I am bothered by the question. Are you making your decisions on what to do or not to do based on whether they will improve your class' test scores? If guided reading groups were beneficial to students, but they didn't help test scores, would you not do them? Shouldn't the question be rephrased to "Do guided reading groups help children to become better readers?"
When test scores are being shoved down my throat and I'm being told in the not so distant future they're going to be part of my evaluation, it's a little hard not to put them as a priority, TBH. Beth
Guided reading does more to really improve reading, but it won't serve as a test-prep method in my opinion. It's unfortunate that you have to view things in that way.
It is what it is. :| What I was thinking was something like this: I have a focus every week, take summarizing for example. We're not in Common Core yet. The test my kids will take this year consists of reading a passage and then answering multiple choice questions. So, I was wondering about doing some guided reading and incorporating the focus of the week somehow? Beth
Yes, you would pull a small group weak in summarizing. But you also need to figure out what the other kids are going to do.
Yeah...that's a little issue I haven't quite ironed out, lol. My kids are really good about reading their library books, maybe have SSR time? I thought about doing it on Thursday since some of my kids go to GT classes that day, and it's usually a big review day anyway.
Check into Daily 5. SSR doesn't hold them accountable for actually reading unless they've got an annotations page or some questions to go with their books.
I applaud you for your honesty. Guided reading groups will work well in preparing your 5th graders for state testing, as well as make them better readers. I do my version of Daily 5. (Daily 5's main focus is for primary grades, but many have adapted it to work for intermediate grades) I have 4 "stations"-read for meaning, writing, and 2 word work. For read for meaning, I find short stories to have them read, or they read from an independent novel. I include questions-usually based on the skill we are working on that week-to answer about that reading passage. Writing is usually a prompt of some sort, unless we are working on writing workshop. The 2 word work are usually phonics-based; i.e synonyms, antonyms, multi-meaning words, etc. The other is usually work with their weekly spelling or vocabulary. The students are responsible for ONE station per day. (my guided reading time is 45 minutes). The rest of the time they read to self to help build stamina and fluency. Hope this helps. PM if you have other questions.
Wow. Slightly judgmental. I think that the OP is being honest-test scores are being shoved down her throat, and she is inquiring into something that she has heard much about, but has never done. A little support can go a long way.
I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting children to perform well on general outcome measures. Wanting an intervention to translate into broader outcomes is fine. There's also a false dichotomy that's been set up between tests and "learning." While standardized tests don't measure all of learning, they do measure many aspects of learning.
Wow. Slightly judgmental. I think that the OP is being honest-test scores are being shoved down her throat, and she is inquiring into something that she has heard much about, but has never done. I agree that she is being honest. After reading her 2nd post, I could also see that she is stressed about having test scores being shoved down her throat. I didn't know that when I put up my post. After reading my post again, I was a bit surprised by the bluntness. My apology to Bella if I offended her. That wasn't my purpose. She has always had enjoyable posts to read and has always been very straight forward and honest. I just get tired of this obsession with doing well on these standardized tests. I do find that if you focus on teaching the standards well and the needs of the students, the test scores take care of themselves. I don't believe the reverse is always true.
Thank you for YOUR honesty. I think we are ALL tired of the push to "teach to a test". I know I am. I want to teach. I want to teach my kids lifelong skills. Being an avid reader, reading, and the love of reading is something I want to instill in my students. I think we all can help Bella achieve this as well. Readingrules, I always read your posts and your input into reading is commendable. Being a 5th grade teacher myself, I have learned much from you!
