TRT Podcast#60: Reaction to Fountas & Pinnell #4 – Here are the problems with guided reading
For Fountas and Pinnell, guided reading is the key piece of the reading block. But there are some problems with the guided reading approach in K-2.
Listen to the episode here
Full episode transcript
Related resources
- Fountas & Pinnell’s series: Just to Clarify
- Emily Hanford’s response: Influential authors Fountas and Pinnell stand behind disproven reading theory
- Mark Seidenberg’s response: Clarity about Fountas and Pinnell
- Timothy Shanahan: Should We Teach Students at Their Reading Levels?
- The difference between balanced and structured literacy
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Joe
Interesting read… I have done work at Pinnell house in Columbus… met her one time briefly, nice lady… her house is INSANE!! whatever critiques there are of the scale, they have already broke the bank with the work they have done … so don’t know if either one is really worried about it
Marion
Thank you for your podcastcasts Do you have a scope and sequence for teaching phonics in K one?
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Yes, we do, Marion! You can find it on this post, https://www.themeasuredmom.com/what-order-should-you-teach-phonics-skills/.
Rebecca Stewart
Full disclosure:
I don’t listen to your podcast but I do get your email. I read the transcript for this email.
I get that at lower levels (Kindergarten) the books would have pictures and smart kids would guess and rely too heavily on that. Point understood.
HOWEVER, I heartily believe in a level/range that is a good fit for a child to independently read. Frustration level REALLY exists! Sometimes a child needs to read and reread to get more fluent (you know this, of course).
For the leveled readers I used at the second grade level, we pulled 5-7 per child for the book bag they kept at their desk. Some were on their level, some slightly above and some slightly below. It really worked well!!! Is it the only way? Of course not! I don’t sit and do running records with my own three homeschooled children.
Using leveled readers gave a system in which to manage a classroom. At the second grade level, I didn’t have an issue with pictures in the books giving “too much away.”
That said, I COMPLETELY agree with teaching the phonics lessons and beefing up phonological awareness activities. I have found that at the lower levels (k-1) it’s more beneficial to do lots of word play and manipulation before expecting a child to pick up a book and read.
I’m glad more to see more teachers are using Orton Gillingham based strategies, but taking running records and paying attention to what children were doing in their reading (following trends) has thoroughly paid off for me in the classroom and my tutoring. 🙂
B R
The one question that I have then is how do we assess if a student is reading at grade level? What is grade level reading at different points of the year in K-2?
Keri
Do you have a strong phonics assessment, know of one? I was just in this world of F&P testing today and the test is useless for the low A-C readers.
Anna Geiger
I will actually be creating and sharing one in a couple of weeks!
Josie
I think you are not seeing the whole picture. Guided reading as they say is only “PART” of the reading instructional block. That is about 15-20 minutes of a hopefully 120 minute instructional reading block. The other components being a strong phonics instruction following a scope and sequence, independent reading, whole group instruction where again you follow a scope and sequence of teaching reading skills (which in turn are also taught during those small guided group lessons). As well as spelling and writing components.
Anna Geiger
Hi Josie! Yes, I actually mention this in the podcast. I don’t think guided reading can’t be used, but if we’re using it as Fountas and Pinnell intend it to be used in K-2 – with leveled texts that require kids to use three cueing to read the words – there’s a real problem. Kids need to have reading material that allows them to pratice the phonics knowledge that we’re teaching. Three-cueing is counterproductive at best, damaging at worst.
Susan Dixon
Agreed! K – 2 are critical years for a good phonics foundation.
Thanks, Anna, for sharing this podcast and I am really looking forward to your phonics assessment.
Ini
Agreed.