Teaching Reading in Small Groups: Differentiated Instruction for Building Strategic, Independent Readers

by Jennifer Serravallo, Lucy Calkins (Foreword)

For teachers who sometimes feel as if data-based instruction, differentiated groupings, and formative assessments somehow involve going over to The Dark Side, this book is a powerful antidote. It will help you know that you can hold tight to your deepest beliefs about children and literature, classrooms communities, and good teaching. Lucy Calkins
Author of Units of Study for Teaching Reading In Teaching Reading in Small Groups , Jennifer Serravallo extends the powerful teaching that made Conferring with Readers a hit and helps you meet instructional challenges effectively and efficiently. Jen shows how small groups help you uncover hidden time in your teaching for meeting individual students' needs. You'll work more closely with more children each day with her how-tos You'll see how Jen captures the strength of individual conference while working with multiple students-even if they aren't reading the same book. For comprehension, fluency, engagement, print work strategies, and comprehension, she shares ideas for assessment and flexible grouping structures as well as her own teaching language. You'll help "When we supplement individual conferences with small-group conferences," writes Jennifer Serravallo, "we work more efficiently and can deal well with higher benchmarks, larger class sizes, and the increasing demands placed on readers and teachers." Trust a master teacher and read Teaching Reading in Small Groups to find out how small groups can make a big difference in your classroom.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development, School, Nonfiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2010

Reviews

[Anna Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the major purposes Jennifer Serravallo aimed for in this professional text was shedding some light on the one of the biggest challenges many teachers face each day in their classrooms: reading strategy groups. However, Serravallo helps educators take a breath, so to speak, as this resource provides formative assessment tools, strategy ideas and numerous ways to provide to productive and engaging reading environments where students lead the way.

Educators involved in teaching reading, looking to learn about differentiation techniques and assessment, or needing to lift the level of small group instruction will benefit from reading this text. This book is useful in so many ways, but mostly can serve as a go-to resource for planning small reading groups and helping students achieve independence, stamina, and skill in reading.

[Johnny G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think there is something for every teacher of reading in this book. Certainly, no one teacher can possibly use ALL of the strategies for grouping and conferencing that Ms. Serravallo suggests, but by thinking about one's own students, there are some good suggestions. Reading workshop, I am finding, is not something where a teacher can just dive in and do it the Lucy Calkins way. Trying to develop a piece of the master plan a bit at a time is what I am doing and am please with what I see. Don't give up on it!
On another note, I do not know if anyone else's edition has this error, but pages 213-234 at the end of the book are REPEATED after the little advertisement page for The Units of Study! So the book is not as long as you may think.

[Mandy Robek · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I finished reading this book, I found myself wanting to go back and reread it right then. A great text for planning and working with independent readers in small groups. If you are looking for a fresh look at reading workshop, then this is a must read. Every child in a small group doesn't need to be reading the same text.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has really helped me wrap my mind about working in small groups, with reading strategies as the focus. This book was easy to read, yet gave me much to think about.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful with immediately applicable strategies for the classroom. Enjoy all the tables and figures for easy reading.

[June Crees · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book on small group reading instruction is a must read for any teacher looking for clear, strategic ways of grouping children effectively and efficiently. Jennifer Serravallo not only lays out the reading foundations upon which to build, but offers lots of concrete ways to talk about reading with students that helps both teachers and students feel more confident about what they are doing. In addition to my original paper copy of the book, I was so excited to be able to also put it on my Kindle so that I have the book with me always and can refer to it whenever I need some wise reading advice.

[Chris Heim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for teachers trying to figure out how to efficiently confer with their students while the class reads independently. Serravallo's ideas are many, and occasionally I question their manageability, but if you go into the book with the mindset that it's not actually realistic for one teacher to do everything she recommends, and instead decide you'll start small and pick one or two suggestions, then you'll be much better off. It's a worthwhile read if you can apply that kind of critical eye and take deep breaths as you work your way through it.

[Melissa Pamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of applications and examples for middle grades and upper elementary

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that is practical and enjoyable to read. The author gives many concrete examples of how to teach small groups more effectively. It makes sense to teach to the child and utilize their own reading materials to teach mini-lessons. It is not necessary for the entire class to be reading the same book to discuss something like the main idea or character development. I have it marked and highlighted everywhere!

[Caroline Thompson]

New professional book club book. Have to read Chapters 1 and 2 by Tuesday. Lucy Calkin's introduction is awesome! "For teachers who sometimes feel as if data-based instruction, differentiated groupings, and formative assessments somehow involve going over to The Dark Side, this book is a powerful antidote." p. x

[Suzanne Kerfin · Rating 4 out of 5]

MANY grouping ideas, some of which I hadn't thought of (motivational groups, for example). I appreciated the updated outlook on combining flexible, multi-level strategy groups with more traditional "book" groups.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

For educators who are either looking to start small reading groups or are looking to refine their small reading groups, Serravallo has ideas to give readers the most time to practice independent, strategic reading.

[Gretchen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such thoughtful work showing how explicit, intentional small group instruction works in the workshop classroom- choice and individual needs are still at the center. This is one of my newest go-to professional reads!

[Rachel Vote · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a 2.5. There are a couple useful pieces that I can apply to my classroom, but it is really geared more for elementary students rather than all ages of students who need small group reading instruction.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in taking your reading instruction to the next level, this is the book for you. Jennifer Serravallo shares great insight about reading instruction and provides a clear direction for teachers to to take in working in small groups. A must read for any teacher of reading!

[Carmen Reyes]

Jennifer Serravallo spoke at the Teachers College Reading Institute in NYC. She was a very inspiring speaker which led me to purchase her book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

full of great ideas

[Daina Jaeger Mundt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for using Readers Workshop in the classroom.

[Clare Landrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book -- we use it again and again. Great ideas and fun to read!

[Diana Pettis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for all my teacher friends. I loved it. One of the best teacher books I have read in a while.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jennifer Serravallo provides a great overview of small-group instruction in reading as well as classroom vignettes and practical tips. I found this helpful for my teaching and instructional coaching.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tips, strategies, and techniques to use in your classroom! Some ideas can be adapted for content area classes to help students understand textbooks, articles, etc.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Specific ways to group children in differentiated ways to assure sure and steady progress as a reader.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! So many great ideas and hints on how to differentiate for small groups.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many excellent tips on how to plan for and execute small group instruction in the reading workshop. Really looking forward to hearing her speak this year for Literacy Connection!

[Amy Bisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precisely written and clear. Wish I'd read it a LOT sooner!

[Katherine Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great practical ideas for strategy groups in readers workshop. I also loved the idea of making 100% engagement in reading the main focus with your students at the beginning of the year.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

More for elementary teachers, but I got a few good ideas from it, especially about student engagement.

[Deb Frazier]

Mandy, Julie, Claire TaMmy teaching g individual readers I. A group with various books

[Jim Gianotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that I will draw from repeatedly as I work with staff, developing their craft while teaching small groups.