Guided reading programs are divided into various levels within a grade group. For instance, in the Scholastic guided reading program kindergartners have levels A through F. Level A is the most basic level, which is where kindergartners start. Each level up is an advancement that builds on the reading skill learned in the previous level. Additionally, each level comes with its own set of books that are to be used with kindergartners. This system is effective for gradually giving kindergartners a reading challenge so that they learn more material.
Guided reading programs have different categories of books with different focuses. Some simple books may be geared toward introducing kindergartners to sounds and phonetics, while other books focus on teaching students content and comprehension. The Scholastic guided reading program even offers a nonfiction lesson plan option for kindergartners, which focuses more on technical approaches to reading, such as building the comprehension of nonfiction subject matter. It also teaches students about a wider array of punctuation, whereas the other lesson plans focus more on developing comprehension, storyline and vocabulary.
Since kindergartners in a guided reading program are moving at the same pace, kindergarten teachers can enhance the reading experience by holding discussions where students talk about what they read, what they think, and how the stories relate to their lives. Then, the teacher can discuss vocabulary words and talk about their meaning and which ones students found challenging. The teacher might also host a discussion about what genre means, and give examples of different genres.
Guided reading programs make learning to read engaging and stimulating for kids because the programs are designed to teach concepts to students by associating text with images. The books are also tailored toward a reading level that is specific to kindergartners, which includes providing large, clear fonts and colorful pictures. Such programs are beneficial to teachers in that they let them know what to look for during the lessons, and provide a basis on how to tell whether students are ready to advance to the next levels.