Small Group, Differentiated Reading Instruction, Grades K-8
Learn how to use small group reading instruction to meet the individual needs of your students.
In this 8-week online course for classroom teachers and literacy educators, learn how to plan for and teach effective small group, differentiated reading instruction.
(Spring Term I)
- Classroom Teachers K-8
- Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders
- School and District Leaders
- Course: EEDUC 6045-80
Effective small-group reading instruction begins with understanding your readers and making intentional instructional decisions. In this eight-week course, you will learn how to observe and assess student reading behaviors, use evidence to form flexible groups, and select appropriate texts to advance readers’ ongoing development. Deepen your understanding of the reading process while learning to plan and facilitate a variety of small-group reading lessons that respond to students’ strengths and needs. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on making informed instructional decisions that create meaningful learning opportunities for all readers, including multilingual learners.
Course Outcomes
- Deepen your understanding of the reading process, including the interconnected roles of phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, background knowledge, and oral language.
- Observe, assess, and analyze students’ reading behaviors to make informed instructional decisions.
- Analyze a variety of text types to identify the supports and challenges they present for readers.
- Design small-group reading lessons to strengthen student reading competencies using a variety of text types
- Use assessment evidence to form flexible instructional groups
- Plan instruction that supports word solving, fluency, and comprehension through focus lessons, book clubs, and guided reading.
- Select and use small-group lesson structures to create purposeful learning opportunities that respond to students’ diverse needs, including those of multilingual learners.
Nikki Drury, Literacy Trainer
Nikki Drury worked as a literacy coach and classroom teacher in public schools for many years before joining the Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership as an Intermediate/Middle level Trainer. She has experience as a primary and intermediate classroom teacher and as a literacy instructional coach. Over the years, she has worked with students, educators, and administrators to improve literacy outcomes.
Required Texts
- Fountas, I.C. & Pinnell, G.S. (2016). Guided reading: Responsive teaching across the grades. Heinemann.
- Pinnell, G.S. & Fountas, I.C. (2022). The Fountas & Pinnell literacy continuum: A tool for assessment, planning, and teaching, expanded edition. Heinemann.
This option must be taken for 3 graduate credits. Take the course individually or as a required course in our 18-credit Online Graduate Certificate in Developing Literacy Expertise Through Responsive Classroom Teaching.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our trainers.
(Spring Term II)
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