Early in the school year, teach your pupils the skills they will need to work independently during guided reading times. Create rules for group work and post them in the classroom. Provide pupils with opportunities to work with a variety of classmates. Begin giving them small chunks of time to work on their own without teacher assistance. Slowly introduce the literacy centers you will use during guided reading.
Gather and prepare all the materials you will need during guided reading. This includes materials for the group reading with you, as well as materials for the remainder of the class. Sit in a location where you can see all the pupils. Give careful consideration to where your pupils are seated, using proximity for any children who may become off-task. Divide your pupils into groups and determine the activity in which each group will participate. Consider posting a chart with this information so everyone knows where to go. Make groups small.
Set clear behavior expectations for your pupils. Teach them how to recognize acceptable noise levels, and consider having a quick signal to let the class know when they are becoming too loud. Explain to your pupils that when you are with a reading group, they cannot interrupt you unless it is an emergency. Younger children will need help understanding what situations are emergencies. Discuss alternatives to asking you for help when they encounter a problem. This may include asking a friend for help or skipping a difficult question and moving on to the next.
Plan engaging activities at your pupils' levels. Children may misbehave if they are bored or the tasks are too difficult. Keep your centers the same so pupils are familiar with how they work. Change only the specific tasks at each center to align with the curriculum. Plan activities for children to complete if they finish their work early. Consider posting a sign with suggestions. Plan tasks for the pupils you are reading with to complete since some children will read faster than others.