Guided Reading Strategy Checklist {printable}

Make reading in small groups easier with a reading strategy checklist. Here is a free checklist I’ve made for guided reading groups to communicate what I’m seeing with kindergarten parents.

When reading with small groups, documenting what strategies students try is a great way to both informally assess and help guide your own planning. We teachers have to find ways to save time, right?

Well, in my opinion a checklist is the way to go. Let me give it a check and be done! Same principle as in crossing stuff off a to-do list, which I lo-o-o-ve.

Wait a minute, Leslie….

Don’t you assess by taking notes and running records in your guided reading binder? Yes, I do!

Taking notes is the most meaningful way that I can track what my students are doing. For me, it works out great for planning lessons or for reorganizing my groups.

Then, why this additional piece?

I felt like with the implementation of Common Core standards, the mention of reading strategies earlier on in the school year meant I needed to communicate more regularly to parents what I was seeing.

I could send home running record data… um, yeah right.

So I created this half page form to communicate to parents in a simple and effective way.

What I have learned is that my kinders appreciate it as a form of immediate feedback and are generally excited {gotta love kindergarten} to practice the strategies even more.

Sometimes I stick it in a book like one of their reminder reminder bookmarks that goes home with them.

It helps me communicate these Common Core standards:

• K.RF.4. Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.
• K.RF.4.a. Use self-correcting strategies when reading simple sentences.
• K.RL.4.e. Understand and use fix-up strategies.
• K.RL.4.e-1. Use pictures to figure out unknown words.
• K.RL.4.e-2. Break words into sounds to read unknown words.
• K.RL.4.e-3. Chunk unknown words into parts to read unknown words.

You can get this checklist simply by adding your email address in the form below.

Do you do this checklist for every kinder, every time you meet with them?

Nope.

I just use these guided reading strategy checklists to communicate on a semi-regular basis and as I feel needed. I’ve found that if I keep them handy, then whenever I do a running record it is just a check mark (or two) away from sending home as an update to parents.

If you have my guided reading products, you’ll love that it is consistent with the reading strategy icons!

What are your quick tips for staying in communication with parents or giving kinders immediate feedback on their reading?

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.

More Guided Reading

• Handy Guided Reading Mats for Kindergarten Groups
• 6 Fun Ways to Teach Reading With Dollar Tree Race Cars
• Beginning Sounds – 5 Guided Reading Skill Group Materials {Printable}
• Guided Reading Binder – Guided Setup

Awesome Guided Reading Products