What role does guided reading play in structured literacy?

Guided reading plays a crucial role in structured literacy by providing targeted support based on students' individual reading levels. This approach allows educators to group students with similar reading abilities, enabling tailored instruction that specifically meets their needs. By focusing on small groups, teachers can monitor each student's progress, provide immediate feedback, and adapt their instructional strategies to help students develop their reading skills effectively. This targeted support reinforces the principles of structured literacy, which emphasizes systematic and explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

In this context, grouping students by their reading levels rather than randomly ensures that instruction is meaningful and effective. This targeted approach contrasts with practices that might overlook individual learning differences or fail to prioritize foundational skills. Overall, guided reading is essential in aligning with structured literacy goals by nurturing each student's growth in reading.