Written for elementary literacy teachers, this book shows how to teach reading to all children, no matter where they fall on the development spectrum, through guided reading instruction in small groups. Teachers will discover how children learn in a natural progression through the stages of literacy development, from pre-emergent to proficient. Also examined are the five steps that are key to guided reading: setting the scene, taking a picture walk, oral reading, returning to the text, and responding to the text. Instructions are given for important tasks of forming and scheduling learning groups and selecting appropriate texts to use with children.

Gail Saunders-Smith is a reading recovery teacher and is a state and federal programs coordinator for the Summit County Board of Education. She lives in Farmdale, Ohio.