How to Organize 1st Grade Reading Groups

A reading group can enhance the comprehension of a first-grade reader.

By the time a child is in first grade, reading becomes a necessity for academic success. Strengthening and improving a first-grader's reading skills is important, no matter at what level the student currently reads. When deciding how to organize first-grade reading groups, keep in mind that the overriding factor should be the reading ability of the child. Arranging groups of students with the same reading abilities is relatively easy to do and will greatly benefit the students.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• White poster board

Instructions

1. Using a ruler, create a grid with three columns on a white sheet of poster board. The columns will help you organize your students into different reading groups.

2. Label each column with a name for a reading group. Be careful to avoid names that will distinguish the reading levels of your students, such as "beginners" or "advanced," as this may cause insecurities among the students. Rather, try using a theme to label the groups, such as types of birds, flowers or animals. On a separate sheet of paper that will be private, identify which reading groups correspond to the strongest, weakest and middle readers in your class.

3. Add the names of your students to the appropriate reading group. When finished, prominently display the sign in your classroom.

4. Choose different material for each reading group to cover, depending upon the reading strength of the students. Try using books, magazines and newspaper articles to reinforce comprehension, which is an important component for first graders to learn.

References

• Great Schools: Your First-Grader and Reading
• Reading Rockets: First Grade Instruction