Free Guided Reading Strategy Checklist for Kindergarten

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 I 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 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.

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 checkmark (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!

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Let’s wrap it up

There you have it – a free checklist for guided reading groups so you can communicate what you’re seeing with kindergarten parents.

I hope you find this free printable helpful as you grow your readers.

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 in Kindergarten

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• Beginning Sounds – 5 Guided Reading Skill Group Materials {Printable}
• Guided Reading Binder – Guided Setup