In guided reading, what is the teacher's role?

• A. To lecture the entire class on a specific text
• B. To support students at their instructional levels
• C. To assign independent reading tasks
• D. To evaluate students' reading levels only

Answer: (B)

In guided reading, the teacher's role is pivotal in fostering students' reading development by supporting them at their instructional levels. This means that during guided reading sessions, the teacher carefully selects texts that match the reading abilities of each group or individual, ensuring that access to new vocabulary and comprehension strategies is at an appropriate level of challenge. The teacher actively engages with students, facilitating discussions, prompting critical thinking, and providing scaffolding that encourages students to solve problems and make connections while reading.

This approach allows for differentiated instruction, where the teacher can target specific needs of students, monitor their understanding, and adjust teaching strategies based on ongoing assessments. By focusing on the specific needs of students within a supportive framework, guided reading becomes a powerful tool for improving reading fluency and comprehension skills, tailored to each child's learning journey.