Choose a short story that your child enjoys and can read independently with about 90 percent accuracy. She should not struggle with more than a few words, but try not to choose something she can read perfectly. If your child does not enjoy re-reading books or stories, use the next book in a series that she enjoys. Series authors for beginning readers usually keep the reading level the same across all of their books.
Examine the title and cover art with your child. Ask him questions about what he thinks the book will be about based on the cover. If he has read the book before, ask a new question like "Why do you think the author chose the title?" or "Why do you think the author is telling this story?" Discussing the book before you begin reading helps your child focus on the story and improves comprehension.
Read the first paragraph yourself and ask your child to read the second. Reading the first paragraph yourself helps your child relax and listen. This increases her comprehension by prompting her to think about what the words say instead of worrying about how to read them.
Prompt your child to use familiar reading strategies to figure out new words. Let him choose whether he thinks blending or context clues will be more helpful. Allowing him to choose the strategy gives him more control over his reading and builds his confidence.
Cover the two paragraphs that you've read with a piece of paper or with your hand. Ask your child to re-tell what has happened so far. If she struggles, go back and re-read that section. Once she can re-tell what has happened, ask her what she thinks will happen next, or how she thinks the characters feel about what is happening. Discussions like this help your child develop strong comprehension skills.
Repeat Steps three, four and five for the next two paragraphs. Plan to read together for about 15 or 20 minutes or until you finish the story. Read longer only if it remains fun for your child. Guided reading should be fun in order to develop both strong skills and a love of reading. Stop sooner than 15 minutes if your child becomes frustrated.