1. Comparison: Guided Reading and Small Group Instruction
Guided Reading Small Group Instruction
Number of 4-6 students in a group 2-10 students in a group
Students
Grouping Students are grouped by their Students are group by similar reading levels
of students Instructional Reading Level (usually one or by strategy groups/needs. They are not
level per group) as determined by necessarily all the same Instructional
assessments such as Fountas and Pinnell’s Reading Level. A range of similar reading
Benchmark Assessment System. levels may be present in a group.
Length of Groups are temporary and fluid. Students Groups are fluid and can be based on
Group are moved to others groups as their strategy or needs of students.
instructional level increases.
Length of Each guided reading lesson is 20 – 25 Small group instruction lessons vary in
time minutes. length ranging from 15 minutes to 45
minutes.
Text Text selection is foremost based on the Text is chosen based on a approximate
Selection instructional reading level. levelled materials
Reading of Each student reads the entire text or a Text can be read aloud by the teacher or by
the text unified part of it softly or silently while the various students. It might be read silently
teacher observes, listens in and supports. by individuals. Reading of the text may
They discuss the text and the teacher take various forms.
makes some specific teaching points. Round Robin reading is not encouraged.
Round Robin reading is not encouraged. Text is usually read once.
Text is read and reread several times Students might work collaboratively.
Focus Focus is on reading strategies and Focus can be on strategies or
developing reading comprehension skills. comprehension.
Students are practicing reading strategies.
Reading for meaning takes a lot of the
instructional time.
Genres A variety of genres are covered. A variety of genres are covered.