be asked of the words that are new to them and how they understood it with the other text and visuals provided in the material. I will be conscious especially to those in the group with difficulty by taking running notes. I believe that with this reading approach, I can help my students to learn more.