Few instructional practices would merit the “American as apple pie” tag more than reading groups. Having served as a reading specialist and publisher for many years, I’m often surprised at how
much of reading instruction relies on past practice and tradition. Perhaps a clear-eyed re-examination might be in order–hence, Reading Groups Revisited as my article title.
Firstly, let’s agree on two important matters: 1. Research is not conclusive about the value of reading group instruction, as compared to whole-class reading instruction. 2. Common sense (and Dr. Tim Shanahan) would agree that doing reading groups simply to vary the mode of reading instruction (or fulfill a school or district mandate) is counter-productive. As Shanahan points out, “Never do with a small group what you could do just as well with whole class teaching” (Shanahan on Literacy).
Given these two assumptions, teachers offer these informed opinions regarding rationales for reading groups:
- Students participate, pay attention, and learn more in small group settings.
- Students learn more when their reading levels and reading resources i.e., match.
- Reading groups provide better student monitoring than whole-class instruction.
- Reading groups provide more practice or re-teaching opportunities.
- Reading groups can be homo or heterogeneous.
- Reading groups can serve different purposes e.g., guided (directed) reading, assessment-based Tier 2 or 3 instruction, book clubs, literacy circles (stations).
Challenges to Using Reading Groups
- Difficult to target specific needs or purposes within the group or groups.
- What to do with the rest of the class?
- Decreases amount of reading instruction dosage for all students.
- Challenging to monitor progress.
- Individual needs within reading groups not necessarily addressed by the group instruction.
- Tracking can lead to lowered expectations and lowered self-esteem.
Solutions? Alternatives?
I welcome your responses.
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Teaching Grammar, Usage and Mechanics
Grade-level lessons, remedial worksheets keyed to the diagnostic assessments, and unit tests. $49.99 per grade, licensed per teacher.
Questions teachers ask
Which grammar assessments are free?
The grammar and usage assessment and the mechanics assessment are both in the free toolkit. Each comes with a recording matrix that shows which conventions a student has and has not mastered, so instruction can be targeted instead of whole-class.
Do I have to buy anything to use the assessments?
No. Every diagnostic assessment on this site is free. Enter your email on the Free Assessment Toolkit page and the diagnostic assessments arrive as downloads, each with its recording matrix.
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Mark Pennington, M.A. Reading Specialist
Thirty-six years teaching ELA and reading, elementary through community college, plus district reading specialist. He wrote every program on this site.
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