Comparison: Guided Reading and Small Group Instruction

Guided Reading Small Group InstructionNumber of Students

4-6 students in a group 2-10 students in a group

Grouping of students

Students are grouped by their Instructional Reading Level (usually one level per group) as determined by assessments such as Fountas and Pinnell’s Benchmark Assessment System.

Students are group by similar reading levels or by strategy groups/needs. They are not necessarily all the same Instructional Reading Level. A range of similar reading levels may be present in a group.

Length of Group

Groups are temporary and fluid. Students are moved to others groups as their instructional level increases.

Groups are fluid and can be based on strategy or needs of students.

Length of time

Each guided reading lesson is 20 – 25 minutes.

Small group instruction lessons vary in length ranging from 15 minutes to 45 minutes.

Text Selection

Text selection is foremost based on the instructional reading level.

Text is chosen based on a approximate levelled materials

Reading of the text

Each student reads the entire text or a unified part of it softly or silently while the teacher observes, listens in and supports. They discuss the text and the teacher makes some specific teaching points.Round Robin reading is not encouraged.Text is read and reread several times

Text can be read aloud by the teacher or by various students. It might be read silently by individuals. Reading of the text may take various forms. Round Robin reading is not encouraged.Text is usually read once.Students might work collaboratively.

Focus Focus is on reading strategies and developing reading comprehension skills. Students are practicing reading strategies. Reading for meaning takes a lot of the instructional time.

Focus can be on strategies or comprehension.

Genres A variety of genres are covered. A variety of genres are covered.