Guided Reading
Building confident, capable readers through individualized instruction, meaningful relationships, and a lifelong love of reading.
At DKH, Guided Reading provides early elementary students with individualized literacy instruction in a focused, supportive small-group environment.
Children are grouped developmentally and taught in groups of 1–4 students, allowing teachers to meet each child where they are while building confidence, comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, and a strong foundation for reading success.
Lessons take place in our dedicated Reading Classroom and are intentionally designed to feel engaging, encouraging, and developmentally appropriate for young learners.
Students revisit books practiced at home, participate in guided conversations, strengthen phonics and comprehension skills, and engage in literacy games and activities that reinforce learning in meaningful ways.
Our goal is not simply teaching children how to read. It is helping children see themselves as readers.
How Guided Reading Works
DKH uses small-group Guided Reading instruction alongside literacy assessments to monitor growth and support each child’s reading development over time.
Teachers assess reading comprehension, fluency, phonics, print awareness, vocabulary, story elements, and reading behaviors to better understand each student’s progress and instructional needs.
Students are supported through individualized goals, consistent teacher feedback, repeated reading practice, and developmentally appropriate instruction designed to strengthen both skill and confidence.
Reading Growth Across Early Elementary
Junior Kindergarten
Learning to Read
Guided Reading begins during the spring semester as students build foundational literacy skills including letter recognition, sounds, comprehension, fluency, and confidence with books, storytelling, and early reading experiences.
Senior Kindergarten
Growing as Readers
Students strengthen reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and independent reading habits while building confidence, curiosity, classroom discussion skills, and a deeper understanding of stories and language.
1st & 2nd Grade
Using Reading to Think
Students apply reading skills more independently through comprehension, written responses, vocabulary development, critical thinking, discussion, and deeper analysis of characters, stories, and informational texts.
Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)
DKH uses the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) framework as one tool to help identify and monitor reading growth, comprehension, fluency, and literacy development.
Guided Reading levels help teachers provide instruction that is appropriately challenging while still building confidence and success for each child.
Reading growth is viewed as developmental, individualized, and ongoing, recognizing that every child progresses at their own pace.
